M/M

This article really caught my attention for I had always wondered if design could be recognized as an artwork, not just a piece of work that was commissioned by a company or other artists. It was nice to see someone who decided to negate the latter and show the rest of the world the true potential of graphic design. What struck me odd at first was when Augustyniak mentioned that the names of the invitation designers were automatically inserted in the invites for the reason that they have made art the same way any artist in that gallery did. It rubbed off as a bit snooty, however, reading from his point of view on art and design, it made sense as to why they did that. They are making a stand for what they are and what they made; the invitation would have been most likely dismissed after being read for a couple of minutes, then chucked in the garbage can or whatnot. I would assume that the designers' intention in displaying their names was to make the invitation one with the gallery and allow for it to be appreciated by the audience just as much as any other artwork in that gallery would be.

In graphic design, there is always some intent by the designer to create a unique piece of work that will simultaneously communicate with the audience easily and promote whatever the event, place, or object. I feel that it should be recognized more broadly than as just a career title. Every design has an effect on the audience just as any "artwork" would, but it is usually a short-lived one for that reason. If the audience really took the time to appreciate every decision and fully experience that relationship with the artwork, then it would fulfill more than any graphic designer would imagine.

Branding the Individual

After reading about the effects and purpose of design, I was able to understand myself better and how/why I select the things I buy. Consumerism is a two-sided argument; one celebrates it and encourages the individual's exploration of his/her identity while the other side thinks it is merely "a process which strips away individuality." The consumer is usually driven and evoked by a feeling of longing towards an object. I find that the viewpoint which goes against consumerism is sound, however it is also understandable of how consumerism can An interesting point made in this article about material goods is that they carry social meanings. This is absolutely true, and must be considered by designers of these goods.

Willem de Koonig's "Attic"

The artwork chosen for analysis is Willem de Koonig's "Attic", which is hung in the Modern Arts section of the Metropolitan Museum of the Arts in New York City.

Imitating Nature's Design

I'd always appreciated nature, but not been aware of its many intricate designs and how they can save the world. After reading this article, I imagined the numerous functions of various organisms and the lengths they must go in order to survive. I absolutely agreed with Janine Benyus that humans are moving in great spans to live in a more 'futuristic' and technologically advanced world, where everything is fired up and ready to go in a jiff. What Janine proposed was simply to move in a slower pace and allow the world to breathe for nature is not capable of keeping up at our speed. While nodding at this proposal, I was concerned for the one belief I'd always carried about people, which is that they are generally impatient. However, as Janine said, perhaps when things look really bad, humans will finally cool their fire. I feel that right now, human-beings are starting to feel helpless, in a way that it's too late for the damage is already done.

In the article, she gives some examples of greater sustainability inspired by some of nature's finest works. This article was an eye-opener for me as a designer and a human-being to see what nature has to offer. As good designers, we must be tree-huggers at some level. It is our responsibility to use the schemes that drive the material world (marketing) to the world that needs peoples' attentions most in order to save it. Otherwise, we are only helping to damage it.

Confessions of a Sixties Idealist

In this essay, Susan Szenasy talks about sustainability, which was disputed briefly by a student at Parsons. She brings up names of designers who made a big impact in the design world, emphasizing the importance of sustainability. The subject of the World Trade Centers was an unexpected turn in the essay, however made clear sense. This made me jump back to the early decade of 2000, when this was written, and imagine the impact of this incident as a NYC dweller and designer. Nothing mattered but our own values; we become more aware of ourselves and our surroundings. I believe this is where we designers must stand at all times- in this circle of networks that are altogether aware of what is truly important and at the same time trying to create a better world.

Two terms Susan was quite keen about in her essay were "interconnectedness and relationships." This goes back to the previous paragraph, where I mentioned circle of networks. Without this, designers would be stuck doing the same old thing; adding and improving the material/plastic (AKA fake) world. Susan is leading her readers and fellow designers to step out of this bubble and take [responsible] action for improving the real world.

Blatant American Apparel

This essay by Anna Kealey touched on American Apparel's not-quite-ethical standard that is the sexual imagery placed on their ads. It's not really an issue of "what" so much as "how" they put themselves out there. Despite their slogans that portray their good ethics in production, they are a bit too forward with what is "sexy", perhaps taking it a bit too far. I also noticed while shopping in their online store that they do not shy away from rendering their models in promiscuous positions. It was a bit shocking to see so much of the body under sheer fabric or even the contours of the bare bottom in selling some product.

Byker Wall

As I watched the short clip of documentary on Byker Wall, I noticed a clear difference in space and atmosphere from that of Pruit Igoe. The fact that it is so architecturally accessible to the community may have contributed to its own success. More open spaces allow people to enjoy the essence that is Byker Wall, and really get to appreciate that with others. Although the building's structure is so hard, there is indication of life and peace within its surrounding space; recreational parks, airy stairways, and