Buckminster Fuller

There was a section in this article regarding nature vs. science that brought me back to another article called The Sincerest Form of Flattery. Regarding my previous post to that article, I felt that technology was running at a faster pace than nature. Because we depend on technology, we are moving just as fast and not acknowledging the natural course of speed. It is true, however, that humans are enduring successfully through the advancement of technology. The only problem is that when tasks become easier, the economy starts to take a shift. For example, Photoshop is supposedly releasing a new version called CS5. On Youtube, the company demonstrates some new 'nifty tricks' of CS5 that cannot be executed via other versions, making the work more effective and quick. Does this mean that everything we have learned in previous versions was just a waste of time? This may demote graphic designers' credibility as clients can potentially become their own designers.

Kees Dorst -- "But, is it Art?"

I feel that my perspective on designers have shifted a little after reading this article by Dorst. He mentions that artists strive to influence the feeling or thinking of an audience. Designers are similar in that way, except they do it promote an idea/place/object, which is the goal. To me, as a student, I feel very little satisfaction with many of my projects, although they were successful in the eyes of the professor. I yearn to make great art like that of professionals, but I still have much to learn. This is probably more towards a personal route.

Art's Little Brother (2005) by Rick Poyner

Rick mentions good points by Norman Potter from his book What is a Designer, which distinguishes design from art. I agree that one of the main differences is that designers must consider function and practicality in their own work. However, that should not totally dismiss the designer the title as an artist. It is not to say that they must be considered artists no matter what, but at least appreciate their work further than just from a glance. Just as there are terrible graphic designers, there are terrible artists! At a higher level, the artist and the designer are both truly giving themselves to their own pieces. I feel that only at a level, when it can be seen, a designer can really be seen as an artist in their work while the artist remains the artist. In the manifesto by Matisse called "Notes of a Painter", he

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.