Comments on: The Manifesto of the New Designer http://www.NotesOnDesign.net/inspiration/design/the-manifesto-of-the-new-designer/ Fri, 09 Jan 2009 00:07:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: Outsource Bookkeeping http://www.NotesOnDesign.net/inspiration/design/the-manifesto-of-the-new-designer/#comment-175828 Outsource Bookkeeping Tue, 18 Nov 2008 18:30:15 +0000 http://www.NotesOnDesign.net/?p=1600#comment-175828 Ken, After reading your manifesto. What I have understood is that you wish that the term designing should only refer to the designs which you are designing. Nevertheless, I would suggest that your last point out to be the very first consideration a graphic designer should accept. Graphic designers are communicators, first and foremost. Thanks for sharing this full of knowledge post. Ken,

After reading your manifesto. What I have understood is that you wish that the term designing should only refer to the designs which you are designing. Nevertheless, I would suggest that your last point out to be the very first consideration a graphic designer should accept. Graphic designers are communicators, first and foremost.

Thanks for sharing this full of knowledge post.

]]> By: Setanta http://www.NotesOnDesign.net/inspiration/design/the-manifesto-of-the-new-designer/#comment-175825 Setanta Tue, 18 Nov 2008 17:58:16 +0000 http://www.NotesOnDesign.net/?p=1600#comment-175825 Corporate America bought the soul of graphic design a long time ago. The more honest term is the old one - commercial art. Small "c", small "a" - no design involved. "I am a Whore to my greedy Pimp". That is the ACTUAL manifesto. Much more honest than the above pretension. Design is a RELATIONSHIP between FORM + CONTENT. Yes, look at your navel - it is a beautiful DESIGN. Corporate America bought the soul of graphic design a long time ago.

The more honest term is the old one - commercial art. Small “c”, small “a” - no design involved.

“I am a Whore to my greedy Pimp”.

That is the ACTUAL manifesto. Much more honest than the above pretension.

Design is a RELATIONSHIP between FORM + CONTENT.

Yes, look at your navel - it is a beautiful DESIGN.

]]> By: Nitzan http://www.NotesOnDesign.net/inspiration/design/the-manifesto-of-the-new-designer/#comment-175608 Nitzan Wed, 12 Nov 2008 20:39:17 +0000 http://www.NotesOnDesign.net/?p=1600#comment-175608 Interesting manifesto and interesting comments. I often think that designers are at a kind of intersection between two different theories of creativity, and two approaches to technology, and it seems to me there are signs of this in the manifesto. One theory of creativity which has been dominant since the Renaissance endows the individual designer with special powers (of synthesis, of generating beauty...). Another theory (Sociologist Howard Becker's notably) sees artifacts as the result of collective action. The designer is one actor in network of people (printers, coders, bloggers, people who make coffee at Starbucks...) all crucial to the artifact ultimately being what it is. Or rather, their social interactions give birth to an artifact's particularity. As for approaches to technology, Heidegger suggested we usually see technology as either a means to an end or as inseparable from being human. So (for eg.) Do we really live in a "technology-fueled age"? What does this mean? Are we masters of our artificial world or slaves of it? Are landscapes natural or cultural and what does this mean for "sustainable" design? When we think of sustainability, are we trying to freeze progress for our own comfort and security or are we promoting it for altruistic reasons? If good design is a necessity, should market forces determine its value? Should it be "consumers hungry for new ideas" or the evangelists who might preach to an empty room? Is it useful to think in terms of luxury and necessity as opposed to instinct, survival and pleasure for example? Interesting manifesto and interesting comments.
I often think that designers are at a kind of intersection between two different theories of creativity, and two approaches to technology, and it seems to me there are signs of this in the manifesto.

One theory of creativity which has been dominant since the Renaissance endows the individual designer with special powers (of synthesis, of generating beauty…). Another theory (Sociologist Howard Becker’s notably) sees artifacts as the result of collective action. The designer is one actor in network of people (printers, coders, bloggers, people who make coffee at Starbucks…) all crucial to the artifact ultimately being what it is. Or rather, their social interactions give birth to an artifact’s particularity.

As for approaches to technology, Heidegger suggested we usually see technology as either a means to an end or as inseparable from being human.

So (for eg.)
Do we really live in a “technology-fueled age”? What does this mean? Are we masters of our artificial world or slaves of it?
Are landscapes natural or cultural and what does this mean for “sustainable” design? When we think of sustainability, are we trying to freeze progress for our own comfort and security or are we promoting it for altruistic reasons?
If good design is a necessity, should market forces determine its value? Should it be “consumers hungry for new ideas” or the evangelists who might preach to an empty room? Is it useful to think in terms of luxury and necessity as opposed to instinct, survival and pleasure for example?

]]> By: Mary E. http://www.NotesOnDesign.net/inspiration/design/the-manifesto-of-the-new-designer/#comment-174326 Mary E. Mon, 13 Oct 2008 15:57:53 +0000 http://www.NotesOnDesign.net/?p=1600#comment-174326 Ken, I read your manifesto. It's a strong term, manifesto. Nevertheless, I would suggest that your last point out to be the very first consideration a graphic designer should accept. Graphic designers are communicators, first and foremost. Technology, while it is transforming our industry, it remains a tool in service of communication. Mary Ken,
I read your manifesto. It’s a strong term, manifesto. Nevertheless, I would suggest that your last point out to be the very first consideration a graphic designer should accept. Graphic designers are communicators, first and foremost. Technology, while it is transforming our industry, it remains a tool in service of communication.

Mary

]]> By: Learn Spanish Mexico http://www.NotesOnDesign.net/inspiration/design/the-manifesto-of-the-new-designer/#comment-174296 Learn Spanish Mexico Sun, 12 Oct 2008 20:40:21 +0000 http://www.NotesOnDesign.net/?p=1600#comment-174296 The simplicity of design is something that man has been striving for consciously or sub-consciously since the beginning of time. And we can see that the most timeless designs are simple, but functional. The simplicity of design is something that man has been striving for consciously or sub-consciously since the beginning of time. And we can see that the most timeless designs are simple, but functional.

]]> By: Lewis http://www.NotesOnDesign.net/inspiration/design/the-manifesto-of-the-new-designer/#comment-174233 Lewis Fri, 10 Oct 2008 20:21:58 +0000 http://www.NotesOnDesign.net/?p=1600#comment-174233 We create simplicity out of complexity. That's definetely one of the most important factors of a good design. However, it's not easy, and that's what makes it art! We create simplicity out of complexity. That’s definetely one of the most important factors of a good design. However, it’s not easy, and that’s what makes it art!

]]> By: Dave Holston http://www.NotesOnDesign.net/inspiration/design/the-manifesto-of-the-new-designer/#comment-173827 Dave Holston Mon, 29 Sep 2008 20:08:42 +0000 http://www.NotesOnDesign.net/?p=1600#comment-173827 Hi Ken, I think it's a great idea to articulate a vision of what designers are/should be. I'm worried though that we often are talking to ourselves. Designers seem to be great at navel gazing. I would propose that designers need to look out to the organizations that we serve, not within, for relevance. I think we could learn a lot from how they describe our discipline. If you are looking for language to describe the new designer, I would include the following - collaborative, empathic and accountable. Best, Dave Hi Ken, I think it’s a great idea to articulate a vision of what designers are/should be. I’m worried though that we often are talking to ourselves. Designers seem to be great at navel gazing. I would propose that designers need to look out to the organizations that we serve, not within, for relevance. I think we could learn a lot from how they describe our discipline.

If you are looking for language to describe the new designer, I would include the following - collaborative, empathic and accountable.

Best,

Dave

]]> By: David C. Baker http://www.NotesOnDesign.net/inspiration/design/the-manifesto-of-the-new-designer/#comment-173677 David C. Baker Thu, 25 Sep 2008 22:52:56 +0000 http://www.NotesOnDesign.net/?p=1600#comment-173677 Well, Ken, this brings to mind that spirited exchange you and I had in your conference room several years ago! I admire your consistency and passion, but you're preaching to the choir, here. The same message would largely fall on deaf ears in the business world at large. It'll be interesting to see if designers are more or less marginalized over the next decade. Well, Ken, this brings to mind that spirited exchange you and I had in your conference room several years ago! I admire your consistency and passion, but you’re preaching to the choir, here. The same message would largely fall on deaf ears in the business world at large.

It’ll be interesting to see if designers are more or less marginalized over the next decade.

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