February 14, 2008

>>long live modernism by: Massimo Vignelli

"The ethics of Modernism, or I should say the ideology of Modernism, was an ideology of the fight, the ongoing battle to combat all the wrongs developed by industrialization during the last century. Modernism was a commitment against greed, commercialization, exploitation, vulgarization, cheapness. Modernism was and still is the search for truth, the search for integrity, the search for cultural stimulation and enrichment of the mind. Modernism was never a style, but an attitude."

"it has been extremely helpful to correct, expand, improve the issues of Modernism"
i think this is true of any design- experimentation, exploration, change all make design interesting and exciting- we learn and create things in new ways every day through research and experimentation


>>on overcoming modernism by: Lorraine Wild

this article is about modernism and the effect of computers on graphic design. Wild says "it is now possible for anyone with a word processing program and a layout program to beome a graphic designer. the mystery of making is gone, and while optimists predict that this will increase the public intereset in graphic design, pessimists observe that the prosaic projects that used to occupy designers are now gone for good precisely when more graduates are pouring into the graphic design field than ever." the way graphic designers are being educated is changing but i do not think computers make it possible for anyone to be a graphic designer. anyone can design but graphic designers have training and knowledge of the rules of typography and design. someone with a program can design something yet they are not aware of type rules and they do not have a background in design that allows them to make better decisions when designing. technology may have changed the way young designers enter the field however i do not think it makes it simple to design and create good design just because of a particular program. the program is the tool. the person is still the designer. the one who makes the decisions and creates the concepts.

#1- graphic design is creating something visually interesting and intriguing... making people visualize and understand concepts
#2- typography is the use of type to help convey a meaning and complete a concept
#3- my responsibilities as a design student are to learn and grow, to pay attention and take advantage of my resources to become a smart designer, to research other designers and learn from their work
#4- to get the most out of my viscom classes it is important to study other designers' work and learn and be inspired. it is also important to ask questions and learn from crits in order to refine and learn what works and what should be thrown away