The article was written by Katherine Mccoy, She studied industrial design at Michigan State University.Joined Unimark International (design firm) in 1967 which rejected the idea of designer as artist and embraced strict Swiss design.In 1971 she began her career in design education: became co-chair of the graduate design program at Cranbrook Academy of Art with her husband until 1995 where they reshaped the program. Throughout her career she received multiple design awards, AIGA national vice president, advisory board.
The article was written in 1993, which was after Mccoy left her career in advertising and design firms and was fully embraced in her work as an educator. She had a strong opinion on what a designer was, could do and should do at this stage in her life. She wrote the article to give a solution of what she sum up through her work, she believed that a designer have a voice on his own and he should use it for the causes he believes in.
Designers have their own right as citizens they have the right to say what they believe in and support any cause they would like to support. they need to know the power they have in their hands that can influence a lot of people and affect their decisions. designers solve problems in a smooth way that nobody can notice it, so they can choose what problems they are ready to solve and how. and as time is progressing designers are becoming more aware of the power they have and can use so its in their hands to decide weather the outcome is valuable enough for them to work on it or not.
here in KSA design have been progressing more than before it became an important element and people have been attracted to it more and more. and specially with what is happening in the arab world from revolutions (the arab spring) design played a big role in this movement from spreading awareness to supporting the movements to the extend of helping in the movement. a designer should have his own stand and work for it.
Anti
Vietnam war poster promoting speaking out in a
time where most designers were working in advertising
agencies
being ‘professional’ and apathetic towards social issues. This is when the
hippy movement was revolutionized.
At Unimark
International where Katherine Mccoy
worked, they followed a strict Swiss Design style. Geometric, typographic,
clean, minimalistic which is beautiful as far as design goes but missing the
‘human’ element.
Benetton is well known for its
campaigns on racism. This is a great example promoting their cause. No matter
what color you are, you wouldn’t be able to tell from the heart and it’s the
heart/soul that matters.
Digital
detox week by Adbusters
where they encourage people
to
unplug themselves from the system and be human once again.
Adbusters
spoof on IPAD. Makes you think twice before spending such money.
Edge of Arabia exhibition promoting
Saudi artists and designers addressing
social issues of various kind under the
title ‘We need to talk’
A piece by Ahmad Mater: A doctor
and artist who combines both skills to
address a social/political issue. The
war for oil/The Gulf war.
A piece by Dar al Hekma
graduate, Sara Alabdali
addressing the issue of the fact Mecca,
a holy city is turning into a
metropolitan city where the Kaaba
is a side ‘attraction’ – a loss of priorities?
Related Links:
No comments:
Post a Comment