Week 2: Design Culture
- Tramaine Berry
- Oct 3, 2020
- 4 min read
Updated: Sep 21, 2023
Guest Lecture: Mazier Raein
My understanding of this lecture is that today’s designers have less understanding of the history behind their practice, but focus on building their knowledge from other sources such as literature, films, politics, etc. This is a topic I touched on from my last blog regarding how studios prefer to look outside the design world because that is where all the weird and interesting things come from. There is a resurging in today’s generation, not only because students are being encouraged to do side projects, but because we are being encouraged to ask more questions about the world around us.
An interesting designer that came up in the lecture was Sister Corita because back then women were not recognised in the design world like they are today, and I think it's interesting to see how humanist graphics is reoccurring in a different and stronger way. Her posters were silkscreen and touched on subjects such as poverty,racism and injustice, whilst today the definition of graphic design opens opportunities to campaign and communicate to a wider audience through a diverse range of mediums. In fact, humanist messages are being in braced by corporate brands such as always,etc.; however, the politics of these messages has also widened to gender and environmentalism.
Despite Graphic Design practitioners moving away from the corporate world over the years, I think the lines between corporate and using design for social awareness has blurred, which was what Spiekermann was trying to communicate. It makes me wonder wat the general motives for these brands are. Are they only doing these campaigns to empower their consumers? Is the brand following a social awareness trend? Are they trying to attract new consumers? Or are they using their brand to start a conversation between consumers?
Sister Corita's 'Love is hard work' poster reminded me of the many LGBTQ+ painted logo's I've seen this year. How did the rainbow become a symbol for love? And was this in the context of LGBTQ+? Today's awareness of this rainbow has become overused to the point where it isn't as powerful anymore, in fact, it becomes annoying to the people that use this symbol to identify with.
Drip-dry shirts by Roberts Lucienne
It was interesting to find out that political propaganda started during the first world war, and started combining new ideas about society; I was curious when looking at Sister Corita's work as to how or when this type of graphic design was generated. Like Sister Corita's work in the 60's, inspiration came from fine art and designers started doing their own image-making.
Not much has changed because Graphic Design is still seen as a merged practice, although the importance of the production process has reduced due to the advances of technology.
WORKSHOP CHALLENGE //
This week's workshop challenge required me to choose 3 design studio's for design practice and design production that represent the city I live in. I based my studios on Falmouth (a town) because I visit the city very rarely.
Design Practice
1. Made Open
Certified B Corporation
Social values: improving health and wellbeing, developing communities and creating sustainable futures.
Platform Design Services / Branding / Content Creation / Communications Planning / Digital and Physical Community Engagement / Infographics
Richmond House, 37 Edward Street, Truro, TR1 3AJ
2. Two
Working with social, cultural, educational and corporate clients
Graphics ad Identity / Exhibition and Installations /Website and Digital Experiences / Print & Communications / Custom Typeface
'The best ideas start with a conversation between two people'
Two, Waterside House, Falmouth Road, Penryn, Cornwall TR10 8BE
3. Leap
Individual specialists - Team of 10
Since 2000
Design for change. Supporting local businesses
Design (Packaging / Print Design), Digital (E-commerce / Web Design / Social Media) and Consulting (Brand and Strategy)
Another Studio based in London
Old Bakery Studios, Blewetts Wharf, Malpas Rd, Truro (HQ)
Design Production
1. Octopus Print
Binding and printing
https://www.octopus-falmouth.co.uk
49 Killigrew St, Falmouth, TR11 3PW
2. Kingdom & Sparrow
The original Falmouth School of Art, 1902
Keeping traditional techniques alive; from Lino-cutting and screen printing to painting and etching
https://www.kingdomandsparrow.co.uk
Kingdom & Sparrow, The Old Art School, Arwenack Avenue, Falmouth, Cornwall, TR11 3JJ
3. John Howard / Print Studios
Since 2007
Etching / Relief / Monoprinting / Photoetching / Screen printing
Workshops and Courses
Unit 4/5 Jubilee Wharf, Commercial Road, Penryn TR10 8FG
REFLECTION //
It was a challenge to find studios for 'design production' because I wasn't certain whether I was looking for design studios that still used traditional print techniques or places that provided print services as individual services. However, it was easy to distinguish after looking through the approved selection of production studios.
All of the 'design production' studios are based either near or in Falmouth because Falmouth is a unique town that cannot have large redevelopments due to its landscape, thus, reminds to be traditional. And I based the medium of the studios on the University's resources, giving me a guideline to work on.
As for the 'design practice' studios, I based them on the values I believe Falmouth to have such as community, sustainability and social impact. All studios seem to be in an office space, which suggests they are small businesses. I do find this very surprising because considering the studios are not as expensive as London, I thought they would have their own individual buildings.
References
Roberts, l., (2005) Drip Dry Shirts: The Evolution of the Graphic Designer. London: AVA Publishing
Guest Lecture with Mazier Raein
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