Archive for November, 2009
Form is Function – Part 2, Arts and Information
Sunday, November 29th, 2009
Arts
A broad enough term on its own, the arts (we’ll say fine arts for now) have only recently accepted graphic design as valid in its living room. Truth be told, some practitioners don’t even want to visit in the first place. It’s a strange relationship between the two, neither wanting to recognize the other until something profound happens. This sort of event is usually chalked up to “saying something” – a vague enough subjective descriptor in its own right. Anything can “say something.” A dried up worm on the sidewalk says that it was a hot day outside. The better question is, “Does it have value?” Even then, there’s a subjective undertone curiously fishing the banks waiting for a tug.
So this value or “worth” is born outside of a mere interpretation. It is an informed view that sees the inherent message. Because Graphic Design is primarily a mode of message and information transport, success hinges on an informed design that properly conveys that message. Many have been fooled into thinking that the ability to paint like Dalí or write like Bradbury are the keys to good design.
This simply isn’t true. (more…)
Tags: culture, design, form, function
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