Week 4: Design and Community

Next week we will get into the topic of design and community. What does it look like when designers apply their creative and critical skills to a community context instead of a commercial context? How, as a graphic designer, can you help make people’s lives better? How, as a graphic designer, can you help facilitate social engagement? Is this even design at all?

We’ll ask those questions and more during our discussions and field trips next week.

*

TUESDAY

Due: Please post your walk documentation to Tumblr by 9am, Tuesday morning. 

Read: Please read the following for Tuesday. Remember to print the readings out and bring them to class! These links can also be found on the READ page of this blog.

First Things First Manifesto, 1964

First Things First Manifesto, 2000

Design is about Democracy, Introduction to the First Things First Manifesto by Rick Poynor

“About” section from The Epicenter’s website

Skype/Discussion: We’ll be beaming in Maria Sykes and Jack Forinash from The Epicenter to talk about designing with and for a specific community. Please have some questions in mind to ask them! Their “About” section is rich with interesting ideas.

*

THURSDAY

Field Trip: We’ll go as a class to the Museum of Contemporary Craft to see the Studio H exhibit currently on display. I will let you know on Tuesday if we’ll meet at the museum or if we’ll meet in class and go together.

Due: You’ll have a reading/discussion response due. I will give you a question in class on Tuesday to base your writing on.

*

ALL WEEK

Remember, this is the last week you have to execute your Project #1. Work hard! Don’t get behind! You set your schedule in your proposals, so stick to it. We’ll use any extra in-class time to talk about your projects. But DO NOT HESITATE to reach out to me and your classmates for our input, critique and feedback. Email me. Post to the Tumblr if you need help.