My Design Manifesto 13/10/22

Questions to think about

- What kind of designer are you / do you want to be?

- What motivates you?

- What do you do not do?

- Is your design work a demonstration of yourself and your capacity to make the necessary choices to bring that basic self to the the world? - How do you want to engage with the world through your design, and thus become a more fully developed part of it?

It helps to have a self knowledge of how you work in more concrete practical terms

- The techniques you most rely on

- New ones you need to develop

- Any regular daily routines that help get work done more effectively

A manifesto is:

- A statement of aims and intentions

- The views of a group

- A public declaration

(manifestos have often been political so can have bad reputations)

My Design Manifesto

• Function is as important as form, form is as important as function

• Have the end user in mind

• Research - gain an understanding for what you are designing before and as you design

• Be authentic - how can you make it different to what others do / have created

• Be rational - if creativity is taken too far then the design wont be usable by anyone

• Be valuable - add to the world to provide something that is needed

• Cause no harm - using my morals, avoid advertising products I see as being 'bad'

• Be eye-catching - make people stop and think wow!

• Work with customers and clients, not for them - keep a two way open dialogue to make the best design possible

• Don't overcomplicate it - sometimes the best designs are the most simple

Design Definition 10/10/22

My definition of design:

'A design is a plan or drawing produced to show the look and function or workings of a building, garment or other object. It is also the thought process behind the positioning of shapes, text and / or images to create an overall look or accomplish a particular purpose.'

Sources used

- Oxford Languages / definitions / Design

‘1. A plan or drawing produced to show the look and function or workings of a building, garment, or other object before it is made. 2. A decorative pattern.’

- Shakuro / The Meaning of Design: What Design Is and Why It’s Important

‘“Design is a plan for arranging elements in such a way as best to accomplish a particular purpose.” - Charles Eames, American designer, architect, and filmmaker’

The Oxford dictionary helped construct this definition, however it doesn't encapsulate the entirety of design. This is where Eames' definition also inspired me.

The definition for design is not specific like other subjects. The definition of design can be interpreted differently depending on the subject area and the individual persons ideologies.

I came up with my definition based on how I see the course and how it relates to my practice. I'll use this definition to check my major project is on track as a reference point.