13 point non-manifest 

 

Because many of the students in this class do not plan a career in the graphic design field, these statements are more or less relatable.  As the (non)manifesto is formatted, I have decided to take each point individually for my response to it. 

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1- “Design requires positioning”:  it is important to stick with your views, I agree. When starting as a designer, however, I believe it is normal to derive from it.  Earning money is a big player in anyone’s life. If that variation happens, I do believe a person should be able to be critical and acknowledge the difference in views from what is produced and who is producing. 

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2- “We work with our clients”: I agree.

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3- “We are interested in the social usage [...] of the products we put into this world”: The reception and usage of our design should be formatting most of how we design something.  If. The recipient, to me anyways, is the main focus of whatever I make. It must be adapted to who it is meant to serve, not to whoever’s paying me or to my personal tastes.  

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4- “Good Design is not determined by its form but by its social access and usage”: If the design works, it is a good design.  But to me, if it fills those functions perfectly AND looks somewhat pleasant, it fits its function even better. It’s form is still somewhat relevant. 

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5- “[...]we have a specific responsibility to be aware of these exclusions we could shape[...]”: That design should speak to everyone, if it is meant for everyone.  If the design aims one specific clientele, that design should speak to that clientele. Speaking “large” all the time is ineffective and impossible. A design for children will exclude the adult, and vice-versa.

 

6- "inner-circle-logics": critique is important; input is important.  There is no good output without input. 

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7- “we like democratic media formats and mass-products which people have easy and public access to”: If that is the intention of the design, I agree.  If the design is made to be private, it is for a private intent. 

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8- “We want to do our work matching our values, social, cultural and political ideas.”: we do. 

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9- “It is a privilege to speak, to design in a society where most are not even asked about their opinion”:  The design is intended for the public actually using it, which the client might not take into necessary consideration.  The designer must go directly to the user, not skip over it. 

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10- “We are not artists”: debatable. 

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11- “ we are dependent and appreciate the feedback we get from others”:  there is no good output without good input.

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12- “design is social intervention”: it not only influences the recipient, but the designer as well.  It is not only an intervention on the client or the public, but also on the designer’s view, experience and future.  A design experience will shape future ones. 

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13- “We tend to try”: we do 
 

Design Justice Network Principles

 

I enjoy the fact that this text is in the form of a list.  It makes its point across very effectively and it’s quite easy to read and go over.  It is also a nice organization, after going over their website. The advocacy of design justice is something I’d like to see more of in design programs.