Lecture & Brief
Starting this I had no idea what critical design is and now I feel I have more of a grasp on the concept. By the end of the 3 weeks I am certain I will fully understand it.
The overall idea of critical design is to challenge opinions. The thought is not to come up with a solution like branded, client based design but to draw attention to most likely an issue. The lecturer uses the example of premier inn’s recognisable rooms. The do not change or differ no matter where they are in the world. The same paint, bed, wood fixtures, curtains and even the identical painting/ printed canvas design is used. I was told to think of this as affirmative design or the classic client/ brief based designs. But critical design is made to challenge these notions and come from a narrative.
I learnt that even designers in the field conflict on the theory. I agree most with Anthony Dunne and Fiona Raby (D&A). They say this type of design is finding problems for service of society to make us citizens think and debate usually about ethics of that medium.
The brief in my eyes is to change things up and be ambitious. I have freedom, which is daunting and scary, but a platform to finding issues and broadcast them in any way I want. I feel the brief needs to be personal and use my interests, which is where I will start.
Fiona Fraser's Graphics 