Saturday 22 November 2008

Design Critique - initial commentors to read

Through an initial literature search of visual communication and graphic design the following people have been cited quite frequently. Some I know and have read, some are new. I list their names here merely as an aide-mémoire. I will comment on their critiques later. They are:

  • Rick Poynor - a writer and critic based in London specializing in visual culture
  • Nico MacDonald - a writer on the nexus of design, business and technology
  • Michael Rock - a founding partner and creative director at 2x4 and Professor of Design at the Yale University School of Art
  • Steven Heller - author, co-author or editor of over 100 books on graphic design


Additional update - Simon Biggs has given me the following names. Some I have read, some are new. I will source them when I return to the interactive literature after I have a visual communication literature position. The authors are: Jenny Preece, Alan Dix, Gillian Crampton Smith, John Maeda, Brian Reffin Smith, Brian Massumi, Brenda Laurel and Donald Norman. I list these names here as another aide-mémoire for future reference.

Tuesday 4 November 2008

Developing a Research Position - Part 1 - Design Theory



I enhanced the previous diagram following a coffee tutorial with Chris. The new diagram concentrates solely upon the question about visual communication literature. Future diagrams will tackle the remaining questions. The essays quoted above are only a initial selection taken from a design theory reader (reference below). This enhanced diagram charts the first attempt at assigning relationships between the graphic design literature and interaction design. The links are untested and therefore are indicated as faint.

Bennet, A., ed., (2006) Design Studies: Theory and Research in Graphic Design. New York: Princeton Architectural Press

Monday 3 November 2008

First visualisation of research

Based upon the whiteboard brainstorm I have attempted to clarify the information that that contained. This is a diagram to use in my next tutorial with Chris and to be understood in context to my previous Abstract draft.



On the image are several areas of questioning that can be expanded over the coming weeks through posts and tutorials.