Week 1: What is a designer?
Week 1 Reading notes:
The Hidden Side of Design: The Relevance of Artisanship
Bettiol, Marco ; Micelli, Stefano, Design Issues, 2014, Vol.30(1), pp.7-18
This article explains to us the close relationship between designers and artisans/craftsmen, and even the fact that a craftsman is sometimes an important factor in determining the success or failure of a brand. The article mainly cited the experience of Sacchi, an artisan with his own workshop in Milan, and his workshop was the point for many famous designers. He can transform a designer's design from two dimensions to three. In the process of two-dimensional to three-dimensional transformation, the craftsman should use the knowledge of various materials, have the ability to predict the technical problems related to the expansion of production scale and possess various relevant professional knowledge, and constantly adjust and improve the design in the process of manufacturing the mould. Sacchi's story fully embodies the inseparable relationship between the designer and the craftsman.
The article also mentioned the idea of "Thinkering," where users can work with like-minded people, colleagues, and a few experts to complete the product. Customers can become designers of their own products. At the same time, the article also mentioned how tailors are very important in the fashion industry, and the difference between finished products and design drawings is surprising, which is a new spark in the interaction between designers and tailors.
Reflection：
Through reading this article, I deeply understand that an excellent designer not only needs to be creative but also needs to have professional knowledge in related industries and neighbourhoods. This professional knowledge includes the understanding of materials, the prediction of production costs, and the understanding of the consumer market, which is what I think a common designer should have. At the same time, I also think that good designers also have "experimental spirit" and "cooperative spirit", because a good product requires designers and craftsmen or more people from different professional fields to cooperate, discuss, experiment and test together. The final product will be loved by consumers.
Week 1 Lecture Notes:
What is a Designer?
To define what is a Designer, we must first reflect more on the process and outcome of design. To further clarify the craft we can also look at what a Designer is not in order to help outline the many crossovers that a designer often faces in their occupation.
To some the image of a studio with stylish furniture, bespoke spectacle wearing, uber human clad in a black skivvy, perched in front of a sketch pad, bathed in an aurora of ascendance captures what designer is. However this is aspirational portrayal has been marketed to display a job role but in fact does not answer or show at all what makes this person a designer. A designer is not a magical creative who sits perched above the mundane problems many other professions face. In fact every designer lives as we do, has grounding budgets, client clauses, research roles and boundaries work within. A designer must navigate through a varied range of responsibilities to get to their final outcome. No one succeeds based just on instinct, it takes work to design, much more that people realise.
So lets understand what a designer is not by how elements of other professions involve similar traits but not entirely encompass what a designer does. A designer is not an Artist however the practice involves aesthetic output but the function of their work will speak to people for other reasons than just art. A designer is not a Scientist however their work will involve rational thought analysis and systematic methods of production. A designer deals with solution to problems whereas the scientist will deal primarily with the nature of a problem. A designer is not an Engineer however they do create structures both conceptual and strategic that comprehend the world around us. To design is to construct but a designer also takes on the responsibility of the artist while engineering a solution to a problem.
So is a designer a stylist? Well “At its most superficial, designers are merely stylists.” But style for the sake of style would be empty if conext behaviour and meaning are not considered part of its impact. A designer is: a professional problem solver, a communicator applying meaning to their creativity. Design is strategic, calculated and critical of intention. Designers are future shapers, planning with empathic forethought making them agitators and provocateurs. A leader in change a designer is a collaborator, applying design to create narratives in the world which we live in that best suit us.
Week 1 Tutorial notes:
Discussed : (excluding those conversation that got sidetracked)
What is “Tacit Knowledge”?
Tacit knowledge is knowledge gained by learning from other’s experiences. It is learnt by listening to other people and is not published. An example would be learning from an apprenticeship.
The system of design and manufacture in Italy
The system in Italy is based on tacit knowledge and communication between people. Designers go to people they know or experts that have specific manufacturing skills to make their product. It is also a common practice in European and Asian countries, and a small group of makers community in SA, which is different to English centric way in Australia where it is “one man makes it all”.As an example, Alessandra Baldereschi’s Donut Stool is made by basket weaving artisanal techniques in Italy.
Thinkering
Word by Paola Antonelli, Director of MoMA New York that combines the word “thinking” and “tinkering”. It proposes an idea of designers and other experts working together to form an innovative solution to a problem by thinking and making at the same time.
What is a designer?
A creative thinker and a gatekeeper of the future. One of the responsibilities of a designer is to consider the impact of design on the environment and usability of the product. A designer also bring products to the market and sits somewhere between an engineer who make things work and an artist that makes things with no function
Slack Questions: (our group opinion)
What is a designer?
A designer is skilled creative individuals in solving problems, communicating messages and collaborating with others to translate ideas into tangible outcomes.
What do we do?
It depends on the field we are in, designers could be designing products or services, user experiences, brands and identities, for communication and advertising, business system design or even social innovations.
Why do we do it?
Some people are motivated by their passion towards certain fields, such as illustration or furniture making or automotive design, while others who are inspired to be innovators that could make changes to people’s life.
Who does it affect? How?
The client, the manufacturers, the engineers or IT technicians, the consumers. The products we made or the services we provide for the client would affect the client’s business and profit. We have to work with manufacturers, technicians and engineers or other specialists so our decision would affect theirs. The consumers are the end users of products that we made and we are responsible for their experience with the product.
What experiences have influenced you and your decision to become a designer? Why/how?
Shu Yun: I have always been a creative thinker who loves to draw. News or posts on social media about products that helped the poor or in need, and smart innovations that solves annoying problems in daily lives always inspires me to do the same. When I found that being a designer means that I could draw while being creative in solving other people’s problems I decided that that is what I want to be.
Andrew: Forever, as far as I can remember, I have always seen a problem as an opportunity to create. It’s a part of my mind that I can’t seem to stop and will admit that I find some joy in tinkering and improving things around me. Having worked with engineers previously I was always burmused by their lack of aesthetic when problem solving. Why not make it look better? Having this approach to things naturally lead me to follow a path to design and give me the tools to create a better world around us.
Yi Lu: I have always loved painting since I was young(My test papers, textbooks, and desks are all my drawing paper), and my dream is to become a designer. Although as I grow older, I want to work in different fields which are all related to "design". Without a reason, I just like it. I just want to be a designer/illustrator. I think this is a talent that God has given me. But, to be honest, what made me really determined to be a designer, especially a product designer, was the second year when I came to study in Australia. One of the courses required us to design a radio. When I put photos of the final product on a social platform, many people gave me affirmation, and some even said that they wanted to buy my product. At that moment, I was very excited and felt a sense of accomplishment. At the same time, I also hope that I can promote the culture of my hometown through some products that I design.
What does ‘being a designer’ mean?
Being a designer means we are not just working in an office from 9am to 5pm. It is not just a job but a way of seeing and interacting with the world. A designer needs to observe, listen, and understand the environment and systems we live in to make changes, to create and and to make things better.
Comments
Post a Comment