Theory I S08

March 10: This Isn't a Printing Office

Per the assignment for today's class and inspired by Lorraine Wild's posting on Design Observer, "Wassup, Beatrice," class members did their own version of this "haiku" identifying their own practice today. Thought it would be fun to share those. Here's the original by Beatrice Ward:

Poster designed by Beatrice Warde, 1932. (image and caption from Design Observer)

Manuel Garcia:
This is a CalArts graphic design studio

Crossroad of experimentation

Home of avant-garde style, form, and meaning

Defender of expression and individuality

Fortress against commercial art

Incubator of thoughts and ideas

Cultivator of innovation

Is this a CalArts graphic design studio?

You stand on sacred ground

Nick Steinhardt:

this is a graphic design studio
thoroughly assessing and researching all avenues
too many to even think of one solution
let alone write it down
systematically covering your ass from all angles of argument
mentally defending your own decisions
battling the lines between complex and overly so
and still enjoying yourself

Jennifer Rider:

THIS IS A DESIGN STUDIO
EXISTING FIRMLY AT THE INTERSECTION OF FORM AND CONCEPT
A LABORATORY OF EXPERIMENTATION
AGAINST THE STATUS QUO
MAKING THROUGH THINKING
AND
THINKING THROUGH MAKING
MARKED BY THE WHISPERS OF THEORY AND RESEARCH

FROM THIS PLACE, TYPE AND IMAGE WILL BREATHE
NOT TO CONFORM TO ARBITRARY DEFINITIONS
NOT TO VARY WITH CLIENT BUDGETS
BUT FIXED IN TIME, HAVING BEEN GIVEN FORM AND IMBUED WITH SUBSTANCE
FRIEND YOU STAND ON SACRED GROUND
THIS IS A DESIGN STUDIO.

Lucy Cook:

This is a graphic design studio
The intersection of where art and design converge
where the ruins of time are on your side
Armored in vintage truths and thought tokens
Vocalizes the consequences of making
Against ever so changing myths,
Drowning the unwanted negativity
and unnecessary
From this place
Not to perish on waves of “over-thought”
Not to drift from the artist’s hand
But fixed in the first tea, and the last tea
Friend you stand on my sacred ground,
Pay maximum attention.
And do drink from my cup

This is a graphic design studio.
It’s rather personal.

Devin Dailey:

This is a graphic designer’s mind

Too many family members to know where I came from and what I’ve learned from each

A ball of yarn that entangles many arts
Time to decide which I like best

Closet of multiple wardrobes
Protecting the elements of capitalism

Perpetual process in prose

From this mind words form into collateral
Not to gang-run for lack of color
Not to be exported in haste
But prepared with genuine passion for the man

Self, you know more than you think

This is a graphic designer’s mind

Michelle Park:

This is a designer's laboratory
Core of visual literacy
Inventors of intricate methods for conservative meaning
The constant shadow of organization and the need for cultural instruction
Meaning beyond words but through trained visual and implied meaning
Essential efforts of the few and hopelessly obsessed
This is a graphic design office

March 10: Good Type

Poster designed by Beatrice Warde, 1932. (image and caption from Design Observer)

Please read the following texts carefully.
1.Create a summary of each text that does not exceed 50 words (is, the, a, to, of and other tiny words do not count).
2. Check out this posting by Lorraine Wild on Design Observer. As Lorraine (and those commenting) use "Ms. Warde's statement as a template for a new succinct description of [your] own reality." Also use your own design!

Stanley Morison, 1930, “First Principles of Typography” (reader) Typographers on Type, edited by Ruari McLean, Norton & Company, 1995

Beatrice Ward, 1932, “Printing should be Invisible” (book)

Beatrice Ward, 1940, “This is a Printing Office.” Typographers on Type, edited by Ruari McLean, Norton & Company, 1995 (reader)

T. M. Cleland, 1940, “Harsh Words” (book)