CTS B | Week 11 Summative Assessment Prep — Session 1
Week 11’s session on manifesto writing encouraged me to think deeply about the relationship between design, belief, and intention. I learned that a manifesto is not simply a creative exercise or a list of ideals; it is a process of defining what I value and what I want to bring into the world through design. This made me reflect on what I truly stand for as a designer and how my creative decisions represent my personal growth.
This reflection also guided me back to the phrases I chose for my manifesto: “Design is where ideas meet reality” and “My artistic vision is not fixed; it grows as I do.” These lines reminded me that design evolves alongside my own development. I began to understand that design is not a fixed outcome but a form of thought that continuously transforms as my experiences and perspectives expand. I also realized that design is not limited to projects or studio practice but exists in the way I observe, feel, and respond to the world. This shift allowed me to view design as a mindset for interpreting and engaging with life rather than merely a technical skill.
M/M PARIS M/M (Paris) is a graphic design duo known for its experimental and conceptual visual language.
This understanding naturally led me back to my previous semester’s research project on M/M (Paris). They once stated in an interview, “We are trained as graphic designers and our main interests are the building of images, signs, or alphabets, which can circulate very fast.” I interpreted this line as a kind of manifesto, revealing their belief that design can communicate thought through form. If you are interested in their practice, you can read the full interview here: https://www.itsnicethat.com/features/mm-paris-practice-graphic-design-210917
The works of M/M (Paris)
In their posters and editorial works, it becomes clear that they think through shapes rather than words and explore authenticity through experimentation and imperfection. Their use of layered typography, organic grids, and visual rhythm demonstrates how belief can take form.
My design works
When I revisited the brochure and poster I created for that project, I realized that many of the values I expressed in my manifesto this semester were already present in those designs. Balance, fluidity, and intuition guided my decisions, and these choices reflected my belief in an honest and evolving approach to design. This realization helped me understand that my work is not only an aesthetic exploration but also an expression of my personal philosophy. Observing M/M (Paris)’s work made me realize that design is not confined to a medium or a finished result. It is a continuous dialogue between intention, perception, and the world.
Ultimately, this experience taught me that a manifesto is not about setting strict rules but about defining direction. It encouraged me to approach design as an evolving mindset that grows with me and to see my creative practice as a living manifesto that expresses my beliefs through visual language and continues to develop with every project I create.
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References / Image Sources :
Brewer, Billie. “M/M (Paris) and the ongoing conversations that define its practice.” It’s Nice That, 21 Sept. 2017, https://www.itsnicethat.com/features/mm-paris-practice-graphic-design-210917?utm_source=chatgpt.com.
“Mathias Augustyniak and Michael Amzalag.” TheFashionography, https://thefashionography.com/a/creatives/mathias-augustyniak-and-michael-amzalag/.
M/M (Paris). Les affiches du Théâtre de Lorient. Les Presses du réel, Dec. 2015, https://www.lespressesdureel.com/ouvrage.php?id=4417&menu=0.
“The Alphabet.” Alliance Graphique Internationale, https://a-g-i.org/design/the-alphabet.
Brewer, Billie. “M/M (Paris) and the Ongoing Conversations That Define Its Practice.” It’s Nice That, 21 Sept. 2017, https://www.itsnicethat.com/features/mm-paris-practice-graphic-design-210917?utm_source=chatgpt.com.