Lots of Week 11 Readings
Even though this week we had 6 long readings, I have read and taken notes on every other reading. It couldn't not read them. I have been slowly making my way through them over the weekend. (I have still only made my way through 4/6 readings so this post is not a summary of all of them)
The first reading I read was ‘Generative Practice’ which helped me to better understand both week 10 & 11’s lectures. I will summarise what info helped me to connect with the topics better below...
Generative systems allow a range of possible outcomes, they usually combine a range of forms into one outcome, making their complexity one of their defining features (this is true to the complexity of movie barcodes for examples, a range of average colours combined into one image)
It could be defined as “Art where the artist gives partial control of their productive process to some kind of autonomous system” (Leonardo Solaas)
Or as “the various possible forms of creative collaboration between human and non human”
I think I’m able to connect with the second definition better, and I think it is more open to the fact that really, every artistic process has a certain degree of autonomy e.g a pottery wheel or printing plates.
Trying to find some more practical examples of generative design working well (beyond inspirobot) I came across AutoDesk’s work with VW to create lighter and stronger structures for their classic van. They described the process as “human engineering combined with artificial intelligence” and claims it has revolutionised the way they work. I have the link to a great video explaining it, and some screen-grabs of their work.
Video: ADSK 2019-01 VW Bus Generative Design V07
The next 3 readings I tackled (‘M/M Interview’, ‘Interview with Lucienne Roberts’ & ‘Please, Eat the Daisies’) discussed what Design is, what Design Art is and if Design and Art can work together as one or do they are inherently different and opposing.
These three readings all displayed very strong opinions so it’s hard to present any facts here, I think it is best displayed with some quotes, first from M/M Interview
“Design is omnipresent and fundamental in a way art is just not”
“Michelangelo was not the artist we think of him today as, but more of an artisan”
And then from ‘Interview with Lucienne Roberts’,
“Design should change people’s way of thinking, not just their opinions” (I really like this quote)
I think the M/M interview quotes display a much more closed minded view on the art and design practices and I think I disagree with how dismissive he is of art, especially when people often lump art and design together as one.
(I think i’m back to really long tumblr posts ooops)