Summary #1
The general theme I saw throughout the first piece "Creating Freedom: The Lottery of Birth" was to challenge your beliefs and look at what around you might be affecting or creating those beliefs. Our belief system is heavily influenced by culture, location, family, and so much more that you wouldn't even consider. Challenging. these beliefs and trying to find the root of them is important to creating progress in our society. It's what moves us towards changing and advancing us as people. Looking at what we consider to be normal and determining for ourselves whether it is acceptable or not. Going against the norm.
The reading from "Do Good Design" emphasized how design and advertisement in particular, can be beneficial but can also go too far. From Coca Cola being on every sign in cities in Tanzania, to billboards and ads overunning a major city in Brazil. Companies are willing to slap their logo on anything that will be in the eyeline of people throughout the day. It overuns everything from public spaces to our phones and social media. Promotion is good and designs can be used for products, items, companies that are beneficial to the wellbeing of the public as well but moderation and avoiding oversaturation is also necessary.
The final video the TED talk by Debbie Millman emphasized that design can be taken back and moved and shifted to more positive outlets. Showing that people are using design to promote causes that matter instead of corporations pushing more down on us. Showing that design doesn't always have to be for financial gain but instead for the improvement of society and creating positive change.
Challenge and question the way things work
Design with a purpose is far more powerful than a logo or an ad
Oversaturation of advertisement is everywhere
Strong authority often eliminates conscience
Design has the power to unite or divide
Design with a conscience not a corporation
