WOII: Week 10 - Post-Structuralism
Post-structuralism is a way of thinking that challenges the idea of a single, universal truth. It suggests that our understanding of the world is shaped by individual experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives. This means that two people can interpret the same thing in completely different ways. In philosophy, post-structuralism questions whether any system—like language, meaning, or design—can ever be truly fixed or objective.
In class, we explored this idea through an activity where we worked in pairs to capture images and words without speaking to each other. This exercise made it clear how differently people can perceive the same subject, with each interpretation shaped by personal feelings and viewpoints. It was a reminder that all experiences are subjective, and meaning is never universal.
Ellen Lupton is a designer who clearly works with a post-structuralist and deconstructivist mindset. She often challenges traditional design rules and embraces complexity, fragmentation, and visual disruption. Two strong examples of this are How Posters Work and Alexander Gelman, Walls of the City, 1992.
How Posters Work explores how posters use layering, contrast, and disruption to communicate in open-ended, flexible ways. Walls of the City features two posters clashing visually, breaking the idea of a clean, unified layout and instead creating tension—another post-structuralist move.
Post-structuralism has helped me think differently about design. In a time when AI and constant innovation make originality feel impossible, it reminds me that being creative can also mean breaking rules, disrupting expectations, and looking at things from a new perspective.
Citation
How Posters Work
“How Posters Work.” Ellenlupton, ellenlupton.com/How-Posters-Work. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
Alexander Gelman, Walls of the City, 1992
TypeRoom. “Ellen Lupton: Top Ten Favorite Typographic Posters of All Time.” TypeRoom, www.typeroom.eu/article/ellen-lupton-s-top-ten-favorite-typographic-posters-all-time. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.
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