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Graphic Design Symposium

25-27 July 2014

This weekend I went to a graphic design symposium. This symposium is apart of 'the graphic design school school'- arranged by Luke and Mel (the physics room). We had a fantastic drive into the mountains to the universities own hutt called "Cass". We arrived in the afternoon and was able to meet and introduce ourselves to the speakers that made the trip. Including(in no particular order): Catherine Griffiths, Jonty Valentine, Janson Chau, Layla Tweedie-Cullen, Matthew Galloway, Ella Sutherland, Noel Waite, Toby Curnow, Bruce Russel.

The first night was a review of the two lecturers that have been taking us for this project so far. Luke Wood and Brad Haylock gave us an insight into their own studies.

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Sat—We had 9 different lectures within the space of 10 hours. Crazy and intense but also so fantastic. Everyone was amazing, and offered a lifetime amount of advice for this particular field. [ Graphic Design ]

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A little view of how much we were all paying attention to the speakers haha. Classic. Very tiresome day. 

Overall this trip was a great opportunity to really talk to a range of graphic designers and artists. They are all so interesting, its great to see a progression of things in New Zealand for Graphic Design [GD practice]. Finding multiple ways that graphic design can function, anywhere and I guess specifically New Zealand is great to know as a graduating student. 

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1-August-2014

Black-letter workshop, run by current class-mate Jess.  Pretty great afternoon listening to heavy metal and calmly learning how to draw my own black-letter typeface.... nice and relaxing day to what has seemed to be the most hectic week.

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first day – (graphic) design school school 2014

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Instrumental – serving or acting as an instrument or means; useful; helpful.

Intrinsic – belonging naturally; essential.

We had a chat today about these two words and how they best describe two different aspects of graphic design, I will try and re-create this as a footnote [for myself] to better 'understand' the terms 'graphic design' and 'problem solving'.

With two examples, first a coffee cup. Instrumental design is the object that is designed to carry the coffee, thus being it's main function. Intrinsic design is the graphic identity that is [usually] wrapped around the coffee cup, a beautiful cultural product of design.

Second example is the different choice of a particular song or chosen music. Instrumental being a song/music enjoyed and listened to as a result of the lyrics (spoken content). Whereas an intrinsic song would be defined as the enjoyment of the particular sounds that are played.

[as a furrther note the definition of inherent seems to work alongside intrinsic – existing in something as a permanent, essential, or characteristic attribute].

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Minimal Domination – Justin Clemens

http://www.surpllus.com/   [ #7 ]

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An end to our third day, with an introduction to four different readings–all manifestos to compare between against one another. 

first things first manifesto – 2000 and 1964 – various authors

Bauhaus Manifesto and Program – 1919 – Walter Gropius

Manifesto. – Blast

The Futurist Manifesto – 1909 – F.T.Marinetti

We also finalised our logo designs with a mini 'show' night alongside Brad Haylock's talk "What is the problem in 'problem solving'?"

I have never felt so enlightened, argumentative and confused all at once after a 'graphic design' lecture like this one, it really shows, the more you learn the less you know. 

Points to expand and research from tonight:

Metahaven– is design necessary? Design is not driven by human need, so what is the problem? Maybe there is no problem?

difference between Wants and Needs that drive new production.

Without economic desires or value, what is design?

'everyone designs who devises courses of action aimed at changing existing situations into preferred ones'

wicked problems in design thinking – Richard Buchanan

'Wicked problems have no definitive formulation, but every formulation of a wicked problem corresponds to the formulation of a solution'.

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This may be an experiment, overall in fact. I am, under exceptional circumstances, apart of a new graphic design school - named (graphic) design school school - for the next six weeks in my undergraduate degree I am apart of a group that is undertaking this project at 'the physics room', a contemporary art space in Christchurch. 

It seems that this is a rare opportunity, for anyone that would attend a artistic institution and thus I have been intrigued to document this experience, and a blog seems to be the most convenient platform for this kind of documentation. 

Alongside this my own practice and design work created in this space and during this time will be making an appearance... 

Day One:

[The Physics Room: first discussion and set-up]

an introduction-ary talk by Luke and Brad about different institutions including Bauhaus, ULM, The Academy of Visual Arts Leipzig, werkplaates

Day Two:

[24 hour logo design for the 'graphic design school school']

Lectures include: Luke Wood (UC) and Brad Haylock (RMIT)

Pretty positive so far in terms of participation and interest, personally I can't stay away from this environment!