Lecture 11: Whatâs next for communication design?
Throughout this lecture we looked at how we have now moved into a hybrid state between a material world and a digitalised world. Towards the end of the lecture the question was asked when using adobe software how much of the design is authored by you the designer? and how much is authored by something else? e.i. the program. I donât think I could answer this question properly as I havenât spent enough time on the adobe programs. However, it is an interesting idea when you think programs such as adobe supply you with all the tools and equipment you need and most of the time can do all the hard work. I feel the idea comes from the person and then is executed by the program.Â
Early on we looked at this movie barcode from Kung Fu Panda 3. Before seeing this I didnât know movie barcodes existed. I found this segment really interesting, especially how you can predict the storyline just from the barcode and how you can often tell what the character is going through by the use of colours, e.g. purple means turbulent. After the lecture I looked up other movie barcodes and found them all rather beautiful and kind of mesmerising to look at.
Reference:Â Moviebarcode.tumblr.com. 2020. Moviebarcode. [online] Available at: <https://moviebarcode.tumblr.com> [Accessed 20 May 2020].
We also looked at Parametric and Generative design and how they have been used. We looked at how you can generate different patterns by using the same grid, similar to the way Pepsi has. There is an overlap with grid work from the early 20th century that parallels to what is happening in the 21st century. Can also relate to the Bauhaus and how some artists were heavily influenced by using a grid system in their work.Â
Reference:Â Davis, D., 2020. Parametric Typography. [online] Daniel Davis. Available at: <https://www.danieldavis.com/parametric-typography/> [Accessed 20 May 2020].
Work by Jason Salavon.Â
He has manipulated preexisting media to create works of art âby overlaying images (such as multiple photographs) and averaging the result to create visual amalgamations and, second, by distributing processed media (such as individual frames of a movie) side by side or in other configurations.â - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jason_SalavonÂ
I wasnât fully sure on what Parametric and Generative design meant, so I looked into them a bit more and used these definitions as a reference.Â
Parametric design is a process based on algorithmic thinking that enables the expression of parameters and rules that, together, define, encode and clarify the relationship between design intent and design response.Â
Generative design is a design exploration process. Designers or engineers input design goals into the generative design software, along with parameters such as performance or spatial requirements, materials, manufacturing methods, and cost constraints. The software explores all the possible permutations of a solution, quickly generating design alternatives. It tests and learns from each iteration what works and what doesnât.
Reference:Â Theophanidis, P., 2020. On Uniqueness And Averageness: Jason SalavonâS âEvery Playboy Centerfold, The Decadesâ (2002). [online] APHELIS. Available at: <https://aphelis.net/uniqueness-averageness-jason-salavons-every-playboy-centerfold-decades-2002/> [Accessed 20 May 2020].