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Critical Design – How critical design is influencing change in society?

 (I have analyzed each designer’s portions of the magazine article to gain a greater holistic view to critique the source.)

  The exhibition – Designing critical Design was held in the Z33 House of Contemporary Art in Belgium from March 4th 2007 until June 3rd 2007. This exhibition housed examples of critical design from like minded designers Jurgen Bey, Martí Guixé and Dunne & Raby which were published along with other works of them and their respective studios in the magazine DAMN° Z33.

 The source is relevant to the subject of critical design and how it is able to cross “the borders between contemporary art and design and reveal developments in society and scientific phenomena.” (Bettens, W., Demyttenaere, S., Firmin, E., & Ledoux, P., 2007, p. 2) The designers in the article are all of like-minded approaches in their philosophy towards design. The designers philosophies on how design is developing around a culture and society which is not being challenged is one that interest me, and is a significant argument that should be addressed in todays ‘ever changing’ society.

 The project “The World According to Bey” is a work where Bey “provokes a micro-think process about the values of design itself.” (Jurgen Bey - Bettens, W., Demyttenaere, S., Firmin, E., & Ledoux, P., 2007, p. 3)  He takes elements of human progression and questions ways in how we can improve the way we are moving forward as a society. By encompassing works of others in a unique perspective of how he feels society could work if thinking was applied to all aspects, which people barely think about. And how these can help improve and utilize everything to its full potential. These are interesting views in how design and critical design can reveal developments in our society through thinking alone.

 Martí Guixé describes himself as an ex-designer as he feels it allows “more freedom of expression and activity” (Martí Guixé - Bettens, W., Demyttenaere, S., Firmin, E., & Ledoux, P., 2007, p. 13) to what he is able to do. His thought provoking exhibitions are ones that test the perceptions of everyday people and offer a differing view on the culture of products and how the regular industrial designer thinks. His philosophy on calling works that defy boundaries of design ‘projects’ is an interesting way of blurring the line between contemporary art and design.

 Dunne & Raby as a design collective “explore ways of relocating the aims to develop effective tools for disseminating conceptual design proposals that actively engage people’s imaginations.” Dunne & Raby (as cited in Designing Critical Design - JURGEN BEY– MARTÍ GUIXÉ – DUNNE & RABY , 2007) Their exhibitions focus on human characteristics and relate to deeper thinking of how we develop as a society, and how critical design tries to push the general populous to think differently. Their views are that we are not challenged enough in today’s modern society.

 The arguements of all the designers spoken about, and to in the magazine article offers a view into critical design. The insight of these designers helps me in the topic of critical design and the angle I am taking on it. I am focusing on peoples perception to change and how critical design helps to develop and challenge those in the general population as there has not been a significant design movement since before the millennium. I feel this source was of great value as it offered insights into the world of critical designers, how some of the more renowned critical designers think and how critical design is trying to push society forward.

    Bettens, W., Demyttenaere, S., Firmin, E., & Ledoux, P. (2007, March 4th) . Designing Critical Design – JURGEN BEY– MARTÍ GUIXÉ – DUNNE & RABY. DAMN° Z33 - DESIGN, ARCHITECTURE & ART MAGAZINE. (Publisher DAMnation Ltd.)