CTS - Graphic design theory
In this week’s CTS session, we read an extract of ‘The crystal goblet, or why printing should be invisible’ by Beatrice Warde, 1930 and discussed our thoughts on the text. Throughout the text, she is talking about the different aspects of design and its process before printing and the fine distinction between form and function. In this text, she highlights:
“Calligraphy can almost be considered a fine art nowadays, because its primary economic and educational purpose has been taken away, but printing in English will not qualify as an art until the present English language no longer conveys ideas to future generations, and until printing itself hands its usefulness to some yet unimagined successor”(Helen Armstrong, 2009, p.41)
I can relate to her argument, however, there are people out there making a living out of this. I feel that she is underestimating the artistic form of typography and the impact that it has on our society. Nevertheless, the era that she made this speech could have had an impact on her thoughts. Even though she is encouraging a modernist approach.
After leaving my class, I searched for the reviews of the book to gain an understanding of people’s desire for this book. I gathered that people found the essays very useful and saw the
necessity of designers having a copy of the book. As it explains the fundamental components of design and different perception of designers for particular design areas. This is further explained by an extract of from Eye Magazine (2009):
No part of Graphic Design Theory is free from the editor’s (or writers’) subjective vision. So it is crucial for designers to extend a wide hospitality to different points of view. When readers can find plenty of books containing various visions of the field, Graphic Design Theory will be able to stand as one way of thinking among many others rather than an official ‘Theory’.
Reference:
Helen Armstrong (2009). The graphic design theory. Princeton Architectural Press
Jiwan Lee (2009). Towards a theory of everything design. Eye Magazine. Available at: http://www.eyemagazine.com/review/article/towards-a-theory-of-everything-design