new developments & a call for change: macintosh, meggs, & museums

key terms:

steven heller: cult of the ugly, eye, 1993
philip b. meggs, history of graphic design, 1983
mildred friedman, walker art center, Minneapolis, MN
stefan sagmeister

• questioning where the field is going

stephen heller:

• 1993: stephen heller writes an article called "the cult of ugly" 

-singles out magazine called output by cranbrook students
-says it's symbolic of all that's gone astray in graphic design
-ugly design could be trying to defy standards

"cult of ugly" article- stephen heller

cranbrook students' magazine

philip meggs:

-writes a history of graphic design textbook --> growing next generation of students

first comprehensive history of graphic design 1983

many editions:

mildred friedman:

mildred friedman
curator of graphic design at walker art center
explored ways to present graphic design in exhibition

walker art center
shows a lot more graphic design than anywhere else

comprehensive, w accompanying textbook
graphic design as barometer of society that it reflects
graphic design as agent of political, cultural, etc. change

design/brand identity for walker

1989 (?) exhibition

april greiman
for exhibition

• 2011 exhibition: "now in production"

-showed that graphic design went from a profession to a widely used tool in communication
-broadens professional scope of graphic designer
-looked at design magazines/publications, branding programs, subcultures
-showed entrepreneur aspect of graphic design

• 1984 (?): macintosh apple & growth of internet

april greiman

macintosh 2
also allowed untrained graphic designer to enter the field

“You can’t do better design with a computer, but you can speed up your work enormously.”

-Wim Crouwel

“Technology over technique produces emotionless design.” 

– Daniel Mall

"Computers are to design as microwaves are to cooking."

-Milton Glaser

"Design is easy. All you do is stare at the screen until drops of blood form on your forehead."

-Marty Neumeier

"There are now about as many different varieties of letters as there are different kinds of fools."

-Eric Gill

"Skill in the digital age is confused with mastery of digital tools, masking the importance of understanding materials and mastering the elements of form."

-John Maeda

stephen sagmeister:

lyrics as "tattoos"

investigation of aesthetic of tattooing
assistant carved letters into his body w a knife
confrontational
suggesting graphic design is raw & human,
not commercial
publicizing a lecture of cranbrook's 

garland called for renewed humanist dimension in graphic design

2000 call to get away from just branding & selling
"the scope of debate is shrinking- it must expand"