Introduction to Design
As a class answer these questions:
What is design? and what does it do?
How is it different and similar to art?
What is design? and what does it do?
How is it different and similar to art?
Artists and designers both create visual compositions using a shared knowledge base, but their reasons for doing so are entirely different.
An artist typically creates an artwork to show a message, a mood, an emotion or to comment on society. These works are meant to evoke an emotional response from the viewer. This could be to inspire people or to bring awareness of an issue such as depression or environmental causes, etc. An artwork is meant to be interpreted in different ways, in other words, it has more than one meaning.
A designer on the other hand, is concerned about communication. What ever the designer makes it needs to be clearly understood by it's audience. It has one meaning or intention. The designer follows a design brief, this outlines a project. It may be for a poster, a website, a product, a logo, etc. These projects are needed by the client to fulfil a purpose or function. For example, a poster may be needed to sell a musical event and inform people of the details.
An artist typically creates an artwork to show a message, a mood, an emotion or to comment on society. These works are meant to evoke an emotional response from the viewer. This could be to inspire people or to bring awareness of an issue such as depression or environmental causes, etc. An artwork is meant to be interpreted in different ways, in other words, it has more than one meaning.
A designer on the other hand, is concerned about communication. What ever the designer makes it needs to be clearly understood by it's audience. It has one meaning or intention. The designer follows a design brief, this outlines a project. It may be for a poster, a website, a product, a logo, etc. These projects are needed by the client to fulfil a purpose or function. For example, a poster may be needed to sell a musical event and inform people of the details.
Terms:
Client:
The client is the person or business/corporation who is commissioning (employing) a designer to create something for them. The client outlines the main objectives that they wish to see in the final design to guide the designer in creating the desired product.
Design Brief:
The brief outlines the requirements needed to complete a design. The designer must follow the brief carefully to ensure that the design truly reflects what the client is asking for.
Function:
The function is what the product actually does or what it is used for.
Audience or consumer:
The consumer is the person who will buy or use the product. Designers should consider what the consumer wants in a product.
Client:
The client is the person or business/corporation who is commissioning (employing) a designer to create something for them. The client outlines the main objectives that they wish to see in the final design to guide the designer in creating the desired product.
Design Brief:
The brief outlines the requirements needed to complete a design. The designer must follow the brief carefully to ensure that the design truly reflects what the client is asking for.
Function:
The function is what the product actually does or what it is used for.
Audience or consumer:
The consumer is the person who will buy or use the product. Designers should consider what the consumer wants in a product.
Short Activity:
List all of the designed products in the art room or your kitchen at home.
List all of the designed products in the art room or your kitchen at home.
Design Education:
- Teaches us to think in different ways about the world we live in.
- Provides us with the skills to adapt in a changing world.
Areas of Design:
Graphic Illustration
Graphic design is what we see, read and watch. For example, signs, advertising, television, magazines.
The Built Environment
Environmental design, where we live, work and play. Houses, schools, offices, shops, factories.
Frank Gehry, Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angles, 2003
Industrial Design
Product design is what we wear and drive: appliances, machines, cars, furniture, clothing, jewellery, etc.
Your Task:
The Wallet Project
The wallet project tasks aims to introduce you to the design process. You are to create 'a money holding thing.' It does not need to look like a typical wallet at the end!
You will need to use:
The process for this task will go as follows:
You will need to use:
- Problem solving
- Lateral thinking
- Communication skills
The process for this task will go as follows:
- Generate ideas - as a class
- Discuss how you and a partner use wallets and if you have one, go through it and discuss the items within
- What can be learnt from this?
- Define a problem statement
- Generate ideas
- Get feedback from your partner and other class mates.
- Iterate (repeat the idea generation and feedback steps)
- Build a prototype