COP 3 / Critical writing / Research

SUMMER 2014
DISSERTATION RESEARCH
INITIAL IDEAS & DIRECTION.


PRESENTATION OF IDEAS / END OF LEVEL 5.
Because I enjoyed the subject of social control from my level 5 essay I felt it would be a good opportunity to further this subject and use it for my dissertation, however I know that I need to be more specific with in this subject.

In all honesty during the time when trying to figure out a direction in which to go in regarding my dissertation so I decided to go to the presentation with 3 ideas that offered more specificity.

I really didn't get any valuable feedback from this presentation, I thought going with a few alternatives would help to gain some opinion on direction and I asked the group for any ideas on how I could focus this study more, but the only feedback I got was 'its not specific enough'. 

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IDEAS & DIRECTION

Even though I really enjoyed the topic I based my essay on last year (Social Control), I feel that the specificity of it looks too much at advertising than it does Graphic design. I know that these two topics go hand in hand, however I feel that basing my dissertation more on Graphic design would be more beneficial to me and would also help me to relate it to my practical work more successfully.

After struggling to find something directly related the topic of social control, I decided to loosen the subject a little and realised that the subject of ethics was a good branch to look into. Not only is it related to social control and our involvement and designers in that, but it is also something that i have thought about regarding my practice away from the Contextual side of my work.

GRAPHIC DESIGN, ETHICS AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

During some of the presentations before summer, I noticed quite a few people focusing their topic on certain products, audiences of areas of Graphic design. I started to think about  certain things that can be designed for but may not be seen as very ethical.

- Cigarettes

- Alcohol

- Fast food

- Violent sporting activities (MMA, Boxing etc)

- Social events / Binge drinking events (Carnage)

Im not sure whether I should narrow down the focus of my dissertation to much as I have to think about how much material I could get in order to write enough needed.

I feel that keeping this topic open would allow me to visit different examples and augur the case for individual circumstances.

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CULTURAL INFLUENCE

Graphic design serves as a filter through which much of our communication is disseminated. Graphic designers find themselves in the unique position of being gatekeepers of information as well as providing a mirror that reflects contemporary culture.

The influence that graphic designers have on how communication is delivered may not always be apparent to them. Often they are embroiled in the details of a project and don’t even realize the impact their work has had or will have until some time has passed and the work is seen in retrospect. Other times they are faced with a decision where the implications are apparent and they may be torn about whether or not they should create propaganda for a party whose politics they don’t believe in. They also know that if they don’t take the job and benefit financially from it, someone else will. 

SOURCE

This information / statement I found kind of sums up the kind of direction i would like to go in regarding my dissertation. I am interested to investigate where, as a designer, the line can be drawn in regards to whether you take a job or not and whether the finical benefit can be worth carrying out certain jobs.

I would also like to look at whether how big a job is can effect how unethical a job is or what type of design you are carrying out is something that can effect the judgment of unethical design.

Fo example, is making a logo for an alcohol company more ethical that creating an appealing packaging design for that alcoholic beverage? or are they just as bad as each other.

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ETHICS FOR THE STARVING DESIGNER / MANIFESTO

DAVID GOH.

This document is an online manifesto that was created for Singaporean designers in order to help balance ethics with in their design for. Even though this was supposedly created for a certain group of designers, Many of the points are very significant to Graphic designers in general.

 The name of the manifesto is very relevant to the struggle of finding that balance to how and why you should work as a designer.

Many of the points that are made seem to basically be common sense that whether you are a designer or not should be a part of the make-up.

We have always been told to treat others how you wish to be treated. When you think if this you automatically relate this to behaviour in general. However relating this to your profession is so obvious.

I feel that the point below also directly relates to the above one as it explains that, we know that Graphic design is a powerful tool, however this does not give you the right to use you talent to feel superior over the people you are woking for.

PURSUIT OF ETHICS
DAVID GOH

This document was created in the research and investigatory process leading top to the creation of the manifesto above.

I have decided to take some quotes that I feel are important to note and may be important in future writing and topics within my dissertation.