Martin Pawley introduces Flussers essay to discuss nowadays, which are the good methods into becoming a good designer and the requisite skills of the designer

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AA3304/3412 Self-directed Design Project

Contextual and Critical element

Tutor: Dew Harrison

Yeukkei Chan (Gillian)

0407009

Design for Digital Media

Stage 3

9th, April 2006

Martin Pawley introduces Flusser’s essay to discuss nowadays, which are the good methods into becoming a good designer and the requisite skills of the designer.

Martin Pawley introduces Flusser’s essay to discuss nowadays, which are the good methods into becoming a good designer and the requisite skills of the designer.

There was an article in the ‘Introduction’ to Vilém Flusser’s book The Shape of Things: A Philosophy of Design, (Publisher in English in 1999), Martin Pawley introduces Flusser’s approach to analyzing design and its meaning.

“…The collection of his essays assembled here not only sheds new light on the importance of design, but also sheds light from an unusual angle. Flesser’s insights flow not from professional design experience, but from empirical observations. Not from the conventional art-historical critique of form-giving, but from a self taught grounding in linguistic philosophy that enabled him to deconstruct the design agenda and then reconstruct it in another way, For Flusser, as the reader of these essays will discover, design began, not with the vision of their creators, not even with the fabled first doodle on the back of an envelope. Instead, it began with the meaning of the words and the ensuing discovery of identity…”

In this essay I will discuss Flusser’s opinion, which was not a hundred percent correct in becoming a good designer, and I will find out the necessary skills of one good designer as well. This is not only based on the digital media design, but can also relate to any kind of design. I will also talk about my self-directed design project, which is following the process of what I will mention in this essay.

 Firstly, in the Britannica encyclopedia the meaning of Design ‘Usually considered in the context of the , , , and other such  endeavors. "Design" as a verb refers to the process of originating and developing a plan for a new object (machine, building, product, etc.). As a noun, "design" is used both for the final plan or proposal (a drawing, model, or other description), or the result of implementing that plan or proposal (the object produced). Designing normally requires considering , , and many other aspects of an object, which usually requires considerable , , , iterative adjustment, and re-design. Design as a  can take many forms depending on the object being designed and the individual or individuals participating’.

Nevertheless in the first and second sentences of that article said ‘design is not from the conventional art-historical critique of form-giving, but from a self taught grounding… actually, I do not agree with it to some extent. We can get the direction and suggestions by the experienced tutors and their lectures when we take specific education. Then we could avoid the faults that they might have before or settle down the problems under tutors’ guide. In a matter of fact, these suggestions and experiences of tutors could not be self-taught. For example, some students believe that their imaginations without any sketch still could finish a good work, but they do not realize that a good work need ideas to be supported in every detail. Therefore, students forget the basic form to create if one day there is no technological tool to help, how can they deal with this situation? This is why teachers always say that hands are simple and basic tools to help you manage any problems. This is not only for the design but also can be used in every area.

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In the book what is a designer Norman Potter said that for students to study design perfectly is to study simply by doing it and also take that old stand-by the broad view. Due to many principles starting at the beginning.

“A design capability proceeds from a fusion of skills, knowledge, understanding, and imagination; consolidated by experience. Within limits such a competence is definable, and will begin to form outlines within a formally structured teaching or learning situation. It is too much to say outright that design ability can be ‘taught’ or self-learned”.

Studying the past enable us to understand where ...

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