Conveying Emotion Through Design
The Sagmeister article was great and really opened my eyes to the importance in which graphic design could hold. In the article Sagmeister really conveys his concern in the lack of true emotional impact that art and graphic design provide these days. On a daily bases people are bombarded pretty things on nice paper or “fluff” a Sagmeister called it; all of which have no meaning nor do they move their viewers. Those that he does find very moving and memorable he lists, and realizes are mostly created by fine artists, not graphic designers. Why does there have to be a difference? What differentiates fine art from graphic design? Sagmeister quotes Brian Eno on his definition of art, one that I really like:
“Don’t think of art works as objects, but as triggers for experiences…art is something that happens, it’s an experience, not a quality.”
By this definition, graphic design can be art and just as moving, as long as it creates an experience. The article goes on to list what qualities art works should have to really touch one’s heart (and I like these too so I’m going to list them for my reference)
- New Perspective: They have the ability to make me see things in a new way.
- Trigger of Memories: Somehow they remind me of an experience, maybe of my childhood.
- Passion and Guts: They show passion and commitment.
- Surprise: There is an element of unexpectedness
- Virtuosity: There is virtuosity of craft or technique-or simply just the astonishment that somebody can be so good at something.
- Beauty: And then there is beauty or whatever I see as beauty.
I feel that the idea behind this article is so simple, but Sagmeister’s language and organization of thoughts really make the idea real and achievable for me. I find myself often attracted to all that “fluff”, because I do think it’s pretty, but I don’t what that to be my inspiration (well maybe inspiration for print techniques or craft, but I agree with Sagmeister that many graphic pieces out there are basically all about the surface and nothing else).
awesome album!
| Posted 2 years, 7 months ago