Fifteenth International Conference on Design Principles & Practices

Abstract

Two classrooms sat side by side, one exploring the practice of graphic design, the other learning the techniques of screenprinting. The professors began a dialogue about bringing the disciplines together in a collaborative context. To cultivate this endeavor, a two-week workshop was structured. Groups and pairs of students were formed based on their knowledge and experience levels. They were tasked with conducting a cultural inquiry on the year 1981. The research and investigations allowed for historical and cultural information to be applied to the production of an artifact that employed design inspiration and utilized a component of screenprinting. No parameters on the visual outcome, but a single prompt was given: “What is a book?” The research examined considerations for the era that included the atmosphere or timeline which could serve as a palette of creative content choices. Further inquiry used the process of editing and creating; investigation of the cultural orbit: records, politics, posters, social issues, design, art, entertainment; and employing the dominant visual language of the time. This overlap of art and design allowed for working collectively as teams in order to create and communicate effectively. Processes of design thinking were used toward concept-based ideation, iteration and prototyping. Students discovered visual languages, implemented critical research and found relevant discussion topics. The final outcome used written and visual forms created through research, story and design. An important final component of the workshop was the delivery of strategic critiques and capturing student feedback.