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is it possible to be a 'bad' good designer
Consider this simple conundrum: is it possible to be a 'bad' good designer or a 'good' bad designer for that matter? If the answer is 'yes' then which is preferable and what does this reveal about the relationship between ethics and design practice? GOOD: An Introduction to Ethics in Graphic Design seeks to answer these questions.
Graphic design is in ethical flux. GOOD comes at a time of growing disenchantment with style-led design solutions and the pursuit of self-expression alone and yet vacuous design judgements are still made without any real analysis of the criteria used. The terms 'good' and 'bad' are repeatedly applied without qualification whilst the relationship between personal and professional ethics is far too contentious to do any more than give cursory consideration. Despite recent manifestos and themed publications on 'design for good' graphic designers have yet to examine what such terms really mean: in a time of relativism it has been far too divisive to do so.
GOOD takes philosophy as its starting point but is not a philosophy book. It seeks to marry abstract ideas with practical application, removing some of the mystique that surrounds philosophy and highlighting its relevance for us all. Designers are people. This book seeks to engage designers in a debate about their profession and in an analysis of their value and worth. The decisions we make define us, in our ethical choices we reveal who we are.
Selling points
* Gives a visual retelling of ethics and graphic design, which will appeal to the student as well as the established professional designer.
* Explores design theory against this philosophical context, using historical evidence and comment from a range of contributors working in the arts.
* Throughout the book a variety of practitioners - designers, typographers, photographers and illustrators - try to define 'being good'.
Readership Advanced
* Students of graphic design.
* Established professional designers.
* Anyone with an interest in ethical studies.
Author: Lucienne Roberts
Lucienne Roberts studied graphic design at the Central School of Art and Design. After a brief period at The Women's Press, Roberts established the design studio sans+baum, hoping to ally a commitment to accessible, engaging design with a socially aware agenda. Roberts has taught at Middlesex University and the London College of Communication, UK. She was a judge for the ISTD awards 2001 and is currently a contributor for Eye and Grafik magazines.
GOOD: An Introduction to Ethics in Graphic Design
Publication January 2007; 200pp; Format 300mm(h) x 220mm(w); Colour images 200; Binding Paperback with flaps; Price £24.95
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