Defining Graphic Design

I'm a bit puzzled. I've been reading A LOT in the last few weeks and of course I'm a big fan of graphic design publications, Taschen being one of my most favorite.  While reading Graphic Design for the 21st Century and Contemporary Graphic Design, I noticed that many of the Designer's commentaries were all in attempt to define "What is Graphic Design?"  There were, in fact, so many designers defining their idea of graphic design that I began to wonder if Taschen had specified this question in its request for materials in putting the publication together. I was a little disappointed because in buying these beautiful books I really wanted to read something more substantial from these designers. Ok... The work displayed is fantastic and inspirational but after all, I'm a graphic designer and I already know what it is I do for a living and what the mission and intent of graphic design is and why it is that I love graphic design.  Charlotte and Peter Fiell do an excellent job in their introductions to both books but I really wanted to know more from the designers themselves.  For instance: How did you solve a particular challenge?  What are your thoughts on designing for a global audience? I guess I wanted a Debbie Milman interview!

Eric Kajaluoto wrote recently about style.  His opening sentence reads "Design is such a multi-layered practice that it’s often difficult to define. That being said, I believe that the word “design” is increasingly confused with “style”. For example, to most “I like the way it’s designed” means that they like the way that something looks."

Veerle Pieters recently ran a "What is Graphic Design" poster contest.  Her readers submitted some really great design work and Veerle did a marvelous job in sorting thru all those entries and setting up Flickr for submission.

Now, however, I have to ask... WHAT THE HELL IS UP WITH ALL THE DEFINING?  Do we not have a clue what it is we are doing and therefore need to clarify it for ourselves?  Perhaps our attempts at definition is to educate our clients or potential clients?  Perhaps we are attempting to inform the general public?  I don't know...

I am a graphic designer and I read mostly art and design magazines, blogs and publications.  I read these things to get inspired, informed, to learn, to grow, and to become a better designer.  I know this type of question comes up pretty frequently in art circles as well, "what is art?" and the old debate about "art for art sake" etc.   But I don't think for instance construction workers, architects, concert pianists, musicians etc... regularly define their jobs or their career roles.  What makes art and design different? What say you?

Comments

[Eric Karjaluoto]

Hi Lisa,

I think it all comes down to how differently people engage in design. While some are more on the production end, others are on a planning level. I think many of these parties struggle with describing what they do.

Additionally, the whole thing is shifting so much. It used to be that a graphic designer had a pretty clearly defined role. Now though, it's much harder to pin down.

Cheers!

Eric

[David Airey]

Hello Lisa,

My blog covers a lot of bases, so from time-to-time there's going to be a blog post some readers might prefer to overlook. From my perspective, if someone asks what graphic design is, I'd much rather point them towards a resource on my own website than on another.

It's a balance I need to decide upon, and I guess I can't please everyone.

Still, I appreciate your comment, and your visits to my site. I hope all's well with you.

[Catherine Morley]

Hey Lisa,

You are forgetting an important element in the equation.

Designers can't even agree on what they desire to be called - graphic designers, communication designers, visual communication designers - so, with this in mind, isn't it logical to constantly revisit and redefine what we do?

So maybe, just maybe, it has nothing to do with educating our clients, but ... ourselves?

[Catherine Morley]

Addressing the individual points you made... (although I can't speak for Taschen).

Although for you it might have been timely, I took Veerle's "What is Graphic Design" poster contest as a celebration of who we are. Not as a 'defining moment' type of aim.

For Eric's post, it was an elaborated version of "we create more than just pretty pictures". And well written, I might add (hi Eric! ;-).

"I don't think for instance construction workers, architects, concert pianists, musicians etc... regularly define their jobs or their career roles. What makes art and design different? What say you?"

Well, except for construction workers, the arts mentioned do gather in groups to discuss the minute details of what makes up their individual professions.

Yup, they be blogging.

I don't know of any blogging concert pianists personally, but musicians and architects abound on the web. As do lawyers and doctors, etc...

All chatting, discussing, defining what they do.

Designers might have been one of the first professions to take up the passion of blogging, but we are no longer alone.

There be company :-D