[IxDA Discuss] Old guard vs new guard designers

[Peyush Agarwal]

Hi Jack,
I'd reiterate Trip's counter-point. In particular, music and spoken word simply aren't part of graphic design. "Graphic" has to essentially do with the visual aspect of design or presentation, and that's where it stops. So yes graphic design can stretch to include film and animation, but not what's non-visual. When a so-called graphic design includes non-visual elements it ceases to be graphic design alone, to my mind.

Communication design, however, is about doing what it needs to communicate. It may include any and all of visual, aural, tactile, and other efforts that target one or more human senses in order to communicate.

I'm not sure I agree that in schools graphic design passes for communication design. And of course, when design training includes non-visual work it has to be called something other than graphic design.

Sorry to go on, but I know from experience that 'in practice Communication Design and Graphic Design are equivalent' is also not true. I have not found it to be true in my Interaction design work, and also architecture ('reguler'). In my work, interaction design has involved using graphic and aural components to communicate temporal aspects amongst others. Architectural presentations to communicate design are seldom only plans and views. They often include models (spatial), textures (tactile), and solar-studies (temporal). I can't see how that communication would simply be considered graphic design only.

-Peyush

-----Original Message-----
From: discuss-bounces at lists.interactiondesigners.com [mailto:discuss-bounces at lists.interactiondesigners.com] On Behalf Of Jack Moffett
Sent: Wednesday, May 09, 2007 9:30 AM
To: IxDA Discuss
Subject: Re: [IxDA Discuss] Old guard vs new guard designers


... If you look at what is being taught in design
schools that call their programs "Communication Design", it is the
same as what is being taught in schools that call it "Graphic
Design". Graphic Design has included photography, film, animation,
and yes, even music and spoken word (games aren't a medium - they're
an artifact) for a long, long time. ...

In practice, Communication Design and Graphic Design are equivalent.

Jack