Design Readings

First Things First Manifesto 2000

Until I read this article I really had never considered the difference between design and advertisement. I'm still not sure I see exactly what the difference is supposed to be. I guess that is what this article is saying is the problem in today's society. I do think that today, we are overwhelmed by commercials and ads about everything, but I don't really see that as a reason to blame designers. I think they make advertising an art, rather than just a scheme, which is precisely why there is so much competition with advertising.

Hysteria

Again, I feel that in this article, as well, designers are being blamed for something that is not entirely their fault. Advertising has become a way of life and although, it is not necessarily the greatest achievement our society has made, it is not going away any time soon. If all the designers in the world were to stop helping make ads, people would still buy products based more on how they are sold and their reputation rather than the actual product. This will not go away. I don't think is a fault of the designer or advertiser, but the fault of ourselves for buying into such elaborate scheming. Designers are just providing the public with what they are demanding. One of the biggest parts of the Superbowl for some people are the advertisements. this says something about the public more than the person creating the ad.

Light unto the Wealth of Nations

This article I thought contradicted the first two. The way the writer describes how easy it has become and how important it has become to buy Christmas lights and make huge displays shows how design can be a good thing. Yes, there are some houses and some families who go way over the top when it comes to decorating for the holidays. I think hiring someone to put lights up on your house is a bit ridiculous, but this is a different form of design. It is not so much advertising, as it is a tradition, or neighborhood competition. It is fun. It shouldn't be looked upon as a bad thing. This shows how important design really is in our culture.

Salon.com asks "Are you ready for some 'unswooshing'"?

The idea of creating the Blackspot sneaker to teach Nike a lesson, I think it a pretty ridiculous one. For one thing, I definitely do not think it will work. Nike has made a name for itself that I do not think can be so readily crushed. For another thing, I think the idea is kind of hypocritical. The article says that they will sell each pair for about $65. This is not much cheaper than other sneakers out there today, like Nikes. The article quotes Lasn, "One of the many reasons I really love this campaign, is that we are selling a product, not an idea or advocacy." This is completely untrue. They are trying to get air-time and appear on CNN to promote this new shoe. They are not selling this product for no reason. They are selling it to try to create a movement against Nike. They have an even bigger advocacy or idea than Nike does itself. Also, this shoe, is very ugly. It is supposed to be a replicate of the old Converse but the reason people still buy the old Converse shoe is because of the name and reputation it has. People buy that shoe so they can have the retro-style Converse shoe like in the old days. They don't want a shoe like that because of its looks, and they're not going to buy an "old Converse" that isn't Converse. I think these people are attacking their cause in the wrong way.

Girl Power Gone Wrong

This shows a little better, I think, what our assignment is actually supposed to be about, but it will be hard to turn such an ordinary object into a statement. I never really thought about a simple shirt in such a complex way. I guess I never really thought that much about inanimate objects to find such a hidden meaning. This sample paper was interesting, though, and will hopefully help me get an idea of what I will write for my paper.