Current design pedagogy transverses a complexity of design issues — visual trends and divergent technological advances

Unlike any other form of artistic expression / graphic design has the unique capacity to embrace, promote and bear witness to all other forms of visual communication.

John P. Corrigan | 2011

Forward: A proposition

Shifting core departmental values to envelope Design Thinking where design is seen as a visual language—the broad definition of design becomes inclusive and democratic in nature.

• The common language of design is influenced by culture
• Interpretive language surges through many disciplines of expression across the spectrum of  departmental demographics and needs
• In order to increase depth students are encouraged to overlap projects, disciplines and media
• Critical Thinking; infusion of current events, culture, politics
• Teaching HOW to research informs appropriate and unique design solutions
• Vision and Voice
• Examining historically successful campaigns in art and design to evaluate point of view, message delivery, and audience recognition
• Conviction /articulation /conversation
• A departmental dedication towards nurturing a passion for positive, smart, creative engagement of polarizing issues such as: cultural conditions, sustainability, and social justice
• Community outreach and connection
• Exceeding the discrepancy between academia and real world experience
• Real community based student lead projects can extend into many classes and subject matter
• Understand that with a mixed community multiple view points from students can extend beyond campus, bring solutions home, develop a voice and point of view.

Media Neutrality

• Not presuming a specific outcome without the work leading to the project
• Allow the solution to drive design, not the reverse
• Allow flexibility
• Understand that design solutions may/may not be visual
• Understanding the uniqueness of current muti‐media opportunities including: web channels, video exchange, pod casting, image sharing, social networks

fig. 1 “Intersect” Graphic used to represent the connection and overlap between art and design. The three identified points of intersection create a new inter-media experience. As each graph rotates the area of interaction shifts.

fig. 2 “Discourse” A mapping diagram used to illustrate the history of visual communication and design. At each divergence a new vocabulary is created to evoke potential dogmatic criteria in which work[s] are initiated and practiced.

Photo by Lucille Puhl-Scheller

42″ x 60″
Gesso, graphite, gouache, metallic gel medium on paper
Circa 1999

Exhibition Photos, Minn Parr Building, SE Minneapolis

Blowtorch

False

Life Line Bloodline

Straight Edge

Royal

Swingline

Photo Rik Sferra ®1999

Crosswalk
4/5
Etching
Circa 1993

Home Fire
4/5
Etching
Circa 1993

Unpublished poster
18″ x 24″
®2010

Client declined proposed poster series and in-store holiday graphic installation