Design Studies: Theory and Research in Graphic Design

by Andrea Bennett, Steven Heller (Foreword)

In an age of globalization and connectivity, the idea of "mainstream culture" has become quaint. Websites, magazines, books, and television have all honed in on ever-diversifying subcultures, hoping to carve out niche audiences that grow savvier and more narrowly sliced by the day. Consequently,the discipline of graphic design has undergone a sea change. Where visual communication was once informed by a designer's creative intuition, the proliferation of specialized audiences now calls for more research-based design processes. Designers who ignore research run the risk of becoming mere tools for communication rather than bold voices. Design Studies , a collection of 27 essays from an international cast of top design researchers, sets out to mend this schism between research and practice. The texts presented here make a strong argument for performing rigorous experimentation and analysis. Each author outlines methods in which research has aided their designwhether by investigating how senior citizensreact to design aesthetics, how hip hop culture can influence design, or how design for Third World nations is affected by cultural differences. Contributors also outline inspired ways in which design educators can teach research methods to their students. Finally, Design Studies is rounded out by five annotated bibliographies to further aid designers in their research. This comprehensive reader is the definitive reference for this new direction in graphic design, and an essential resource for both students and practitioners.

Genres: Design, Nonfiction, Art Design, Read For School, Art

464 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Christian Hurst · Rating 3 out of 5]

a little heavier than it needs to be...

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

So far this is a great read, many of the issues regarding my field that I've been questioning and some that I haven't are addressed in this collection of research and theory papers written by many leading and experienced designers. The book divides the papers into 4 sections: Visionary Perspectives, Design Inquiry, Designing Culture, Human-Centered Design and an additional fifth section that annotates a great suggested reading list of graphic design related studies.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would recommend this well-organized collection of 27 essays about the role of research in graphic design to any designer, whether student, educator or practitioner. It also includes a large bibliography section of further reading. I will note that most of the writings included in this book were penned between the late 1990's and early 2000's, so some references may be dated, but the techniques and theories at the core of the research described are easily relevant for the foreseeable future.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

A descent compilation on current research methods and theory in Graphic Design, Interaction Design and Experience Design. I really appreciate the thorough documentation of the contributing writer's sources--more places for me to explore.

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's dry unless you're interested or in the field. I am, it was still a bit dry. However, it IS very informative and full of thought provoking information once you get into it.