An Introduction to Graphic Design

Broadly defined, graphic designers (sometimes referred to as “communication designers”) are the visual ambassadors of ideas: their role is to translate, communicate — and occasionally even agitate — by rendering thinking as form, process and experience. Here is an introduction or short primer to this specialized zone of design — a fifteen-minute Graphic Design 101.
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OBSERVATORY : JAMES LAPIDES

Graphic Intervention

Posters are a way of remembering those who have died due to AIDS — a graphic quilt of a different kind. The poster itself once again should be celebrated for its central role in promoting awareness, saving lives, raising donations, influencing the public debate and speaking out in the face of this terrifying global disease.
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CHANGE OBSERVER : PHOTO BY ANDY DREWITT

Forty Angles and a Mule

Jimmy at Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia, 2009.
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CHANGE OBSERVER : ERNEST BECK

Sustainable Health Enterprises Wins Prestigious Curry Stone Design Prize

Sustainable Health Enterprises (SHE), a nonprofit founded by Elizabeth Scharpf that addresses the lack of access by girls and women in underdeveloped countries to hygienic and affordable menstrual pads, has won the prestigious Curry Stone Design Prize which honors an individual or group for developing and implementing a visionary design innovation.
READ MORE

PLACES : QUILIAN RIANO

Relearning the Social: Architecture and Change

"Small Scale, Big Change: New Architectures of Social Engagement," which opened last week at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, reinforces the institution's current focus on design as an agent of change, begun last year with "Rising Currents." Of course, as architect Quilian Riano notes in his review, which follows Alexandra Lange's on Change Observer, the exhibition is less a discovery than a rediscovery. "Leading architects," Riano writes, "were once fluent in the language and practice of social change." With this latest exhibition, he suggests, MoMA is attempting "to start up an old conversation — to move into the mainstream a movement long consigned to the edges, to the thankless realm of the 'alternative.'"
READ MORE

CHANGE OBSERVER : ERNEST BECK

Safe Agua

The 20 families living in Campamento, in Santiago, Chile, spend an estimated 500 hours a week on laundry. Most residents bathe “by parts,” or pouring a can of water on separate areas of the body.
READ MORE

OBSERVATORY : JOHN FOSTER

Accidental Mysteries, 10.10.10

Welcome to Accidental Mysteries, a weekly cabinet of curiosities set aside for your perusal and enlightenment.
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OBSERVER MEDIA : DEBBIE MILLMAN

Eric Baker

In this audio interview with Debbie Millman, Eric Baker discusses working with Gorden Parks, living in New York City, the soul of a brand, Paul Rand and working for himself.

Rockefeller Foundation: Bellagio Center

The Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Center, in Northern Italy, has issued a call for proposals for scholarly and artistic residencies in the summer and fall of 2011.
Applications are due by December 1, 2010.

More information
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BECOME A FAN ON FACEBOOK | FOLLOW US ON TWITTER

AUDIO: DESIGN MATTERS ARCHIVE

Brand Consulting

A discussion about branding, design and cultural anthropology with leading practitioners in each discipline.
Listen >>
More Design Matters Archive >>

CHANGE OBSERVER: PROJECT ARCHIVE

Food Not Bombs

Report on Food Not Bombs, an activist network, now about to turn 30, that distributes free vegan meals.
READ MORE

OBSERVATORY ARCHIVE

Political Ads

Mr. Vignelli's Map

Design Thinking?

PLACES ARCHIVE: WINTER 2000

Portfolio: Uneasy Spaces

New York City photographer Elizabeth Felicella focuses on what she calls "landscape of security."
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CHANGE OBSERVER: RESOURCES

Academic Programs >>
Competitions >>
Conferences & Events >>
Fellowships & Prizes >>
Organizations >>
Programs & Initiatives >>
Publications & Websites >>
Social Networks >>

RECENT BOOKS RECEIVED

Atlas of Science: Visualizing What We Know
Katy Börner

Fashion Designers' Sketchbooks
Hywel Davies

What Can We Believe Where?
Robert Adams


WEEKLY EMAIL: OCTOBER 14, 2010
FEATURED THIS WEEK : WILLIAM DRENTTEL AND JESSICA HELFAND An Introduction to Graphic Design Broadly defined, graphic designers (sometimes referred to as “communication designers”) are the visual ambassadors of ideas: their role is to translate, communicate — and occasionally even agitate — by rendering thinking as form, process and experience. Here is an introduction or short primer to this specialized zone of design — a fifteen-minute Graphic Design 101. READ MORE
OBSERVATORY : JAMES LAPIDES Graphic Intervention Posters are a way of remembering those who have died due to AIDS — a graphic quilt of a different kind. The poster itself once again should be celebrated for its central role in promoting awareness, saving lives, raising donations, influencing the public debate and speaking out in the face of this terrifying global disease. READ MORE CHANGE OBSERVER : PHOTO BY ANDY DREWITT Forty Angles and a Mule Jimmy at Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia, 2009. READ MORE CHANGE OBSERVER : ERNEST BECK Sustainable Health Enterprises Wins Prestigious Curry Stone Design Prize Sustainable Health Enterprises (SHE), a nonprofit founded by Elizabeth Scharpf that addresses the lack of access by girls and women in underdeveloped countries to hygienic and affordable menstrual pads, has won the prestigious Curry Stone Design Prize which honors an individual or group for developing and implementing a visionary design innovation. READ MORE PLACES : QUILIAN RIANO Relearning the Social: Architecture and Change "Small Scale, Big Change: New Architectures of Social Engagement," which opened last week at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, reinforces the institution's current focus on design as an agent of change, begun last year with "Rising Currents." Of course, as architect Quilian Riano notes in his review, which follows Alexandra Lange's on Change Observer, the exhibition is less a discovery than a rediscovery. "Leading architects," Riano writes, "were once fluent in the language and practice of social change." With this latest exhibition, he suggests, MoMA is attempting "to start up an old conversation — to move into the mainstream a movement long consigned to the edges, to the thankless realm of the 'alternative.'" READ MORE CHANGE OBSERVER : ERNEST BECK Safe Agua The 20 families living in Campamento, in Santiago, Chile, spend an estimated 500 hours a week on laundry. Most residents bathe “by parts,” or pouring a can of water on separate areas of the body. READ MORE OBSERVATORY : JOHN FOSTER Accidental Mysteries, 10.10.10 Welcome to Accidental Mysteries, a weekly cabinet of curiosities set aside for your perusal and enlightenment. READ MORE OBSERVER MEDIA : DEBBIE MILLMAN Eric Baker In this audio interview with Debbie Millman, Eric Baker discusses working with Gorden Parks, living in New York City, the soul of a brand, Paul Rand and working for himself. READ MORE PLACES Rockefeller Foundation: Bellagio Center The Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Center, in Northern Italy, has issued a call for proposals for scholarly and artistic residencies in the summer and fall of 2011. Applications are due by December 1, 2010. More information READ MORE		BECOME A FAN ON FACEBOOK \| FOLLOW US ON TWITTER AUDIO: DESIGN MATTERS ARCHIVE Brand Consulting A discussion about branding, design and cultural anthropology with leading practitioners in each discipline. Listen >> More Design Matters Archive >> CHANGE OBSERVER: PROJECT ARCHIVE Food Not Bombs Report on Food Not Bombs, an activist network, now about to turn 30, that distributes free vegan meals. READ MORE OBSERVATORY ARCHIVE Political Ads Mr. Vignelli's Map Design Thinking? PLACES ARCHIVE: WINTER 2000 Portfolio: Uneasy Spaces New York City photographer Elizabeth Felicella focuses on what she calls "landscape of security." READ MORE CHANGE OBSERVER: RESOURCES Academic Programs >> Competitions >> Conferences & Events >> Fellowships & Prizes >> Organizations >> Programs & Initiatives >> Publications & Websites >> Social Networks >> RECENT BOOKS RECEIVED Atlas of Science: Visualizing What We Know Katy Börner Fashion Designers' Sketchbooks Hywel Davies What Can We Believe Where? Robert Adams
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