James Thompson

What is graphic design
Part 1

My response to this brief came in two parts. The first being a collective definition of a graphic designer through a group response to a brief. I wanted to focus on the human element of the co-creative process. The response communicates the traditional elements of the design process, from brief through to final outcome, while the wiki approach gives a sense of where graphic design is now.

Brief: What is graphic design
Part 2

For a higher quality version on Vimeo click here.

For the second part of the response to the brief, I recorded myself designing a diagram of my design process. For example when I made a cup of coffee or used google I would record this in the diagram. I used an instant messenger screen to highlight the social aspect and impact on the design process and in this case the typical tensions in the designers personal life with a close partner. For example you can see me explaining to my girlfriend that I do not love my laptop more than her.

The diagram begins by making a comment on the appropriation of work and ideas that can occur in the design industry and as the tension mounts between my girlfriend and myself I begin to find shortcuts to finishing the project which acts to highlight some of the shortcuts and cliches that some people in the design industry use to produce or justify work. At the end I zoom out from the diagram and it spells the sentence"Originality is undetectable plagiarism."