On Jan 31, 2008, at 6:32 AM, Pankaj Chawla wrote: > No I dont agree aesthetics is a fundamental requirement for IxD.
For your consideration, another essay from Paul Rand, from his book "Thoughts on Design." -- To interpret the modern approach to visual communication as mere sensationalism is to misunderstand the very spirit of our time. In advertising, the contemporary approach to art is based on a simple concept, the concept of the advertisement as an organic and functional unit, each element of which is integrally related to the others, in harmony with the whole, and essential to the execution of the idea. From this standpoint, copy, art, and typography are indissoluble. Editorial layout, promotional matter, direct mail, packaging, book designing, and industrial design are governed by the same considerations: function... form... production... process... integrated product. Such an evolution logically precludes extraneous trimmings and "streamlined" affectations. That which makes for good *advertising* is one thing, and that which makes for good *art* another; but that which makes for good *advertising art* is an harmonious resolution of both, integrating as a whole the utilitarian and formal requirements of the problem. Commenting of the distinction between fine art and useful or technological art, John Dewey states: "That many, perhaps most, of the articles and utensils made at present for use are not genuinely esthetic happens, unfortunately, to be true. But it is true for reasons that are foreign to the relation of the 'beautiful' and 'useful' as such. Wherever conditions are such as to prevent the act of production from being an experience in which the whole creature is alive and in which he possesses his living through enjoyment, the product will lack something of being esthetic. No matter how useful it is for special and limited ends, it will not be useful in the ultimate degree -- that of contributing directly and liberally to an expanding and enriched life." This philosophy is demonstrated in the life of the Shakers, whose history reveals the love of, and strict adherence to, the principles of harmony, beauty, and utility. It is not surprising that such ideals should have found expression in the production of much furniture and many utensils of great aesthetic value, characterized by a keen sensitivity to form and constant awareness of function. These products are a document of the every-day life of the sect, their asceticism, their devotion to fine craftsmanship, their feeling of fine proportion, space, and order, and their sincerity and naturalness. This fusion of spiritual and material values is also evidenced in Oriental art. The genuine pleasure we derive from the best examples of early Chinese art testifies to these same qualities. Interpreted in the light of our own experience and of the transition from manual to machine production, these basic truths still prevail. To realize the production of modern advertising and industrial art in terms of functional-aesthetic perfection is to realize the oneness of art and living. - Paul Rand, "Thoughts on Design, Second Edition," pg 1-2 (published: 1947) -- I know of no formalized design profession in existence in this modern world where aesthetics, both material and immaterial, are not integral in some fashion to the practice of the discipline. Formalized design professions have long moved past the notion that "functional-aesthetic," as Rand puts it, is somehow optional to practicing good design. In that light, I have no idea how IxD would be excluded from the requirement that those that practice the discipline need a proficient understanding and ability to create esthetic work along with the functional components of their designs. And by "proficient understanding and ability to create," I don't mean tell somehow else how to do it, let someone else figure out the aesthetic qualities, or delegate the aesthetic qualities in the process. -- Andrei Herasimchuk Principal, Involution Studios innovating the digital world e. [EMAIL PROTECTED] c. +1 408 306 6422 ________________________________________________________________ *Come to IxDA Interaction08 | Savannah* February 8-10, 2008 in Savannah, GA, USA Register today: http://interaction08.ixda.org/ ________________________________________________________________ Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ....... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe ................ http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines ............ http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .................. http://www.ixda.org/help
