Design is not going to save the world: we’re good – but not that good

Abstract image of underground railway station.

Design's storytelling is compelling yet can oversimplify its role, risking diluting the practice and reducing its criticality. The belief in universal grand narratives about design can undermine professional practice, while reliance on reductive methods can flatten creativity. Design should focus on its specific, contextual influences rather than claiming to resolve all societal issues, promoting clarity over inflated narratives.

Graphic design & media literacy: exploring design methods?

Upsidedown orange juice bottle on in street - slightly abstract

Design is increasingly used to address societal challenges, engaging with social and cultural issues. Can graphic design contribute to media literacy educaiton by deconstructing narratives, using defamiliarisation methods, to foster critical reflection and enhance media communication understanding?

Re-evaluating graphic design’s influence on Design Thinking

There has sometimes been a disparity in graphic design's treatment, and an oversimplification of its scope, often focusing on aesthetics over its strategic application. Recognising its dynamic evolution and influence is essential for the broader field of design, as well as design thinking.

What can an old advert reveal about the future of design & communication?

Overview of an article that focusses on a mid-1980s television advertisement for the Yellow Pages, which aims to inform engagement with and reflection on current and future challenges to the design and communications industry from the digital revolution.

Challenges of using AI tools for creating design education materials

Examining ChatGPT's role in design education and assessing its benefits and challenges for course material creation, limitations in context and creativity, and discussing the need for human educators in design teaching over and above any potential benefit of AI text generation.