Communication & Graphic Design Research
Academic discussions about graphic and communication design
Design has never been more visible – yet rigorous design practice is increasingly absent. This post examines how design thinking and its offshoots hollowed out the discipline, replacing craft, critique, and accountability with process, abstraction, and performative mediocrity.
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.
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.
Design by committee versus co-design? The changing narratives and practices of design in the 21st century have moved the goalposts with regard to designer—stakeholder participation. This has been influenced by technology companies and design thinking practices. However, there is some skepticism necessary with regard to the benefits of these practices…
Design Thinking has been around for a while, but remains under-critiqued. This recently published article challenges the hegemony of Design Thinking education, offering options for its future dissemination.
Communication & Graphic Design Research 
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