Design as Conversation

At first mention, I thought this statement was a bit of a stretch. Sure, design could be a form of communication just as conversation is, but it could not be so broadly conceptualized as to encompass all that conversation is. I failed to see design as conversation because I considered conversation an entity that involved two sides, and at first I did not see the other side half of the conversation; I only saw the Designer.

I realize now that design is a conversation between the designer and the consumers. The designer cannot simply make an article of clothing or a graphic in a motion picture, the creation must be acknowledged by its audience. Even if the design is received poorly, with everyone who sees it going on a ten minute rant about it's disappointing qualities, design is still a conversation. An unhappy conversation, but the designer made his or her point and the recipients gave their thoughts on the topic.

Without the recipients design would be nothing. We design in order to make society run easier, be it easier on the eyes or an easier way to pick up the water bottle because of the design of the grip. Most recently the redesign of the GAP logo showed how vital the conversation of design is. GAP felt the need to create a fresh new logo. This may have been because those in charge felt they needed a new look in order to keep up with the young, up-and-coming store, but whatever the reason for the change the viewers were not buying what they were selling. Within a short time span the population made it known how little they thought of this new GAP logo, how they thought it was both unattractive and unnecessary. Following these complaints, GAP retracted the new look.

Another design conversation would be the that which Lady Gaga has with her audience. With all of her eccentric looks, Lady Gaga is certainly making statements. The singer is attempting to send messages to her viewers both through her music and through her attire. At the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards, Lady Gaga wore a dress made of meat. This choice is a perfect example of the miscommunications that can come with the conversation between the designer and the recipients. Lady Gaga chose to wear the dress to protest the military's “don't ask, don't tell” policy, but some who viewed the dress, not understanding the message the designer was attempting to get across, sent angry messages to the songstress. “It's certainly no disrespect to anyone that's vegan or vegetarian… it's [saying], 'If we don't stand up for what we believe in, if we don't fight for our rights, pretty soon we're going to have as much rights as the meat on our bones”(http://www.holamun2.com/news/quote-of-the-day/quote-of-the-day-why-lady-gaga-wore-a-meat-dress-to-the-vmas), Gaga told Ellen DeGeneres on her talk show.

Without the proper communication between designer and those who view and use the design the world of design would come tumbling down. Just like in any good conversation between two parties, messages need to be clear and well put together in order to have a successful interaction.