Open Discussion: Expression In Design
Sep
30
One big question in design that I’ve seen come up on numerous occasions is “should there be creative self-expression in graphic design?”. Graphic design, or commercial art is done typically for a client, and if your job is to express the feelings of the client, then it would seem self-expression is not something that should be included in the design. Typically, it is said that a good quality in a designer is the ability to alter his/her style to fit the current project, or that a graphic designer shouldn’t have a consistent style.
While it may be commercially advantageous to have this trait/ability (to manipulate your style), I also disagree with it being a necessary asset to a graphic designer. While all graphic designers can not quite be entirely self-expressive in each and every work (some justice must be done for the client), I think it is almost utterly impossible to give the task of designing a certain element to a single person (or even small group) without some sort of personal influence coming out in said design.
Design Still Has Some Boundaries
Each graphic design project that may come your way will each have it’s own varying set of boundaries (media, size, color restrictions, client ideas/desires, etc), but if there wasn’t any room for creative decision, then there would be no need for a designer in the first place. I personally enjoy having some sort of rules to abide by, or at least a general direction. In a pure art project, you get to decide the direction, the boundaries, and can change any of those things at any time according to your own desire.
Your Opinion Still Shows
Regardless of these boundaries, like I previously said, there is still room for creative decisions and expression. Without these there would be no need for the designer. If two different designers are given an identical project with the same boundaries and said direction, the two will still produce different results, almost guaranteed! This is obviously an example of a comparison of creative expression of the given direction and boundaries for the project. So in a sense, there will be self-expression in graphic design no matter what!
What do you think? What’s your approach?
Many different people have conflicting views on this subject. I’m interested in hearing what you think about it. Do you believe it is a necessary skill to learn to adapt your style according to the project? Or should one accept the fact that creative self-expression will show through in design regardless? What is your general opinion on self-expression in design vs in fine arts?
This entry was posted on Wednesday, September 30th, 2009 at 3:47 am and is filed under Graphic Design. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
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