(Week 12) My Manifesto: Design Redefined

Contextual Studies (CTX)

Assignment 03

WEEK 12

PART 1: WHAT IS DESIGN?

Every era have its historical movements. But what is ours?

Today, we discussed our ideas and concepts to Mr. Charles.

We wanted to show that design is much more than just drawings and wanted to show the diversity in design as well as persuade the audience (high school students) to join in the journey of design.

However, this discussion didn't just end like that, Mr. Charles suggested that we go to the direction of showing the world a new thinking in design and proposed some titles "The New Breed/ Generation Z..."But as Mr. Charles mentioned something that triggered my mind (if I'm not mistaken he mentioned change, different thinking..), I'm immediately pulled back in time to the era of Christian Revolution, as known as the famous Reformation. Thus, the word --Design Reformation!

And guess what? This in turn caused a chain reaction which I'm surprised it did! Mr. Charles mind is triggered and awesome ideas from him started to flow. I can sense that he is burning with the passion for a Reformation!! Now our group have successfully created a new manifesto thanks to Mr. Charles!

So a quick tip for those Juniors who are stalking my blog: Talk about design reformation and change because Mr. Charles is a badass rebel ahead of his time! Booyah!👊

A summary of our discussed brief:

• Title: D.R. (Design Reformation)

• Audience: Mainly high school students figuring out what to study

• Us: Design Reformers

• Aim:

- Sell our manifesto / ideas

-Persuade audience to join our movement!

WEEK 15-16

PART 2: GATHERING INFOS

So this is the season to interview our group mates and juniors from Foundation in Design Semester 2 on their design journey.

Besides that, we also compiled all the possible questions for the interview.

75 Questions:

1. What are the representations of the tattoos?

2. Will people judge you with tattoo? Do u wanna argue with them and prove them you are right?

3. How great is (metal sculpture/ printmaking/...)?

4. Is there such thing as mixed/double major?

5. Will you think this reform will be an insult to the traditional arts?

7. What in your personal life has influenced you to choose your career?

8. Do you strive to be unique in your creative endeavors or do you think uniqueness no longer matter in design industry. 9. What do you do to keep yourself motivated and interested in your work?

10. If you had to start over, would you choose a different path in your career?

11. If you could become one of your characters/works of art, which one would you choose? Why?

12. In thinking about the things that you have created, is there something that you hated but the public may have loved - and perhaps purchased? How do you explain this?

14. Has rejection ever affected your creative process?

15. If you had the chance to live during a different artistic movement other than now, which one would you choose? Why?

16. If you could interview and spend a day with a creative person (past or present), who would that person be? Why?

17. How would you like to be remembered?

19. What inspires you?

20. What do you do to get into your creative zone?

21. Do you ever create hidden meanings or messages in your work? Explain.

22. Do other's creative work that received recognition influence what you create?

23. If your creative work were edible, what would it taste like? 24. People regard you as a creative person. Do you agree? Why?

25. Looking at what you have created in the past, would you change anything today? Why or why not?

26. If you could change one aspect of our society through your work, what would it be?

27. What made you decide to follow a creative career choice (though possibly risky) rather than something more stable?

28. What is your favorite creation? Why

29. What do you wish to accomplish with your art?

30. What impact do you think that commercialism and the media has had on designers creative work today?

31. When was the first time that you remember realizing that you are a creative person?

32. When did you know that this was what you wanted to do with your life? How did you get started?

33. What traits, if any, do you think that creative people have as compared to people who are not creative?

34. Do you ever feel that you have to censor your creativity because you don't want to offend anyone?

35. What are your words of wisdom for someone starting out in the creative field?

36. What are the biggest challenges you have had in the realm of your art?

37. Does spirituality and culture play a role in your creativity? Explain.

38. Do you believe that it is important to be accepted by others as being creative or is just doing what you love to do enough to justify your work?

39. Are you ever afraid or concerned about being judged by others or worried about how your creativity is perceived?

40. If you were no longer able to use the medium that you are now working in, how else would you express your creativity?

41. Are your favorite creative works generally those best regarded by others?

42. What has been your greatest sacrifice that you have made for your craft?

43. At what point in your life did you realize that you have creative talent?

44. If you had the opportunity, what creative person (living or dead) would you like to work with? Why?

45. Think back to your childhood. What did you hope to become as an adult?

46. How have the life events you have experienced influenced your creative style ?

47. If you knew that you had only one last opportunity to express yourself creatively, what message would you want to convey to others?

50. What sort of lasting impression do you hope your work will have on other people?

51. What was your childhood like? Do you think your experiences in childhood have influenced your present creative endeavors?

52. How do you think you differ from other creative people in your genre?

53. Has your style of art changed as you have matured? If so,how?

54. Do you create with the intent to send a message?

55. Do the opinions of other people influence or change what you create?

56. Why did you choose this medium for expressing your creativity?

57. What role do you think the culture that you live in plays in your creative efforts?

58. What effect (if any) do you think your childhood has had on the creativity you display as an adult? What are your earliest memories involving your own creative expression?

59. If you were a colour in a box of crayons, what colour would you be and why?

60. Explain your style in 3 words

61. Do you think traditional art still has a place in the creative industry or is it time we move on to a more modern approach?

62. What do you think life without art would be like?

63. Why is art important to you?

64. What are your thoughts on modern art, do you think art exhibitions nowadays where they show things splattered on the walls as “art” pretentious?

65. Do you think that art has lost its meaning when nowadays people buy and bid on it for such a high price? Or do you think art should hold a high price to appreciate them.

66. What are your thoughts on street art such as graffiti, is it art or vandalism?

67. What are your thoughts on tattoos, is it a taboo from where you're from?

68. What is the best thing about studying art and design?

69. Where do you think your creativity comes from?

70. What are you working on currently that excites you?

71. Are you inspired by anything new?

72. What kind of art is unappealing to you?

73. What art movement or artist would you say influences your work most?

74. What moves you most in life, either to inspire or upset you?

75. Do you think being a design student can take away from the passion that you have for art or does it enhances your passion?

WEEK 17

PART 3: MOVEMENT BRANDING

Alrighty! Let me blow your mind by presenting our manifesto, our own unique identity - Design Redefined!

Well, we kind of changed the name from Design Reformation to Design Redefined because it is best suited for our gathered content.

Basically, after pulling out a poll with my group mates, they have decided out of these three logos..

That this will be the icon that represents us all designers!

WEEK 18

PART 4: THE REVOLUTION GENESIS

THE MANIFESTO

"Why did they do that? Why did many rise up to be criticized and killed just to see a reformation?

Phrases such as "Ecclesia semper reformanda est", "Dada means nothing" and many others rings out a change and is essential to all existence. Humans crave for change and for something new, bringing up and proclaiming their views to the world.

“A manifesto is a communication made to the whole world, whose only pretension is to the discovery of an instant cure for political, astronomical, artistic, parliamentary, agronomical and literary syphilis. It may be pleasant, and good-natured, it's always right, it's strong, vigorous and logical. " - Tristan Tzara

No doubt many are willing to sacrifice for the betterment of the future.

During this journey of Contextual Studies, it makes me feel grateful for the founders who shaped the definition of art and bringing new change to the field of art and design. By understanding the history of the past and their purpose, it gives a piece of artwork a different perspective and a whole new meaning, finally giving a complete interpretation of an artwork by studying it in context and understanding it's semiotics.

Sure, many argues that art can be everything, that there is no right or wrong in interpreting art and everyone's opinion is acceptable. This opinion says that redefining art is ...... unnecessary which in turn bringing me off the cliff with my manifesto and that this project is deemed void, nada, dada.

There are always lines and a border on a painted canvas.

If I would declare a new invention to the society (let say it is a fidget spinner) and start making it into the market, of course many will buy it although it is expensive because it is new and it is still scarce. But if a company will take my invention and mass produce it so that it is widely accessible and is everywhere, won't the value of my invention degrade? If art can be interpreted by just rolling the dice, won't the value of the original meaning degrade? Then what is art then? Everything? Which in turn making art fade in everything and seems less important and not special at all? And how the purpose of artworks are being overtaken by commercialization is saddening. Worse, having an artwork interpreted wrongly!

The same thing happens in society where the grey part is accepted in society. "Everyone's opinion matters!" "Just do what you think is right." "There is no right or wrong!"

Hence, the world presents itself as a pointless purpose, where there are no boundaries and guidelines, no rules but people wander aimlessly in pursuit of something... irrelevant and pointless.

What more shall I say? People wanted to tear down walls, bridge the gaps... but somehow forgot that some walls act as a protection, a safe zone from the dangers outside.

Some doors have to be opened, yet some doors have to be closed. And if the discernment of human kind fails to understand the importance of right and wrong, art will be meaningless and not in context.

This is my manifesto, design has to be redefined in this era to restore the value and true meaning of art.

#DESIGNREDEFINED

By Liberty Woon

Fellow D.R.

6th June 2017 "The design must be redefined."