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SUMMARY:Design as Communication - Dr. Nathan Crilly
DTSTART:20061101T160000Z
DTEND:20061101T170000Z
UID:TALK5750@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Julie Jupp
DESCRIPTION:The concept of 'design as communication' has been a pervasive 
 and recurring theme in design theory\, practice and rhetoric. This perspec
 tive on design argues for the product to be considered as a 'text' that is
  written by designers and read by consumers. In these terms\, designers ha
 ve intentions for how products should be interpreted and they seek to gene
 rate designs that encourage this response. In turn\, the consumer is expos
 ed to and interacts with the product\, forming their own interpretations. 
 Whilst\, to various extents\, these interpretations may correspond with th
 e designers' intentions\, they may also diverge from these intentions in m
 any unanticipated ways. Although many design texts describe products as co
 mmunicative media and design as a communicative act\, these notions are ra
 rely explored in detail. Instead\, the analogy with communication has prim
 arily been been used to provide a perspective on design that allows other 
 issues to be addressed (often issues of consumer interpretation). Conseque
 ntly\, only limited reference is made to theories of communication or theo
 ries of media\, and other design texts that exploit similar concepts are o
 ften neglected. By drawing an analogy between design and communication tha
 t is never fully explored\, the conceptual foundations of much design thin
 king have escaped critical scrutiny. This presentation will address this i
 ssue by exploring the communication analogy in detail and drawing from the
  various fields that illuminate the relevant arguments. The focus will be 
 on the field of industrial design\, where the notion of design as communic
 ation is particularly prevalent. However\, such concepts have been discuss
 ed across a wide variety of design disciplines\, including architecture\, 
 software\, fashion and graphics. In fact\, the issues involved are relevan
 t not only to design but to all creative activities that anticipate an int
 erpretative user\, audience or reader.
LOCATION:EDC Loft Conference Room
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