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  • Writer's pictureAbby McCredie

Steven Heller and Tibor Kalman #VCD101

"Typefaces are to the written word what different dialects are to different languages.” - Steven Heller

I believe that this quote relates to the idea that graphic designers have distinctive ways of designing work for example, some modern designers may look to particular art/design eras such as Pop Art or Russian Constructivism as inspiration for their work. Especially if these designers started out by taking inspiration from these movements their work would reflect elements of these styles meaning that they would understand the movement, the designers that were a part of that movement, why they designed the work they did and what impact this had on the design world but even more broadly the rest of society. A designer that has performed this idea is Roy Lichtenstein who stipulated his work through parody. He was often inspired by comic strips. His work was often depicted as "disruptive". His work "Takka Takka" showcases the idea that art doesn't have to be present in the horrors of war graphically in order for them to be forceful.

However, Heller's quote could also reflect the idea that design styles even though they might be similar styles can still be different in regards to what messages they are expressing through their work. An example of this is in the movements Russian constructivism and supremacism. Russian Constructivism was a movement created to persuade change towards new Utopian ideas. After the Russian revolution, Russian artists absorbed Cubism and Futurism to coin a term called Cubo-Futurism. Not long after this, Kazimir Malevich, a Russian avant-garde, created the use of geometric abstract art. He used abstraction, and non-objective geometric patterns in a style of and artistic movement called Suprematism. "Suprematism is not about a feeling, but a sensation". Where Russian Constructivism began when a series of artists rejected the idea of "art for arts sake" and began devoting themselves to the practical arts of industrial design and other visual communicators.


"When you make something no one hates, no one loves it" - Tibor Kalman

In this quote the designer is saying that the criticism they receive from their work even if it is negative does not reflect on the quality of their skills in the design world. This quote could also be an example of a designer giving tips to younger designers to show them that they should be creating work without worrying whether people interpret the work positive or negatively. As I was stating before with Pop Art designers such as Lichtenstein his work revolved around making a change to society through his work. Especially with this movement the goal is to provoke a reaction out of the public and to get the public talking about the issues surrounding the art work and it's message. When it comes to Lichtenstein his work "Takka Takka" he expresses his views on the American society but more specifically America's populist on militarism since American political parties such as Republican value militarism which in my opinion is an idea that is still prevalent in modern American society as much as it was in the 1960s (Same time as the Vietnam War and the resistant movements of that war) when it comes to the United States public and their views on gun laws since it is still very divided.

As a designer this quote resonates as I am taking on the idea that I should listen to my own instincts as well as other criticisms especially if I am using my designs as a way to express a particular message about a current affair.


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