Writing Graphic Design

Bob and Roberta Smith, ‘A People's Manifesto for the Arts - General
Election 2017, 2017

HA5105 Critical Issues in Graphic Design:

Research and Practice
Type (graffiti writing) Shoreditch, Hanworth, Southbank, Camden, Typo
Joseph Kosuth, One and Three Chairs, 1965
Ian Hamilton Finlay, Nicholas Sloan, The present order is the disorder of the future, 1983
Jenny Holzer,
Truisms (1977–79)
Helen Cammock, 'sit alongside and feel me breathe (Art on the Underground commission, 2021). Photo: Thierry Bal, 2021
Why design writing?

creative practice

communication

craft

function
Why design writing?

Translating verbal messages into visual forms is the

essence of graphic design […]. The manipulation of
language and typography is the primary ingredient that
distinguishes our work from that of illustrators, who deal
exclusively with imagery. […]
Graphic design is neither strictly visual nor strictly
verbal. It is the marriage of the two: fused, bonded,
inseparable.
Anne Burdick, ‘What has writing got to do with design?’, Eye, No.9 (1993)
Filippo Marinetti, Zang Tumb Tumb, 1914

Theo van Doesburg with Kurt Schwitters, Kleine Dada Soirée, 1922
Theo van Doesburg’s De Stijl; Jan Tschichold’s Die Neue Typografie;
Emil Ruder’s Typographie; Paul Rand’s Thoughts on Design
Critical Reflection

Phil Baines, ‘Clear Enough to Read’, Emigre 18,

1991.
 Design Criticism

“agent of change”
Alice Rawsthorn (Triggs, 2011, p. 33)

Notable design critics:

“to find meaning” Olly Wainwright

Justin McGuirk (Triggs, 2011, p. 36) Alice Twemlow
Rick Poynor
Justin McGuirk
Michele Champagne
Deyan Sudjic
Stephen Bayley
“to explore, explain and critique” Steven Heller
Alexandra Lange
Rick Poynor (Triggs, 2011, p. 37) Ellen Lupton
Joanne Drucker
Denise Gonzales Crisp
Steven McCarthy

Quotes from: Teal Triggs (2011) Writing Design Criticism into History Design and Culture 5(1), pp. 33 – 38.
Types of Design Writing

criticism wall panel text

manifesto caption
blog post text message
tweet Email
comic
magazine/newspaper article
script
academic article
story
report Fiction
review journalism
Book amateur product reviews
exhibition catalogue Etc.
Academic Writing:
what makes a good essay?

- Sticks closely to the question

- Uses appropriate research resources and methods

- Offers a structured argument

- original and informed opinion

- Includes visual + text analysis

- Uses formal language

- Appropriately presented
Academic Writing:
what makes a good essay?

The following Level 5 criteria will be used to assess the module

submissions for Assignments 1 and 2:

5.1 Research: Understanding & Engagement

5.2 Enquiry: Ambition & Independence
5.3 Critical reflection: Analysis & Evaluation
5.4 Communication: Structure & Presentation

You can find the graded rubrics here:L5 Rubric Updated.pdf

Academic Writing:
what makes a good essay?
All submissions must be fully referenced (Harvard system) and illustrated,
including a full bibliography and referenced list of illustrations (at the front)

Some key elements of an essay:

• Introduction and conclusion
• Rationale for chosen focus
• Critically engaged use of a range of text-based sources (e.g. peer-reviewed
journals, physical books)
• If relevant, discussion of relevant historical examples of graphic design and/or
reference to relevant broader socio-cultural, economic and political contexts.
• Identification of theoretical and methodological approaches used (research
methods)
• Critically informed visual and object description and analysis
• Selective and critically informed use of quotes and visual material
• Clear and engaging presentation, structure and written style
• Indication of connection with your practice and/or research interests
6. Module Assessment
 Essay Questions
1. How can designed artefacts be political? Identify ONE or TWO images/objects/projects that
explore or express political ideas. Analyse them and elaborate on the ways in which they work.
2. How are identities explored, represented and negotiated through Graphic Design? Discuss
how ONE or TWO graphic designers have explored ONE form of identity in their practice in the past
or present. Elaborate on the ways in which the selected practitioners have explored this concept in
their work.
3. How do wider issues and phenomena affect the profession and practice of the graphic
designer? Select ONE issue/phenomenon (eg. globalisation; climate crisis; cultural or educational
policy; developments in media and technologies; copyright; etc.) and discuss ONE or TWO
examples of Graphic Design projects or practices that engage with or respond to these changes.
Analyse and elaborate on the ways in which they do that.
4. When/how does a design practice become research? Discuss ONE or TWO examples of
graphic design practices or projects that you believe constitute a form of research. What methods
and frameworks do they use? To which areas do they contribute new understanding (eg. materiality,
making, social and political contexts, cultural concerns, etc.)? Elaborate on the ways in which they
constitute a form of research.
5. Identify and explore a research method of interest to you. This could be (but is not limited to):
visual analysis, material culture approach, ethnography, oral history, archival work, practice-based
research. Examine it in detail: what possibilities and what challenges does it present for
researchers? Look at ONE or TWO examples of practitioners that have used it in their research
and practice to analyse their particular approaches, and think of ways in which this could apply to
your own work.
6. Devise your own question in relation to one of the themes addressed in class. This has to be
done in consultation with your tutor.
Essay Preparation Worksheet

Which question have you chosen?

Depending on the question you’re answering, which artefacts / designers /

identity / projects / practices / methods are you choosing?

Why have you chosen this essay question and why have you selected these
designers / issues etc.?

Which research sources have you looked at?

How are you planning to structure your essay?

What are the challenges for you in this assignment?

Any other comments/questions?

 Diaries
 Interviews
 Maps
 Pamphlets/Newspaper
s/Magazines/ Comics
 Films
•Encyclopaedias
 Exhibitions
 Government •Design histories
Documents
•Design criticism
 Personal
correspondence
• magazine or newspaper articles that
 Artworks/drawings interpret or review events, findings, people,
objects
 Photographs, video
and audio tape
• political commentary analyzing an
 Objects election or politician (via Lexis-Nexis
database)
READ: take in as much of what is out there in the world, be
it critical readings or other text-based sources, e.g. blogs or
newspaper articles, or going to exhibitions, watching films –
i.e. keep your eyes open!

RECORD: Make sure you document in an organised and

systematic way all your ideas, research and sources. e.g.
drawings, collages, diagrams, notes, annotated readings.

REFLECT: critically reflect on what you have READ and

RECORDED, and do so in both your practice and writing-
based research. Always remember: what is the question
you are trying to find and answer to? Have you found it?
Structure

2,500 words
(not including bibliography or list of illustrations)

Introduction: >10 %

Main body of essay: sub-headed sections

Conclusion: < 10 %
Idea Development
Drafts
 Introduction >10%

- Introduce topic

- State your aims

- Identify focus + explain rationale (e.g. chosen graphic

designers; identity; phenomenon; time period)

- Define any key terms

- Identify key research methods, theories and sources

- Outline essay structure

Look at:
‘Introductions: What They Do’. The Royal Literary Fund.
http://www.rlf.org.uk/fellowshipscheme/writing/planningandstructure/introductions.cfm
 Conclusion <10%
- Summarise your argument

- Identify what has been learnt about the topic by having

looked at the examples discussed

- Make clear that you have done what you have been asked
to do and what you said you were going to do: refer back
to the essay title and introduction

- Establish your own final argument or position in light of

the research conducted

- Indicate what you have and have not done – future

research possibilities?

Look at:
‘Conclusions: What They Do’ Royal Literary Fund
http://www.rlf.org.uk/fellowshipscheme/writing/planningandstructure/conclusions.cfm
Editing
Images Under-image caption:

Fig. Name, Artifact Name, Year,

materials/technique. Interesting comment.

Fig. 1 Holger Matthies, Protecting the Environment.

We fight for every millimetre, Colour offset
lithograph on paper, 1990. Election poster issued
by The Greens and the Independent Women's
Association, Germany.

List of Illustrations (at front of essay):

Fig. 1. Holger Matthies, Protecting the

Environment. We fight for every millimetre, Colour
offset lithograph on paper, 1990. David Crowley,
‘Designing Democracy: Posters and the Political
Transformation of Europe 1989–91’, V&A [online]
available from:
<http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/d/designing-
democracy-posters-and-the-political-transformation-
of-europe-1989-1991/> accessed 09 April 2013
Referencing

You should reference every time you:

1. Quote or paraphrase a source

2. Use a source for ideas, information or

opinion

Introduce and critically engage with the quote:

•Give relevant details of the author

•Use phrases like ‘according to x’ or ‘in x’s opinion’ to demonstrate
subjectivity and positionality
•Offer your own position or opinion as relevant
•Make clear what relevance the quote has in the the argument
Harvard Referencing

in text citation

As several researchers have shown, writing is a key part of design

education (Triggs, 2011).

Bibliography (at end of essay. In alphabetical order: surname, first name)

Teal Triggs (2011) Writing Design Criticism into History Design and
Culture 5(1), pp. 33 – 38.

Library Canvas Referencing Guide:

https://canvas.kingston.ac.uk/courses/768/pages/ksa-art-and-design-how-to-cite-
and-reference#references

Cite Them Right Online

See Canvas (under ‘Assessment and Feedback’)

Referencing
Plagiarism

Plagiarism means 'Presenting the work of another person (or people) as

one’s own without proper acknowledgement’ (AR6).This definition
applies to the use of written material including direct quotations, summaries
and paraphrases. To avoid plagiarism, you must always use quotation
marks when you copy text from source materials (direct quotations) and you
must always cite ALL your sources (whether you are quoting, summarising
or paraphrasing) in the text and include them in your list of references at the
end of the essay.

Examples of plagiarism:
• Including more than a single phrase from another person’s work without
the use of quotation marks and acknowledgement of the sources
• Summarising another person’s work by simply changing words or altering
the order of presentation, without acknowledgement
• Copying another student’s work, with or without their knowledge or
agreement
Referencing
Plagiarism & Academic Misconduct Policies and Procedures:

The University's Academic Misconduct procedures for all taught courses are set
out in Academic Regulations 6: Academic Misconduct (Cheating in
Assessment) Taught Courses. A table of penalties is provided in Annex 1.
Guidance on plagiarism and how to avoid it can be found in Academic
Guidance AG3a and AG3b: www.kingston.ac.uk/academicregulations

If you are not sure how to cite the work of others, staff in the Academic
Success Centres (MyKingston > My Support > My Skills) and Your Subject
Librarians (MyKingston > Library) are available to provide more guidance
in this area.
Academic Success Centre
Laura Stott (l.stott@kingston.ac.uk) is available for one to one
support sessions, and runs academic workshops on specific elements of
producing academic work.

Self-enrol to the Academic Success Centre module on Canvas at this link:

https://canvas.kingston.ac.uk/enroll/97X9MM

Attend the Academic Skills Centre workshops on Wednesdays & explore the
Academic Success Topics.

Topics: Academic Integrity; Planning and Structuring Essays and Dissertations;

Referencing; Editing and Proof Reading; Grammar and Punctuation; Time
Management; Oral Presentations; Research Skills.
English for Academic and Professional
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performance and employability. These are OPEN TO ALL STUDENTS and may be
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Submission

Deadline: by 5pm on Thursday 14 December 2023

•Submit the essay assignment as an electronic copy (Word .doc or

.docx file or Pdf file. No pages please!) through Canvas

•Plagiarism detection software (Turnitin) will be automatically used

to review written work submitted

•Any late submissions will be capped

•See Canvas for information about Extensions and Mitigating

Circumstances
Mitigating Circumstances and extensions
regulation
If a serious illness or other events have had a significant effect on your ability to
complete or submit your work, please click on this link for further information
about the University’s Mitigating Circumstances
policy: https://www.kingston.ac.uk/aboutkingstonuniversity/howtheuniversitywor
ks/policiesandregulations/mitigating-circumstances-and-extensions-regulations/

You can also contact the Faculty Academic Affairs Coordinators for further
information at KSAExtensions-MitigationNB@kingston.ac.uk
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