Final Post: Relating History & Theory learnt to the Six Cities project

While learning about the history and theory of art and design I have come to realise the change in the work that I have produced and realised the origin of some of the practices that I follow and use everyday.

The great exhibition is exactly the sort of atmosphere and show that the six cities festival wants to create. This was really influential in how I perceived the six cities design project. Before the lecture I perceived it like a concept show or even a carnival. But the great exhibition gave me a real focused view which helped in creating a foundation for my initial ideas.

Jonathan's lecture of the gothic architectural really helped me too look at Dundee in a different way. As part of research I aimed to pick out design features of Dundee to outline to the locals and visitors (the target market) what they are and why they are design features. The lecture helped me pick out things I wouldn't have done before with the gothic styled centre church window a prominent example.

The Art nouveau and Art Deco lectures were again essential in the research part of the design process. Timorous beasties adopted an art noveau style of pattern which I would have not noticed if it wasn't for the lecture. It helped me identify certain design styles and helped me to differentiate my idea so that it is unique in a crowd of design items.

The Russian movement lecture outlined and inspired me to look to others for competition and not for inspiration. I was very competitive to create the best product available which I thought was the key to success. But I deliberately didn't look at the work for others for inspiration. I thought 'blue sky' as much as possible with my team steering me in the right way.

The Futurism lecture and the lectures after, took place too late to make an impact on my project. But as a person the futurism lecture has inflamed my passion for Italy. I don't know why I like Italy so much....there is no logical explanation. But where has this influence come from? I guess my brain chooses to like Italy as there design is well documented/promoted/and successful.

As I was educated in England History lessons have largely been based on the World Wars and the Romans. My religious faith and it's up bringing has lead to me having a vast knowledge of Islamic culture, its history and design. This has largely influenced my design as I am aware of design tricks implemented in those days. I understand propaganda, symmetry, ratios of interest, balance, the history of colour, the use of colour, the history of paint, the use of paint, the properties of certain shapes, moods, atmosphere etc This has greatly influenced my preferences and relates to a style...my style which can be clearly definable as mine with the group with my choice of font, colour, texture, technology etc. I have learnt that my preference of design is my style which I have shown in the final product made which I have clearly reasoned in the presentation to the viewers.

The above is the reason why my final product looks the way it does. But can I make such comparisons to any thought? I'm thinking that does this blog mean anything. I have shown what I have used as my influence in design for the festival but can I relate any theory to anything that befits my product? I think so as a design principle could be applied to any product which was not intended. So analysing can be done in more ways than one... mainly two....in terms of affect and effect. Effect in terms of intention and affect in terms of practice. The thing that I can take away with me from this is my theory on three theories of design:
-Function follows form
-Form follows function
-Form independent of function
and my interpretation of affect and effect as internal and external success factors of design.

I know it's not my best blog. I've tried to carry out the task given which i have had difficulty relating to a book or a website as reference to my thoughts. I guess it's personal. My style!

IMRAN LOBANIA

The Great War

Jonathan gave a really interesting and interactive lecture.

The question raised was:
Which one is more important Effect or Affect? To give an example relating to the lecture he showed us two posters. One from the U.K. and another from mainland Europe. Analysing the poster I was quick to realise that the U.K. Poster had a better affect than effect and vice versa for the european mainland poster.

Just to make things clearer what is the definition of effect and affect. Well from my understanding:
Effect- is in "theory" what a poster does
Affect- is in "practice" what a poster does
Do you agree with this?

The posters in question are:
British


















The British poster is much more to the point! The main aim of the poster is to PERSUADE people to join the army. They do this by giving the men knowledge and another reason to join the army. Hence the poster has great affect but not effect as the visuals are not imaginative or creative...more realistic to help the viewer empaphise to see what would happen to them if they joined the army.



The European poster is much harder to understand despite the lack of languange. It requires more intelligence to understand what the purpose/message of the poster is. Therefore it takes a great time to think and reflect upon the message tried to be given which won't be done at a glance at looking at the poster. Hence this poster is less affective. But the effect using imagination and illustration and the theory of thinking is far advanced than the other poster.

So here the U.K. poster has been heralded as the more succcessful poster. Or is it? I think throughout the time of my blogs i have refered to culture and in this case the audience and viewers of the poster. The european culture is more in touch with the artistic side. Hence art and design movements have largely occured in France, Italy, Russia and Austria. So to think that the posters if swapped round would make same statistical reading would be foolish. The culture dictated how the posters had to be made. Europeans don't like being told what to do. They have a passion for perfection with every aspect from language to lifestyle. Do you truely believe that this poster was not in line with these trends? I think both posters was successful in converting the minds of as many people possible as far as posters can. It was the gullable minds of the British and other campaigns which helped larger turnouts for the British than the Europeans. Do you agree or disagree?

Please comment...reply's given on this board.
IMRAN LOBANIA