It must be more than selling products to fill an artificial need. More than just “making something pretty.” Design is Art with a purpose. Art in service of the human experience.
As designers we are part of that human experience. Design CAN have a greater purpose, and since it can it SHOULD. To make sure that we are creating and fostering design that reaches this higher goal we must answer three questions that form the foundation of this Manifesto’s core statement.
What is Design?
Design is a conversation between Designer and audience, meant to communicate by touch, sound, color, shape, and every human sense. Design is about relationships- not products. A designer should start by considering the needs and experiences of their audience. It is the audience response- not the product itself- that makes design a success.
Design flourishes with open communication, building on foundations and questioning assumptions. This view points the way to human-centered and inclusive design being vital to the future of our craft.
Human-centered design can help overcome assumptions and solve potential barriers to access. Inclusive design can be simply described as “design that is accessible to everyone” (admind, 2022). If Design is a conversation then the more voices that are involved, the richer it will be.
What is Art?
Art is the expression of ideas brought into physical manifestation. Many mediums can be used but more important than medium is the idea being brought to life and the voice communicating it.
An artist’s skill in the medium may produce works of beauty, convey emotions, and be interpreted through an audiences’ personal experience. Yet these works are often only accessible through museums and galleries or owned by the wealthy. Design uses many of the same mediums to produce works, so what separates it from art? Design is art that listens and learns. It is a reply to a societal question rather than an individuals’ vision.
Who are the People?
The people are the audience. In a vacuum, the expression of the artist does not resonate. With design, there is a focus on communicating directly to the audience. In this context, it is essential that we consider who we are talking to. This DEMANDS an inclusive design practice that can reach our audience where they are and not where we assume them to be.
Harvard Business school describes Human-centered design as a problem-solving technique that puts real people at the center of the development process, enabling the creation of products and services that fulfill the needs of the audience (What Is Human-Centered Design?, 2020). This kind of practice helps designers understand who they are designing for. Who are they? What do they need? What do they respond to? Asking these questions will help designers reach their audience through design and create a welcoming space.
Principles in Practice
When practicing design many challenges present themselves. Lack of inspiration, difficult clients, seemingly unsolvable problems, combined with the pressure of deadlines can make design a frustrating pursuit. If not overcome these same issues can result in bad design.
This manifesto attempts to create a core foundation that can help avoid these issues. Human-centered design and inclusive design are about breaking down barriers between designers and audiences. They provide a framework on how to explore possibilities instead of falling back on assumptions and help to create design that will work in the real world and enhance the lives and experiences of the people it touches.
Design is Art for the People
It is also Art by the People. Designers respond to the needs around them, whether the purpose it fills is informative or casual, practical or emotional, passive or active.
Good design is the result of using the tools and knowledge available to create something that addresses genuine need. It is a response in the conversation between designer and audience, driven by the evolving needs of the people who comprise that audience. Human-centered, inclusive, and purpose-driven art.
