From: Ms. Questionable

I’d like to know more about the transition you’re speaking of in design. I think this is important to us all. Is design moving from service to others to service to self? Please expound.

These are excellent questions, but I think it depends on the context of the communication and arena. For example, my kids’ teachers teach primarily based on a set of standards. My son who is learning to write his name has no problem with his handwriting. His lopsided, oversize letters do indeed spell his name, but his teacher has him tracing pre-printed san serif letters of the alphabet so that his handwriting will have more uniformity and clarity.

A similar type of standard and clarity can be used for his daycare provider’s newsletter. I agree that her original layout, with typos and typographical mistakes communicated what it had to say, but in applying some standards or principals of good layout and typography, the newsletter could speak even better. Just like she’s teaching my son better penmanship, a makeover design of her newsletter for better communication could do the sam thing.

It’s not that it’s “wrong,” it’s more about could it be done better. And that judgement in this case is primarily based on the audience for her newsletter. My wife and I were somewhat appalled by the newsletter whereas other parents might not have been (and believe me, we’re not snobbish people, though I may sound like that in this comment.) Like I said, I guess it depends on what we expect when we judge how something is designed. In this regard, then, I think “effective communication” relates to what standards you hold for yourself and/or what other hold for you.

Of course, this response begs a whole bunch of other post-modern questions: what are standards? who gets to set them? what are their political ramifications? and on and on. So I’m going to end before I start sound like some arrogant right wing back-to-standards fool.

I’m wondering about the words “effective communication”. What does this mean exactly? Effective for whom? The designer? The reader? We cringe because we “see” what’s “wrong”. For users and clients who don’t “see” is there truly anything “wrong” and is it still “effective”.

I’m just a beginning student of design, but I often notice the design of the material put out by my kids’ schools or the local businesses in my community. In fact, I redesigned the newsletter from the son’s daycare. It was a complete mess, so it wasn’t hard to do a better job. But while the daycare provider appreciated the design makeover, I don’t think she appreciates how the design of her marketing material makes a statement about her business. At the same time, though, maybe her clients don’t expect much more either. They are more concerned about their kids being taken care of than they are about how the daycare’s newsletters, fliers, and logo look.

But I think she should be concerned. It’s not only about the aesthetic appeal, but moreso about effective communication.

The end goal is going to define whether design will work or not. If I’m satified with dated signage and business is good, I’m probably not going to seek out design services. If on the other hand I want to broaden my visual communication, appear more professional, or gain sales, I’d be more inclined.

The ethical question is whether or not you should do business with someone who has problems that design can’t solve. (Which could mean potentionally losing to a competitor)