Critical Graphic Design An investigation by Anna Craemer

The Invention of Writing is one of the biggest Graphic Design activities there ever was. But very little people are aware that that is Graphic Design. When you are a Graphic Designer you will be at least once called a Pixelpusher, trying to tell you that you are not the person with the idea, you are only the one polishing it. Some people might tell you, that you have to fight this, that you have to prove these people wrong, that Graphic Design is more than decoration, but the fact is, Graphic Design is also decoration. But why is that so bad? Why do we think creating content is a more valuable act than creating form? As Michael Rock already said in his intelligent text ‘Fuck Content’: Design is always content itself. Like a Hitchcock movie is always not only about the plot, but a lot about filmmaking itself. Do yourself a big favour and instead of trying to prove anybody wrong about their understanding of Graphic Design, find your own definition and inspire people about what Graphic Design can be. Enforce your standing as a Graphic Designer (with a capital G and a capital D) and be confident about the value of your work. The best way to be confident is to understand your profession and your job first. If you go to a doctor you want him to have done everything he can, in order to know what he is doing. Critical Graphic Design invites you to be inquisitive about Graphic Design. What do you base your design decisions on? What are your believes and motives behind your design? What is your personal definition of Graphic Design?

Paulus M. Dreibholz	Karel Martens
Rathna Ramanathan	Mirko Borsche
Richard Hollis	Paula Scher
Eike König	Michael Wolff