Abstract
The paper sets out to: • describe globalization in the context of product design, visual communication and multimedia; • describe the elements of design that matter in a moral sense and those that do not; • assess the vulnerability of design to pressure to become a promotional organ of global vanity; • explain the reluctance of authors to adopt a critical stance with regard to the vanity of many products; • identify the problems besetting design discourse, which cause it to be largely mute in the evaluation of design in the context of cultural life; and, • investigate the methodological challenges and embarrassments of a future critical discourse in design which is better able to address the current issues and problems damaging the moral and intellectual credibility of the field
Citation
Nelson, R. (2004) Design and Morals in the Globalized Context., in Redmond, J., Durling, D. and de Bono, A (eds.), Futureground - DRS International Conference 2004, 17-21 November, Melbourne, Australia. https://dl.designresearchsociety.org/drs-conference-papers/drs2004/researchpapers/63
Design and Morals in the Globalized Context.
The paper sets out to: • describe globalization in the context of product design, visual communication and multimedia; • describe the elements of design that matter in a moral sense and those that do not; • assess the vulnerability of design to pressure to become a promotional organ of global vanity; • explain the reluctance of authors to adopt a critical stance with regard to the vanity of many products; • identify the problems besetting design discourse, which cause it to be largely mute in the evaluation of design in the context of cultural life; and, • investigate the methodological challenges and embarrassments of a future critical discourse in design which is better able to address the current issues and problems damaging the moral and intellectual credibility of the field