The Vignelli Canon

OUGD403

The Vignelli Cannon 

Vignelli gives lots of great ideas and advice to all graphic designers especially students. This book was a great reference with regard to my research. Some of his key ideas encourage designers to spend time researching accurate and essential meanings behind their ideas. This also helps us thoroughly investigate their complexities for example the context can help us gain a better understanding of an idea and the reasons behind it.  I agree with the fact that design is shallow and meaningless without semantics. The semantics in design means designers have knowledge of all aspects that knowledge can all be gained in context most likely through thorough research.  

A key idea that a design always has meaning and is not just simply there to look at and can be aimed to target an aimed audience. Unfortunately consumers do not work to this rule or guideline and instead of giving a design mean want to express vulgarity as they they this may appeal more to the market. Vignelli considers this “visual pollution” I agree with this because it takes away from the key aspects of design and encourages a form of expression instead of established culture. 

This has a huge impact making vernacular communication difficult to find.The consistency of design involves the appropriate relation between various syntactical aspects for example grids enable Graphic Designer’s to use tools and skills effectively making work consistent. I agree that if we do not understand pragmatics our idea will fail to communicate the meaning we want to present. What I have learnt is that confused and complicated do nothing but reveal an equally confusing and complicated mind. However at the same time it is essential for work to be forceful to an extent. I like designs to be made so they can be considered timeless. This is because there is a moral importance that once things are designed they should last for a while.

I also agree discipline is important every detail is important because the end result displays all of the details that were involved throughout the creative process. “Discipline is a set of self imposed rules, parameters within which we operate.” It can also be defined as an attitude to enable continuity of intent. “Design without discipline is anarchy, an exercise of irresponsibility.”Appropriateness is another key feature that can direct us to the right kind of media, scale, materials, expression, texture and colour. Appropriateness ensures the enthusiastic approval of a client discovering the solution to the problem. Appropriateness transcends any issue of style. Even ambiguity enhances the expression of design so that we can value the end result a lot more. 

Contradiction sometimes reinforcing this but is considered more of a sign showing a lack of control. Although I know this feature and contradiction can enrich the idea it can equally create an unsuccessful end result. Design discipline can be used in many different subjects and areas not just design. I strongly agree “All style requires discipline in order to be expressed.”There are so many possibilities for visual power within graphic design which can create long lasting impressions or a great impact. “There are infinite possibilities to achieve a powerful expression. In graphic design, for instance, difference of scale within the same page can give a very strong impact. Bold type contrasting with light type creates visually dynamic impressions.” 

Visual power is essential and requires great attention but can achieve effective design. I concur intellectual intelligence is the key piece that guides us to the best possible solution. “Intellectual elegance is also our civic consciousness, our social responsibility, our sense of decency, our way of conceiving Design, our moral imperative.” I agree that timelessness is also important for example primary shapes and colours even typography is more subjective searching for value. The issue of responsibility within graphic design involves the considerations of economic awareness towards a problem or solution. Responsibility is another form of discipline.
Designers have three levels of responsibility, To ourselves considering the project and all its components, to the client solve the problem economically and efficiently and to the public the consumer and the end user.Equity is important in design for example a real corporate identity should be based on overall system approaches not just a logo type or imagery. As designers we should also be conscious of paper sizes, which are most ecologically sound without negatively effecting the end result. 

We must also be fully aware of the printing process and the economic factors in relation to printed work. I completely agree with the statement “Graphic Design is organisation of information.” because in most cases thats the most basic job description of what we do. Also through typeface development computers made it easy for anyone to design a typeface causing a lot of visual pollution. In order to draw attention to this Vignelli held an exhibition presenting only four typefaces, Garamond, Bodoni, Century Expanded and Helvetica. “The aim of the exhibition was to show that a large variety of printed matter could be done with an economy of type with great results.” To summarise this means it’s not the type thats important but what you do with it that matters. I completely agree with Vignelli’s concept that designs don’t always have to be so literal and want to use this rule or objective in my own design work. “I don’t believe that when you write dog the type should bark!" I prefer a more objective approach: I try to make as clear as possible the different parts of a message by using space, weight, and typographic alignments, such as flush left, centered or justifed. 

Some basic type rules I wish to follow include choosing a proper type size in relation to the width of the column and to use consistency and composition to produce intellectual elegance. I like how Vignelli uses a set hierarchy of weights to clarify different parts of the text. I think that is clever and a good way to make an impact. Contrasting type sizes also work well to produce the best visual outcome making type more legible and enjoyable to read. Scale is equally important as design means to be in control of every aspect. Colour and texture also support each other in any creative work. The key important part of layouts is essential and is mainly the management of white space. And a sequence for example is a simple format that can give effective and rewarding results. `Throughout a graphics designers career we are continuously searching and selecting through a range of designs in order to pick the one that we think is best. 

Throughout the design process we experiment with a range of materials to find which one is most effective and appropriate for use. Afterwards there is a long experimentation process of textures, typefaces and colours and then we can see a range of materials develop into experiences that help us solve problems and gain knowledge any missing solutions in our work. These are entirely our interpretation from our research. I know it is very important to develop and expand my own vocabulary in order to be as influential and meaningful as possible. I agree and find that contradiction allows development and change an essential aspect of design. As much as extravagance and creativity is great I do like my work to be within a certain frame of reference. Finally I also love the fact that I am responsible for every aspect of my designs.