05.21.26First Things First Manifesto
Ken GarlandI recently stumbled across the writing and work of Ken Garland on LinkedIn in the comments section of a post about Spotify’s new logo. The user wrote that he wished we were in a time where designers were using their experience and skills in a meaningful way rather than spending time writing about how Spotify’s new logo is going to change the user experience. He wished that there were more designers like Ken Garland. I decided to look into Ken Garland, I found it interesting how the concerns of Ken Garland are now materialized in the world we live in today. In the 1960’s Ken was warning designers of the exact thing that I have been trying to understand why and how we have got here. 

I am curious about designers complicity with advertising and consumerism taking over the world and the industry of design has caused much pain for designers themselves. I use the idea of the Ouroboros, a self eating snake. The power we have as designers are significant, as many designers would claim. But I am concerned about the lack of care for the work that designers and designers are putting into the world. How is the work that they are putting out influencing the world? Is the world they are building beneficial for the world or the design industry? I would argue that the majority is not.

The reason I decided to include this within my portfolio is to not only push me to learn and be able to expand my understandings. But to be a source for other designers to gain inspiration and to push their understandings as well.  

My goal is to work with the priority to improve our world. I want to build a community of designers that care about how their work is influencing the world. I hope that this attracts likeminded designers and we can work together to build the future. Similar to what Ken Garland was attempting to do in the 60’s.