Graphic design does not arise in a vacuum, but is closely intertwined with society, both from above and from below. Yet this interplay often remains underexposed due to, among other things, an excessive focus on the autonomous, individual designer. As early as 1996, Carel Kuitenbrouwer and Koosje Sierman called for more historical and theoretical insight to strengthen the field as a whole. Silvio Lorusso repeated this call in What Design Can't Do (2023), in which he exposes the limitations and power dynamics of design and calls for a redefinition of the profession. Richard Niessen and Kylièn Bergh, in their elective course Graphic Design as a Mediator in Public Space at the UvA, examine how graphic design relates to society's ordering. They offer a framework that provides insight into the functioning of Dutch graphic design within public space and collective culture.
In collaboration with: Wim Crouwel Instituut, Allard Pierson and University of Amsterdam.
Generously supported by: Stimuleringsfonds Creatieve Industrie and Netwerk Archieven Design en Digitale Cultuur (NADD).