Design Philosophy

Robert Jones
Associate Professor
Delaware County
Community College


	Student work Links Bio		DESIGN Philosophy Strong visual communication needs to have its foundation in the knowledge of the fundamental elements and principals of design, as well as a strong understanding of human visual perception. Good design addresses communication problems and possibilities through a rigorous process of visual exploration, balancing conceptualization and visualization, integrating form and content within the restrictions of project objectives. Form and content is what drives good design practice. But successful design is only achieved through the design process of ideation, reflection, planning, creation, analysis and execution. These processes will take the inexperienced designer through various stages of development and a struggle is likely to ensue, but without these preliminary investigations, the novice is likely to fall short of the best possible solution to a project.		The educated designer needs to foster both critical and creative thinking skills. The creative process must explore past and present design practices and solutions while pushing the parameters of a project to express fresh and innovative approaches to a project’s objectives. My own design sensibilities align with structure and simple lines of Swiss Design and Russian Constructivism, yet I attempt to add warmth and occasional whimsy. Instilling this sense of structure in my student’s work is one of my primary aims, yet I push the student to allow their personality to come through in their work. After all, as the audience varies so must the form and content of the solution, but a client often hires a designer or group for their unique vision. It is extremely important for design students to be aware of current trends in graphic design but I also strive to motivate and inspire my students to discover their own visual vocabulary and voice.

			TEACHING Philosophy
	August 21, 2008