Response to "Design As Critique"

Anthony Dunne and Fiona Raby’s discussion about critical design and it’s significance was a thought-provoking piece as it highlighted the cycle of critical thinking. The cycle consists of critical thinking enables for critical design which is critiqued further using critical thinking to produce a different critical design. At least, that’s how I perceived it in the simplest form. Critical is a term which doesn’t necessarily have a positive connotation. People perceive it critique to be something that it isn’t. In reality, it is about challenging, questioning, and advancing beyond what is simply provided to us.

The most interesting and helpful perspective that I gained from this reading is Erik Olin Wright’s idea that critical design “can help people instruct compasses rather than maps for navigating new sets of values.” In other words by using critical design as a compass rather than a map, we don’t limit ourselves and open ourselves up to more possibilities. A map is direct and sets forth rules and a limit as to how something can be reached. A compass on the other hand helps guide the path, but it is still up to the person who is using it to figure out what direction they will take it. This concept really helped me understand critical design as critical design is subjective and it is important for people to view it through their own lens. Critical design shouldn’t lead straight to an answer, but rather a push forward in the design journey. This is important note to keep in mind when receiving any form of criticism as it every critic has a different lens to view an idea, but not any particular one is completely the right answer.