AVERY MILLER★

This talk was given March 12th, 2022 for Drexel University’s College of Media Arts and Design Undergraduate Symposium in Material Cultures Studies. The Zoom conference was conducted by Professor Joesph Larnerd.

Special thank you to Tim Karoleff for the mentorship and insights during this process.

You can watch the recorded lecture here: Link

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Abstract:

In the past few years, design has rapidly begun to stagnate. Globalization has influenced design to adopt a “global style” using the greatest common denominators among vastly different cultures to produce designs meant not to offend. Contemporary design is no longer meant to appeal to an audience, nor to start a conversation. In the same strain, globalization has lead to homogenization and therefore a loss of identity amongst designed objects. Cultures that once embraced embellishments are now being assimilated into modern, minimalist design.

Design without identity is easily discarded because of a lack of personal relationship with the item, resulting in continued issues with sustainability. Design with identity can be valued outside of its country of origin by a foreign observer, as differences in what is considered beautiful can still be recognized as such. The current fear is that the global design style will, or perhaps already has, reached its creative limitations, only kept relevant with the advancement of technology. The perpetuation of global design reinforced by academic institutions appeals to the corporate landscape and assists in the rapid decline of the skilled artisan. For the sake of design and culture, action needs to be taken toward the crafting of objects and spaces that celebrate cultural identity in a world of globalized design.