design criticism

Remarks on the current state of design criticism
by Francois Burkhardt

Design criticism is currently in a bad state. It is a bad state first and foremost because any criticism of the established system is considered to be subversive. It used to be that criticism would serve as an impetus, as an element of renewal, as the conscience of the profession. Today, there is no tolerance of criticism of the political and economic system, of the production of goods, of institutions, organizations or associations, of members of the profession, and of the damage which production causes to the environment. Design criticism has faded, if not entirely disappeared. Since the progressive period of the Ulm School of Design, the protests of the student revolution, the extreme position of counter design (also called radical design) and the tumultuous times of “new design” – all concepts related to the drive for change and improvement in and by design – design now seems to have become comfortable in a state of zero criticism. What is in demand today is the adaptation of design to a blind promotion of the production process and to market shares. Marketing has taken the place of criticism. One thing has to be completely clear: if criticism is not demanded, it will not be developed or encouraged, either. So once again, criticism has to be voiced by the underground. That is a very bad sign for the development of society and for the evolution of design as a profession.

in:
Warum dieser Stuhl? – Gestalter über Gestaltung
Herausgeber: Egon Chemaitis und Karen Donndorf für designtransfer,
Universität der Künste Berlin
translated on behalf of EOOS basic research