Designing Freedom (London)
London, England. Design Museum. "California, Designing Freedom" looks at how politically rebellious attitudes (1960's—present) have shaped design.
"By turns empowering, addictive and troubling, California design is shaping the nature of the 21st century" This exhibition definately stirs it up.
The pastel colored exhibition design is organized by what you want; See what you want, Go where you want, Do what you want, Join who you want, Say what you want, Make what you want. The design didn't interest me, but the content made me feel homesick, in more than one way.
It's always revealing to see your own culture from afar. Here it was unsettling to see old and recent technologies side by side, with the same hopes and fears still attached to them.
From free speech movement punch cards to the Mobile Justice App, it all takes on new meaning in the current political climate. What seemed like a fresh struggle not so long ago is now seen as history, but history threatens to repeat itself.
In 1955, at Immaculate Heart College, a silkscreen studio for protest posters was led by Sister Corita Kent. Her work used advertising slogans, philosophy, street and store signage, poetry, scripture, newspapers, magazines, song lyrics, and political speeches.
The California garage as temple: Walt Disney's, Packard's, Job's, Wojcicki's
Google maps presented in layers of plexi panels
Historical graphic design included early issues of Wired and Emigre, digital fontwork,
and Susan Kare's sketches for Apple icons.
The graphic design of acid
More currently this advertisement by obeygiant.com and Amplifier Foundation, 2017
UCLA Mobile Justice App, 2015
Good Inc, animations and infographics intended to spur activism, 2016
USC Institute for Creative Technologies, VR to assess and treat veteran's PTSD
For sale in the shop