Title Design as criticism: methods for a critical graphic design p r a c tic e Type The sis URL https://ualresearchonline.arts.ac.uk/id/eprint/12027/ Dat e 2 0 1 7 Citation Laranjo, Francisco Miguel (2017) Design as criticism: methods for a critical graphic design practice. PhD thesis, University of the Arts London. Cr e a to rs Laranjo, Francisco Miguel Usage Guidelines Please refer to usage guidelines at http://ualresearchonline.arts.ac.uk/policies.html or alternatively contact
[email protected] . License: Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives Unless otherwise stated, copyright owned by the author Thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) University of the Arts London – London College of Communication February 2017 First submission: October 2015 2 Abstract This practice-led research is the result of an interest in graphic design as a specific critical activity. Existing in the context of the 2008 financial and subsequent political crisis, both this thesis and my work are situated in an expanded field of graphic design. This research examines the emergence of the terms critical design and critical practice, and aims to develop methods that use criticism during the design process from a practitioner’s perspective. Central aims of this research are to address a gap in design discourse in relation to this terminology and impact designers operating under the banner of such terms, as well as challenging practitioners to develop a more critical design practice. The central argument of this thesis is that in order to develop a critical practice, a designer must approach design as criticism.