Postmodernism....Task 4

In art, Postmodernism was a reaction against modernism; a collapsing distinction between high culture and mass culture resulted in the refusal to recognise the authority of any given style. Postmodern design contains the following characteristics: 

• Mix of high brow and populist 
• A rejection of the rules laid down by modernism
• A rejection of the values of art laid down by modernism
• Attack on the relationship between artist and artwork
• Questions conventions of the modern world
• Multiplicity of styles and approaches
• Space for new voices

Wolfgang Weingart. (1979) 'Kunstkredit'

http://www.posterpage.ch/div/news07/n070317a.htm 

Weingart produced this poster to demonstrate that graphic design can be used to express artistic emotions. He created a 'self-referential graphic space' through his use of exposed grids, torn edges and random shapes.

Poynor, R. (2003) No More Rules: Graphic Design Postmodernism. London: Laurence King.

Dan Friedman. (1971) 'Typografische Monatsblatter'

http://www.uartsgd.com/GD40/Friedman/DanFriedman.html

Friedman has taken letters found in Times Square and floated them above the city. He has challenged the rules in his typographic layout by not following a structure. In his own words, it is 'simple, restrained, orderly, static, exclusive, abstract, pure, reduced, harmonious, systematic, and integrated.'

Poynor, R. (2003) No More Rules: Graphic Design Postmodernism. London: Laurence King.

Allen Hori (1989) 'Typography as Discourse'

http://www.webdesignstuff.co.uk/hp005/2011/01/26/deconstruction-and-web-page-design/ 

The inconsistent irregularity of Hori's work forces the reader to the text rather than avoid it. There is no hierarchy of information so can be interpreted in a variety of ways, depending of the readers preference.

Willi Kunz (1978) 'Strange Vicissitudes'

http://www.youworkforthem.com/blog/2009/03/02/willi-kunz-re-new/ 

Willi Kunz' poster promoting a photographic exhibition is a quintessential example of postmodern graphic design. He has simultaneously acknowledged and subverted the existence of the grid; the grid dots and slanted text are a hint of disturbance.

Katherine McCoy (1989) 'The Graduate Programme'

http://www.webdesignstuff.co.uk/hp005/2011/01/26/deconstruction-and-web-page-design/

McCoy has used an array of Derridean opposites within this poster 'art/science', 'mythology/technology', 'purist/pluralist', 'vernacular/classical', all of which are structured around a centre spine. She has positioned this central column of text with no unified message over imagery making barely legible. 

Poynor, R. (2003) No More Rules: Graphic Design Postmodernism. London: Laurence King.