This week’s class focused on postmodernism in design, exploring how it challenged the strict rules of modernism and embraced experimentation, individuality, and visual play. We looked at Wolfgang Weinhart and David Carson as key figures, noting how their work broke traditional grids, used unconventional typography, and incorporated expressive, sometimes chaotic layouts.
Wolfgang Weinhart’s work in postmodern design is characterised by experimentation with typography and layout. He often breaks traditional rules, using unexpected compositions and playful structures to create designs that feel dynamic and expressive, reflecting the individuality and freedom central to postmodernism.
David Carson is known for his unconventional approach to graphic design, particularly in magazine work like Ray Gun. He uses distorted type, overlapping images, and chaotic layouts to convey emotion and energy, prioritising feeling and impact over strict readability, pushing the boundaries of traditional design norms.
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Overall, this week’s class highlighted how postmodernism in design encourages creativity, experimentation, and personal expression. It showed how designers like Weinhart and Carson challenge conventional rules to produce work that is bold, memorable, and full of character. The session also emphasised how postmodern design often reacts against rigid structures, embracing unpredictability and emotional impact, which can make designs feel more human and relatable.
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