Art Without Compromise by Wendy Richmond

Recently we were given a copy of ‘Art Without Compromise’ which divulges into a whole range of diverse issues that designers must tackle each day. Although the book is really art focused, hence the title, we did find it to be of great value to any designer regardless of discipline and we commend the following review to you in that esteem.

Article by Martin Gibson – @embody3d @martingibson – 31.07.2010

[rating:3]

Art Without Compromise by Wendy Richmond, published by Allworth Press is a jargon free, experience centric and story rich book that discusses contemporary, yet well-established issues faced by creatives that will inspire, motivate and most importantly question our activities and processes at the core of our design thinking. For some this book will be an awakening, an epiphany if you will of the mind. Instead of designing the worlds next super cool minimalist toothbrush, it might challenge you to think what is it really to be minimalist? How has minimalism changed? What do other people think of minimalism? What do i think of minimalism? How do we quantify minimalism? Why does a toothbrush even need to be minimalist? And this crazy list of questions will just endure and endure.

Art Without Compromise covers topics like:

• Understanding artists unique identity in relation to the larger culture

• Building systems of support and collaboration

• How an artists needs can lead to innovation and authenticity

• The internet and what is pubic and private

• Accepting disgression as a creative necessity

My only criticism of this work is that structurally its chapter components lack connection to one another. One chapter will be about ‘how to be creative’ whilst the next section will be about ‘exhibiting the complexity of culture’. Although every chapter being excellently written, exploring concepts so clearly that often at times it ring a sense of deja vu, by the end of the book one leaves with a crazy diversity of design know-how that was perhaps unexpected or unintended. But to another this jumble of questions will enhance the perception of how and why they work, no matter what field they may be in.

In one of the chapters that I found very challenging was about asking the underlying questions about your design and work. As an industrial designer in the point of sale industry I sometimes forget about what I am actually designing, what is my purpose as a designer and what should my product goals be. Sometimes I feel I am trapped inside a cycle of operations and over time I have lost my lateral thought that we see so often see in children.  Richmond states clearly that a designer with a clear understanding of their work can make informed decisions about their work, not compromises. Whereas designers that lack understanding can make unnecessary compromises and detrimental decisions.

Surely one of this large collection of questions will surely be in your brains to-do list including how context and history judges our products. How do people react and judge products and how does this evolve through time? This continuous questioning never turns ambiguous or philosophical nor does it dabble in theory or speculation.

While the book at times lacks meaty practical advice for designers, and also lacks exploration of new concepts and processes, it is a timely reminder to students and professionals to examine their current methodologies and to take corrective action.