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“Conceptual in Print” Suchart Lertkachatarn & Anuthin Wongsunkakon with their design workshop at Chulalongkorn University. First published in art4d No.79 Febuary 2002

-----» Our design education of today may not be familiar with creating an environment in classrooms to accommodate design analysis and synthesis. My experience of teaching previous classes indicated that students do not have a chance to explore the relationship between design and society. In fact, the link between design and our social structure is being totally ignored.
Finally, I had an opportunity to do an experimental course with the third year students of the Department of Creative Arts, Faculty of Art at Chulalongkorn University, under the subject titled 'conceptual design in print matters'. I set up a program that required students to design a magazine that was to be named 'Truth'. They were expected to express their perspective towards truth in society, and to do so required exploring 11 topics or situations: Violence, Love, Pattern, Dog, Command, Transit, Nine, Identity, Music, Aids and Motto.

The students were asked to apply only one font using the same width. They were also required to be concerned about selecting the right application to suit each topic. In addition, each magazine had to contain an article regarding the topic. This may not directly be about the topic but they had to find ways, through design, to surprisingly explain the connection.

The strategy of this class lies mainly in student participation. Most activities were held as class seminars where students were asked to read news or information they gathered each week. And, they had to analyze, synthesize and present their own attitudes towards it. This activity aimed to train students to observe their surroundings and apply their skills to problem solving. The overall objective of the exercise was to not only stimulate them to be alert at all times, but also encourage them towards rational discussion and making project presentations in class

Out of the 12 weeks, the students spent first 7 weeks understanding the basics of design - of how it is worth more than simply being a tool for selling products. Design can enhance the message and generate awareness in society. The students were required to analyze, synthesize and completely separate content from context and, at the same time, understand the complexity of the thinkng process of societies.

Through this process they had to find a way to present designs based on an insightful approach that would make their print designs distinctive. The next 3 weeks were dedicated to research information for the topic each of them had drawn and the final 2 weeks were reserved for making the magazine, which they had to work on by themselves.

The result was 11 magazines covering 11 ordinary topics, exemplifying an interesting relationship between each topic and design styles and applications chosen for it.

Associated with art4d Magazine. No portion of this interview text could be published in any media without direct permission from Behaviour Group or art4d Magazine.

©2003 Graphic Behaviour (A member of Alternate Bangkok Council of Design.Type Behaviour is a trademark of Graphic Behaviour, a part of Behaviour Group, Thailand.