Graphic Design and the Aesthetics of Place

Abstract

AbstractThis paper describes the early stages of a doctoral project entitled “Envisioning Design: The Role of Visual Communications in Placemaking” which engages University of Western Sydney (UWS) Bachelor of Design (BDes) Visual Communications students in the process of co-designing places for learning and practicing graphic design. Through a series of focus groups, BDes students identify factors that shape their undergraduate experience and explore ways to renovate or create new and more inspirational places for their emerging community of design practice. The focus group is unique because participants are users and young graphic designers, and it is assumed that their emerging expertise in visual communication, design production, and student experience will enable them to make a particular contribution to place-making at their university.Place-making emerged in the 1970’s and as a relatively new practice. It is typically manifested through the collaborative efforts of architects, planners, builders, in...