Page 89 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 23
P. 89
Art & culture
An illusion of
perfect design:
Mental Laxity and excellent, and amazing work at face
value.” He concludes that the short-cut
process inhibits the designer’s creativity.
Overdependence According to art therapists and
psychologists, realism and photorealism
on technology are manifestations of the level of artistic
development stage for any designer. It
devices is where a designer is fascinated with
realism, execution, and illusion-perfect
design. They added that a designer
should transition to the creative stage
Wanyama Ogutu instead of lagging behind the realism
stage.
We appreciate the advent of technology
museums. Today, the masters’ painting designs earn since it makes the workload easier for
applause from art historians, design critics, art schools, humanity and aids in achieving a good
galleries, and exhibition halls.
standard of work. Many gains have been
illustrated in science, communication,
There is an article written by a master scholar of art with history, and social aspects. Similarly,
profound experience, understanding, and knowledge as new knowledge in design is attributed
a design teacher and a practising artist for many years. It to the advent of technology. At the same
is neither meant to criticise the realists nor photorealist time, we know the gruesome caution
designers nor to look down upon the perfectionist or from philosopher Albert Einstein,
good-standard artwork. The article sheds light on the who stated, “I fear the day technology
laxity of the artistic mind and the illusion of perfect will surpass human interaction. The
designs due to over-dependence on technology devices. world will have a generation of
idiots”. Currently, we are witnessing
A design lecturer at Kenyatta University and a longtime overdependence on technology
graphic design practitioner, he always emphasises that devices, which seem to distort the
a designer of a higher level should not compete with thinking capacity of designers against
camera devices but instead challenge their inherent imagination and creativity. A professor
creativity and imagination. “Over the years, I have of arts once joked that once you remove
been disgusted when I see my students, colleagues, and technological devices from the current
artists struggling to get the perfect piece of design.” generation, they are dead.
He continues. “They are depriving their creativity and
imagination by copy-cutting, making shorts, and trying Betty Edwards and Robert Schirmacher
to meet the camera’s standard. Such design is perfect, from the United States, both researchers
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