Design Process Briefing

Mijksenaar

Studio Brief 1: wayfinding 

Wayfinding serves the function of informing people of their surroundings. Within this brief we are to focus with a subjective nature in which we design a personal sign system of our own interpretation of the spaces around us, with the expectation of poetic sings, imaginary sign systems and conflicting signs etc being created. 

Sign systems can me objective or subjective. Objective in the sense that the signage is functional, independent of the person and universal or rather subjective, in which the sign designed around an opinion or feeling relies on an individuals interpretation.
The focus of this brief should be a subjective one. 

OBJECTIVE vs SUBJECTIVE 

uniform, stable, clarity, universal, scientific, authority 

vs 

varied, dynamic, stylized, decorative, peculiar, novice 

Experimental Jetset

“Most sign systems have the appearance of an objective, functional, almost scientific construction. However, under the surface one can find many subjective motives. Take for example the work of Paul Mijksenaar, designer of many iconic sign systems. In a text on his website, Mijksenaar writes about multilingual signs. After explaining why English should be the dominant language in all international airports, he continues by writing that airports in English-speaking countries should only use English and never a second language, because such usage of a second language would “patronize the traveller who doesn’t speak English, and who will never learn English if things are made too easy for him/her”. Here Mijksenaar shows his subjectivity: his view on multilingual signs is based on a personal viewpoint (the ideas that everybody should learn English), and not on the functionality of the sign system (the idea that everything should be “as easy as possible”).

We fully agree with Mijksenaar: we also think that the role of the designer is not to make things “as easy as possible”. There are many other responsibilities that should be taken into consideration: aesthetic responsibilities, conceptual responsibilities, etc. In other words: responsibilities of a subjective nature that go far beyond the narrow definition of functionality.”

Above is a quote from Experimental Jetset on the work of Mijksenaar, although his sign systems may have the appearance of being universal, functional and objective there is a subjective nature driving his design, communicating his belief that the designers job is not to make things "as easy as possible" for the viewer, and so he only uses the English language within his work. 

Otl Aicher

Otl Aicher's designs for the 1972 Munich Olympic Games communicate objectivity. Aicher's articulation to the multi-lingual and multi-cultural audiences through his pictogram system highlights the simplistic, objective approach that can be taken to information design.

Otl has used pictorial symbols to ensure the appropriate communication is received by all viewers, unlike Mijksenaar, his objective designs are easily received and do not make the viewer think for too long, with no underlying subjective design.