用藝術和設計去推動公眾教育

香港理工大學美術及設計教育榮譽文學士學位課程

美術設計教育是甚麼?在課室裡教授美術史、在電腦室學習製圖軟件嗎?還是在視藝室繪畫油畫、創作陶瓷?不!美術設計教育不單局限於課堂、教室裡的知識傳授,也不限於美術室內的創意培訓;美術和設計本身就可以是公眾教育的一種方式。例如宣傳設計、展覽策劃等,就是以不同的美術設計方式,傳授訊息、內容,以至知識的手法。

抱持這樣的想法,理大美術及設計教育文學士學位課程為在職設計師和藝術教育工作者提供兼讀進修的途徑。入讀課程的學生須具備美術/設計/教育相關的文憑或以上學歷,和相關工作經驗。這代表了他們在美術、教育或設計工作方面已有初步的專業認識,課程從而可更集中於研習藝術設計的理念和其社會應用。課程包括藝術設計的文化理論教學實踐兩方面:

I) 藝術設計文化理論:

探討當代繁雜的藝術、設計文化觀,培養學生從整體文化脈絡去思考及分析藝術設計與文化教育的關係,洞悉背後的社會功能、影響和權力架構等。例如有同學就曾分析香港警隊的招聘海報,了解到海報如何以圖像方式來塑造男女警的英勇形象和角色,同時亦看到設計如何強化性別定型。(圖1)

fig01b_465

圖1 (按圖放大):我們每天都看到琳瑯滿目的海報,可有想過海報與社會文化的關係?像圖中的警隊招聘海報,就為我們劃分了男、女警察的特定角色和形象。(Courtesy: Tang Man Sung)

II) 藝術設計教學實踐:

把藝術教育視為一個不斷變革的教育體系,探討藝術設計在教育中的角色、社會功能和位置;並要求學生在課程中構想自己的教育實踐方案、然後以一連串的教學實驗來驗証成效。基於學生的工作背景和個人興趣,他們的「實踐方案」範疇廣泛,有在校園裡實踐課外活動的計劃,有嶄新的成人興趣班教程,亦有與非牟利組織合作的社區計劃。甚至有同學以創立社會企業作為功課,回應他們對本港教育的觀察,以至社會問題!

fig02a_465
fig02b_465

(圖2)圖2a,b (按圖放大):同學們走到劏車房去了解廢棄汽車問題,發現不少汽車零件都堅硬而精美,卻只被當成爛鐵。他們就決心利用這些廢棄汽車零件來升級再造成精巧的訂製家具,畢業後更延續計劃,成立公司,既救回汽車零件,亦推廣環保,獲社會企業獎。(Courtesy: ATB Auto Art)

除此之外,課程亦不乏創作面向。藝術設計創作是以專題主導的方式啓導創作,如 Ways of Seeing一科,同學們除了學習觀察、記錄和分析本地「視覺文化」外,作品更須用個人的創意方式來表達發揮,不限媒介。(圖3)創作科目亦包括「資訊設計」課,研習如何運用簡明扼要的設計手法來傳遞訊息、做 (公眾) 教育的工作。例如年前的「青苗上河圖」展覽及出版計劃,就是資訊設計課的作業。作為有社會承擔的公眾教育工作者,需要探討和了解事情始末才去傳播知識。因此學生們首先親身做考察、訪問和研究,再透過他們熟悉的視覺手法,以圖像來呈現他們在菜園村所搜集的故事和資料,最後透過舉辦公眾展覽來探討菜園村遷拆及本土農業發展的議題。(圖4)

fig03_465

圖3 (按圖放大):在課程裡,同學們重新學習「看」:通過仔細的觀察和記錄,以視覺重新發現我們身邊的文化。沒有這樣仔細的記錄和展示,大槪沒有想過,原來街邊的小小報檔竟然可以擺放多達四百款貨品,而且報紙只佔了一小部份。(Group project, graphic by Cynthia Shing)

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圖4 (按圖放大):這並不是一幅寫生;同學們須實地考察、訪問和搜集資料,再依資料仔細繪畫和以電腦拼製。三十多位同學經歷多番討論和改動,協力呈現出菜園村的風貌和生活故事,讓觀眾在看畫之餘,更能了解香港鮮活的農業生活。 (Group project)

綜合理論及創作,本課程嘗試運用藝術和設計去介入的,不單是課堂教學,更是社會議題。同學們的畢業習作,就是把各個範疇學到的東西,配合自己的工作或生活經驗,加以整合和實踐,從而編製出一個教育自己、以至影響他人的「教程」。期望畢業生們都學以致用,把自己在藝術和設計方面的所長,運用到本土的 (公眾) 教育層面上。

撰文:呂文珊 (香港理工大學設計學院美術及設計教育文學士學位課程項目統籌)
顧問:蕭競聰 (香港理工大學設計學院美術及設計教育文學士學位課程主任)

COOP Project helps design interactive heritage tour in Sham Shui Po

Students from the Higher Diploma in Multimedia Design and Technology program helped making the Hulu Culture “i-Tour” Sham Shui Po interactive heritage tour happens.

The i-Tour is an interactive iPad application, part of the H.A.D. Walk (short for Heritage, Art and Design Walk) project organized by local NGO Hulu Culture with funding from the Hong Kong Jockey Club. Our students contributed, through the COOP Projects subject last year, to the design and development of video, interactive web content and various souvenir products for this meaningful activity.

For further details about the i-Tour project, which was just launched this week, please visit:

http://corporate.hkjc.com/corporate/corporate-news/english/2011-04/news_2011040301846.aspx

79 Short Essays on Design

Seventy-nine Short Essays on Design By Michael Bierut
Princeton Architectural Press, 2007

This book is a must-read for any design enthusiast or anyone working in the design industry whether you’re practicing or collaborating.

Mr Bierut writes with wit and delight while Abbott Miller reflects that in the design. He illustrates each essay with a new typeface that plays off the content of each piece. The book will bring you new insight into design and… read more

World Graphics Day: Why Do You Value Design?

Why Do You Value Design?

Act•Live-Hong Kong International Poster Triennial 2010 Seminar

Shape the Form, Constrain the Manner 琢形约礼

This set of tableware designed by MDes graduate Kevin Zhong in 2008 for Chinese YinCha meals aims to revive declining cultural experiences and traditional values.

For better viewing in some parts of Asia, please click here.

IKEA: From Futura to Verdana


IKEA has officially changed their customized Futura typeface, IKEA Sans, to Verdana, a font designed for Microsoft for screen viewing.

For those who haven’t heard, there has been a lot of outrage for this move by many IKEA- and type-lovers. The reason for this change is to synchronize the online and printed look for IKEA. As a member of the marketing team, I understand the need to create a unified identity. But as a designer, when you have a customized Futura typeface that has been working for you all these years, you just don’t abandon it and replace it with a default just so you can have everything look similar. No layman notices anyway and the ones that do notice really appreciate the aura that IKEA Sans sends out.

What are your thoughts for this hideous face-drop?

Read more from other indignant designers.

Cultural Research

This is a lecture delivered to about 140 second-year BA(Hons) in Design students at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University in early September 2009, as part of a subject titled “Cultural Research”.

Redesigning the Stop Sign


Here’s a parody that aptly illustrates what designers will most likely come across in their careers. The video may be funny to all but some of us know that all too much of it is true. I’m not trying to discourage new designers but rather to offer some insight.

Behind the walls of academia, your professors and mentors will protect you from the harsh realities. When you’re out on your own, you’ll meet clients that will respect you and your work and you’ll work with those that hire you to execute their “design” ideas, as depicted in the video. Wherever your talent and luck will lead you, keep in mind that design isn’t a weapon of mass destruction and should not be used with that intent. Use design as a vehicle to educate and develop the creative industry in our beloved city that is Hong Kong.

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