Knowledge and Mapping of the Art and Design Industries - Article Example

Knowledge and Mapping of the Art and Design Industries Name: Institution: Professor: Course: Date: Knowledge and Mapping of the Art and Design Industries Local, National and International Peak Bodies, Feeder Bodies and Government Instrumentalities Relevant to Graphic Design Introduction Looking at local national and international peak bodies, feeder bodies and government instrumentalities that are relevant to graphic design, major concerns are those associations typically put in place so that they can establish standards and procedures, or work on behalf of all concerned parties when lobbying government or supporting the parties interests. Australia as a country has a wide range of local, national and international peak bodies, feeder bodies and government instrumentalities relevant to graphic design as shall be discussed in this paper. A significant perspective about these bodies is that they are subdivided into the following categories: professional bodies and associations, design information and standards, industry associations, design promotion, government organizations, craft design organizations, design education based associations, cultural institutions and museums, trade exhibitions, government departments, organisations and programs as well as foundations, and design events1. This article therefore will provide a professional report that describes peak bodies, feeder bodies and government instrumentalities under the mentioned categories. Professional Bodies and Associations These professional bodies and associations serve the concern of particular design fields and professions that have a link with the practices of designers. Generally, the industries in this sector have practising professionals and technical specialists as their members. A number of industries fall under this category as indicated herein. 1. Design Institute of Australia This is a national peak body whose sole aim is to represent professional designers from all field of design inclusive of the graphic design. Its activities are coordinated through the organisation’s network and communication is with the industry, the state and the society at large2. The DIA is integrated with the Australian Graphic Design Association to offer a significant series of professional growth workshops for small and medium design practices in the whole country. 2. Australian Graphic Design Association This association promotes the development of graphic design profession in Australia and embodies professional designers, as well as promoting their activities in sustaining efficient techniques of visual communication. It is clear from this organisation’s blog that it covers a wide range of activities from designing individual businesses to larger groups of the government projects3. 3. Institute of Interior decoration and Design This comprises of a decoration group formed by alumni of Douglas Mawson TAFE interior decoration course. The main concern of this industry is to provide the best graphic designs and interior decorations for business organisations throughout the country and around the world. Industry Associations This comprises of organisations and associations that support particular industry groups. The concerned parties are normally companies and their key objective is on industry matters as opposed to professional standards. A good example in this sector is the Australian Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers Association Limited (AEEMA). This is a national peak body that mainly deals with electronics. It is a peak body that represents local and international corporations concerned with design, development and production of technologically sophisticated electrical and electronic products as well as systems. In this same industry, there is the Commercial Furniture Industry Association of Australia. This organisation is a non-governmental national feeder body that deals with furniture. It represents manufacturers, suppliers and retailers of business, agency and organisation furniture4. This industry has representation from all parts of organisation in widespread states and territories of the country as far as New Zealand. This is actually the voice of business furniture industry and is accountable to the state and federal governments. This organisation works more or less in the same way as the Furnishing Industry Association of Australia that represents the concerns of businesses in all parts of the furnishing industry. This may include sections of beddings, curtains, blinds as well as awnings, built-in wardrobes, business and household furniture. In general, all merchandise that is essential for home and business activities are vital within this sector of the industry. Design Information and Standards Organisations within this spectrum provide information programs and industry standards. In this case, we find corporations like Colourways which is a private company that is concerned with design at the national and international level of the government instrumentalities. This is specifically Australia’s peak personal colour forecasting agency. It was established by Design Institute of Australia in 1992. This major colour forecasting body functions not only in Australia but also operates in New Zealand to project movements in colour and design two years prior to the actual date of inception for a large number of industries. One important factor about Colourways is that the corporation is licensed by the Design Institute of Australia, which implies that it has gained its reputation beyond the local and national level to offer its services at the global level. Colourways’ major objective is to precisely predict colours, materials, finishes and movements for the profitability of the company members. Additionally, the corporation assists in design, growth, manufacture and promotion of its products and services. More significantly is the fact that this organisation’s members attend regular workshops throughout the country and beyond in which case prediction is developed through collaborative instruments and techniques. After attending workshops by party members, extensive kits containing actual samples are then made available to workshop attendees who are mainly members and other interested parties5. In addition to these activities, the company also runs government-based activities and seminar programs. This is made easier through production of newsletters apart from providing web-based information and networking. Another significant corporation under the design and information standards is the Standards Australia International Ltd. This is a company limited by guarantee categorised under industry. It is concerned with the development of technical and commercial standards, higher level of electronic allotment of expertise commerce and technical publications, as well as special high speed electronic printing and allotment. Furthermore, the company carries out documentation of goods and trade systems. What makes the Standard Australia International Ltd a global government instrumentality is the memorandum of understanding put in place with the commonwealth government6. Design Education Based Associations This is another imperative industry that can be categorised under the local national and international peak bodies, feeder bodies and government instrumentalities that are relevant to graphic design. Of most importance under this associations however, is the fact that they support curriculum, corporation, and discipline matters in the tertiary design education in Australia and beyond. It is under this that we find a lot of government instrumentalities like the Australian Council of University Art and Design School. This for instance, is a national instrumentality based on education that handles issues of design. More specifically, research indicates that ACUADS is an agent discipline sector of university visual arts, design as well as arts departments. Its major function is to offer support and direction to the development of art and design education throughout the country. The organisation’s solidarity is in the fact that it represents more than thirty universities in Australia to bring together divers departments and schools offering units in design. Further research indicates that not only learners could be put into consideration for the design faculty in the country but also educators had to get organised under their own instrumentality7. As a result, bodies like Design in Education Council Australia were formed. This as evident is a national corporation of educators, teachers, design experts and persons, parties and institutions interested in the role of design and its contributions to education. DECA’s main objective is to develop a memorandum of understanding in design procedure at a general level of educational strategy. Australia’s peak bodies, feeder bodies and government instrumentalities go beyond mere educational concerns in the design sector within the country, to cover areas like cultural institutions and museums. It is therefore imperative that consideration is given to organisations that sustain cultural schemes related to graphic designs. At this level, some vital institutions include the National Motor Museum and the Powerhouse Museum. The NMM was established in 1965 to function as a display of the country’s motoring heritage. The museum is located in Birdwood, south of Australia. As stated earlier, its key objective is to serve as a collection centre for research, conservation, learning and display of the country’s graphic design history in addition to the road transport. On the other hand, the Powerhouse Museum develops collections and presents exhibitions as well as programs within the design industry. The two Museums act as resource centres for research within the design industry for both professional and students in graphic design. Moreover in the section of the government instrumentalities is how the state organises design events which have been put under a special body called AGIDEAS. This body is run by the Design Foundation in conjunction with the Alliance Graphic Internationale and its member groups. This is a not-for-profit corporation put in place to ensure excellence is attained as far as design is concerned. This is accomplished through support, promotion and enhancement of the professional growth of young designers. As a result, the event is entirely organised by a group of younger designers within the larger committee of aegis of Ken Cato8. Conclusion It is notably from the above discussion that Australia is a country with a good reputation in the industry of graphic design. The country’s local, national and international peak bodies, feeder bodies and government instrumentalities are forms of organisations put in place so that they can establish standards and procedures, or work on behalf of all concerned parties when lobbying government or supporting the parties interests. This paper has professionally outlined a number of corporations within the country that can be categorised as either being peak bodies, feeder bodies or government instrumentalities. These corporations have been further classified as falling under the following fields of the industry; professional bodies and associations, design information and standards, industry associations, design promotion, government organizations, craft design organizations, design education based associations, cultural institutions and museums, trade exhibitions, government departments, organisations and programs as well as foundations, and design events. Annotated Bibliography Jedlicka, W. (2009). Sustainable Graphic Design: Tools, Systems and Strategies for Innovative Print Design. New York: John Wiley & Sons. In this book, Jedlicka attempts to help designers see graphic design as a holistic process as opposed to the mere assumption of graphic design as being entirely decorative effort. In this work, the author explores eco-conscious materials and production methods, which shows designers how to create more efficient and sustainable designs. Hembree, R. (2008). Complete Graphic Designer: A Guide to Understanding Graphics and Visual Communication. Sidney: Rockport Publishers This is a uniquely drafted book that avoids the usual description of most books in this field of graphic design. It is a brief overview of many perspectives in graphic design. For instance, the work looks at the communication theory and its significance as well as most problems encountered by designers in their daily activities. All these points make the book good for all types of people within the wider field of graphic design. Crawford, T. (Ed). (2008). AIGA Professional Practices in Graphic Design. New York: Skyhorse Publishing Inc. This is a definitive guide to professional business practice in graphic design. The work covers the web, interactive, and motion graphics. This book has been particularly revised to favour readers in the graphic design business sector. “The Voice of Professional Design: Australian Professional Bodies, Associations and Industry Organisations.” Design Institute of Australia. Retrieved from: http://www.dia.org.au/index.cfm?id=82#Design Information and Standards This website focuses on different local, national and international peak bodies, feeder bodies and government instrumentalities in Australia that are relevant to graphic design. The site lists different organisations and their significance within the field of graphic design. TasCOSS (2009) TasCOSS’s Response to the Review of DHHS-funded Peak Bodies. TasCOSS, Hobart http://www.tascoss.org.au/Portals/0/Policy%20&%20Research/TasCOSS%20Peaks %20Review%20Response.pdf Of much significance on this website is the response put forward by TasCOSS in relation to the reviews of DHHS-funded peak body in Australia. The author tries to bring out the importance of the project to graphic designers in Australia. Strickland, M., & Goodes, K., (2008). Review of Tasmanian DHHS-Funded Peak Bodies. Dept. Health and Human Services, Hobart. http://www.dhhs.tas.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0012/40035/Peak_Body_Review- Final_Report_v1.pdf The two authors in this article provide a review of what happens in a wide range of funded peak bodies in the country and their implications to the graphic design sector of the state. References: Productivity Commission (2010). Contribution of the not-for-profit sector, research report, Canberra Industry Commission (1995), Charitable Organisations in Australia. AGPS, Melbourne. Melville, R., & Perkins, R., (2003) Changing Roles of Community-Sector Peak Bodies in a Neo- Liberal Policy Environment in Australia. University of Wollongong. Strickland, M., & Goodes, K., (2008) Review of Tasmanian DHHS-Funded Peak Bodies. Dept. Health and Human Services, Hobart. http://www.dhhs.tas.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0012/40035/Peak_Body_Review_-_Final_Report_v1.pdf TasCOSS (2009) TasCOSS’s Response to the Review of DHHS-funded Peak Bodies. TasCOSS, Hobart http://www.tascoss.org.au/Portals/0/Policy%20&%20Research/TasCOSS%20Peaks%20Review%20Response.pdf “The Voice of Professional Design: Australian Professional Bodies, Associations and Industry Organisations.” Design Institute of Australia. Retrieved from: http://www.dia.org.au/index.cfm?id=82#Design Information and Standards Jedlicka, W. (2009). Sustainable Graphic Design: Tools, Systems and Strategies for Innovative Print Design. New York: John Wiley & Sons. Hembree, R. (2008). Complete Graphic Designer: A Guide to Understanding Graphics and Visual Communication. Sidney: Rockport Publishers Crawford, T. (Ed). (2008). AIGA Professional Practices in Graphic Design. New York: Skyhorse Publishing Inc. Read More