02. August 2010
Multiplicity & Visual Identities 2005-2010
Critical studies on identity, representation, design and image politics.
Multiplicity & Visual Identities is a postgraduate programme focused on contemporary corporate design and visual representation, examining visual identity strategies in the dynamic contexts of hybrid societies. Social, economic, political and cultural issues related to design are looked through the prism of their public exposure and the interface between private/ corporate versus collective/civic interests.
Multiplicity & Visual Identities is structured as a blend of theory, practice and research. It combines the academic scope of scientific investigation; the intellectual exchange of a speculative think-tank; the practical elements of a critical design workshop on (cultural) identity, design and image politics; and the pragmatism of a real-life research laboratory for cultural analysis.
Between 2005 and 2010 a multinational group of fifty participants and over one hundred experts has worked together on original and challenging assignments, creating a critical mass indispensable for visual identity designers eager to respond to the demands of users, citizens and consumers in the 21st century.
Public lecture posters
Focus of past programmes
2005-2006: From Babbling to Visual Language Systems
Digitalization, and automation of design processes, and the streamlining of communication chains by design management have bloomed visual identity systems that merely are based on standardization and repetition of iconography. This programme researched visual language systems that were able to communicate differentiation and similarity parallel.
2006-2009: Identities in hybrid societies
A culturally and socially hybrid society dramatically has changed the understandings on identity. This buzzword and container concept is used in political and cultural debates everywhere, thus in design and communication as well. This three-year research has been carried out as an exploration towards the behaviour of design, and the new assignments for design, representation and identity in the context of actual political, cultural, and socio-economic conditions that are produced by societies in flux.
2009-2010: Design, Identities & Trust
The complex dynamics of trust are decisive means for human orientation and (inter)action in society. The recent economic meltdown of global financial system and the multi-intertwined other crises all point to a crisis of trust. A loss of confidence in the systems we have created can be observed: a decrease of credibility in the processes we desire to control and manage, and distrust in the democratic institutions and private businesses. We can identify four kinds of trust crises that stresses people, politicians and whole societies today: complexity; migration and cultural resistance; economic crisis; and ecologic sustainability. This programme tries to observe and analyse this development by questioning how design and representation strategies could deal with the crisis of trust.
Participants
International creatives from different disciplines have participated in the programme and carried out research projects in the research areas listed below.
Experts
Multiplicity & Visual Identities collaborates with a large international pool of experts. They represent various branches within design, architecture, urbanism, art, sociology, psychology, history, linguistics, journalism, political science, corporate strategy and management and creative innovation.
Full expert list
Design research areas
Click to enlarge
Identity; Identification processes
Representation; Visual identity; Corporate design
Brand culture; Image politics; Public diplomacy
Place branding; City and nation branding
Hybrid social contexts; multicultural identities
Urban culture; Dynamics and repercussions of globalization
Trust; credibility; Social symbolic exchange
Sustainability; Relational design
Social transformation; Organization innovation
Design cultures; Methodologies; Design processes
Visual journalism; Visual essay; Scenario thinking
Go to research DOSSIERS
Locations
Zurich, Geneva, and Amsterdam
Partnering with/ Supported by
Netherlands Foundation for Visual Arts, Design and Architecture, Amsterdam
INDIGO – International Design Alliance and Icograda, Montreal
University of the Arts Geneva
Volume magazine (Archis, Amsterdam/AMO, Rotterdam/C-Lab, New York)
Academy of Art and Design St. Joost, Breda
The Beach for creative innovation, Amsterdam
Association of Dutch Designers (BNO), Amsterdam
Head of programme
Evert Ypma, Zurich/Amsterdam
The 2008 programme has been directed in cooperation with Felix Janssens, Rotterdam
Zurich University of the Arts, Institute for Design Research
Between 2005-2010 the CAS Corporate Design – Multiplicity & Visual Identities programme have been allocated at Design2context, the Institute for Design Research, Zurich University of the Arts