Modes of Criticism #3 in Bloomington, MN

Modes of Criticism is a design criticism journal published annually. It examines what is meant by "criticality" in design, and works towards the politicization of its discourse and practice through a variety of disciplinary intersections.The third volume of Modes of Criticism focuses on graphic design's struggle in dealing with political issues in recent years. From the bankruptcy of subvertising, to the rise of the "post-truth" after Trump's election and Brexit, and a permanent state of rebranding, there are new contexts demanding new strategies. Questioning the discipline's misconstruction of terminology such as "design activism," while examining multiple tactics, their discourse, shortfalls and potential, this volume opens up an intersection between design and democracy. With contributions by Els Kuijpers, Angela Mitropoulos, Laura Gordon, Decolonizing Design Group, Silvio Lorusso, Luke Pendrell, and James Trafford.