Summary Of Michael Rock's Article 'Designer As Author'

Michael Rock’s article “Designer as Author” addresses a quite popular topic of discussion in graphic design. Authorship. In there, Rock validates the active roles played by designers across various fields of artistic productions. The connection that exists between authorship and design is built on the ability of the designer to stand and work alone to accomplish a project. The article is more of argument-oriented in a way that highlights the overall roles designers play in the success of a project.

Rock channels his arguments through the historical evolution of authorship. The understanding of the fundamental transformations from notable theories such as Aristotle’s theories to the modern texts depicts the key aspects of authorship that Rock wanted to validate. The essay establishes a firm understanding of the term author before linking it to design as seen in the modern day art. The

Here, by comparing designers to translators, performers or directors it describes the roles of designers being far much beyond authorship. In this case, the designer roles are to portray the physical manifestation of the original content that makes them more than just editors, performers, translators or directors. That gives them power. That makes the boss and puts them in the drivers seat. Ellen Lupton similarly compares designers to a higher role, but a slightly different role. “For the designer to become a producer, she must have the skills to begin directing content, by critically navigating the social, aesthetic, and technological systems across which communications flow”. Both Lupton and Rock are communicating this idea of expanding and elevating the role as a designer. But never deviating from its core value which is design itself. Therefore, it is essential to refer authorship in terms of design and at the same time value the works of designers not just as authors, directors or producers but rather view them as purely designers. Designers with