The people at Image-shift, a studio based in Berlin explain the main characteristics of a responsible, modern design practice. It clears up many misconceptions about design practice and acknowledges many of its faults. For example, the “non-manifesto” explains that design work doesn’t have to be mercenary. You don’t have to “sell out” to big corporations. However, the text also mentions that design work can rarely be independent of financial constraints. The text says it is important for designers to find their own identity, their own style. I agree with this, as independence from societal trends make stronger, more creative, truer design work.◼️ The text also says designers aren’t artists, or at least not those at Image-shift. I think that design rides the line between purely practical disciplines and purely aesthetic ones. Are designers not considered artists because they produce things en masse? Or is it because their work is somewhat utilitarian. But if designers aren’t artists, what about classical musicians, whose discipline of work is much more rigid?◼️In addition, this text makes the case for design as a performative action in the sense that it is a dialogue between the creator and the audience. Indeed, unlike other work, design intends to be seen. As such, its participants do have responsibilities towards society, as they participate in generating culture.◼️ I think this text is also full of uncertainty. The title suggests that the authors aren’t sure that these statements are universal or not.