The idea of a canon itself, even seems like pompous hierarchy in which artists and creative thinkers tether their talents and ability, in accordance of what they have been told to admire, respect and aspire to, I mean are the works of cassandre or lizzitsky any more relevant; or important, than those of sagmeister, glaser or speikerman?
Surely this has a dependency on both curriculum, which for the most part is a grounded, never-changing shambles anyway. And moreso, the opinions of whoever was responsible for ‘educating’ us at any given moment in our lives. To think that art even needs a ranking system, let alone one controlled and moderated by museum curators or wealthy critics, is absurd in every way.
If I were to say my ‘canon of graphic design’ peaked with D.C Thompsons Dandy or Beano comic, And that I thought Milton Glasers supposedly seminal works were the lowest point in design history, I’m sure I would receive a lot of critique upon my opinion.. But who is actually to say that opinion would be any more right or wrong than championing tschichold, lubalin, brody or other champions of the design niche.
So why is there this need for conformity, in what essentially should just be a personal ranking of influence and inspiration, Yes it sets a benchmark, epitomizes a style from an era, and even gives foundation to a world that thrives as much on difference, criticism and opinions as it does on theory, psychology and interaction.
Perhaps my views are just cynical and I should devote my life and rear my work in the style of those seminal works listed in Phillip B Meggs, ‘history of graphic design’, But considering even that has altered over it’s four editions I’m not sure I’d be that convinced I wasn’t just buying into a certainty in the need to replicate the styles of yesteryear, or keep alive the accessibility and stylished appeal of certain modern icons, albeit that of a typeface.
I just know that I personally would rank Scott Kings work within sleazenation, Or sagmeisters ‘set the twilight reeling’, even Rafael Desotas iconic pulp illustrations far above Charles Rennie Macintosh or Joseph Binder. But it’s personal taste, It’s ‘What I Know vs. What I’m Told I Should Know’.
