Material Literacy; the significance of materials in graphic design ideation

Background The research contributes to the fields of graphic design research and practice, specifically the significance of materiality in graphic design ideation and publication design as a visual research method. While prevalent in the discourse of disciplines such as architecture, a material mode of design enquiry is mostly unresearched in graphic design. Whilst visual methodologies are increasingly important to design research (Rose, 1983) publication design is a new tool for exploring research of publication design practice. Contribution The research contributes knowledge about non-digital computational making (Stiny, 2015) and material literacy in post-digital graphic design, (Grigg, 2018, 2020). The design pushes the field by repurposing the book format—itself a communication design tool— as a research site, (Haseman, 2006). Using Adobe InDesign, pages of the book were progressively adapted as sites for; visual and textual data sorting, data analysis, data display and dissemination. Significance The research impacted the field by introducing and interrogating the topic of materiality in graphic design. The research findings support the concept that a sustained, critical, non-digital material enquiry remains an inventive strategy in contemporary practice, (Grigg, 2018, 2020), and, that, as a research instrument, the publication design process facilitates analysis and distribution of research into its practices. Attesting to its dual value the work was; • awarded ‘Best Designed Independent Book’, 67th ABDA Awards, 2019, demonstrating evidence of excellence in the publication design field • finalist, AGDA Awards, 2019 ‘Publication design’ • nominated, Vice-Chancellor’s Prize for Research Excellence — HDR 2019, RMIT • helped shape the national community of graphic design research evidenced by media responses from key organisations ABDA and AGDA. • Increased the visibility of internationally recognised women in design (Connory, 2017, 2018, 2019).