The Art of Critical Making: Rhode Island School of Design on Creative Practice
At Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), students are immersed in a culture of "critical making," in which the hand and mind combine to envision and create essential objects, experiences, and meanings. Consistently ranked as the number-one college of its kind in the United States, RISD is a leader in the field of art and design education. Its value, however, extends far beyond art and design, suggesting models significant to anyone seeking to contextualize, navigate, and transform increasingly complex cultures, structures, and networks.In The Art of Critical Making, RISD faculty and staff guide the reader through RISD's approach to education and innovation. Chapters explore subjects including the origin of the hand-brain connection; the foundational lessons of "critical making"; the role of designers as curators of information; the human-nature relationship; the deep purpose of drawing, materials, and critique; and how partnered projects invite businesses to engage with RISD's educational resources.This book illuminates how RISD nurtures creative practice, from initial spark to finished outcome. In these in-depth accounts, readers will discover methods and tools that will generate their own critical making, helping to:Frame critical questions through an iterative processApply hands-on, embodied approaches to problemsEnhance seeing through closer lookingMeet uncertainty with flexibilityEvaluate and articulate the significance of one's workGenerate ethical responses to global needsFor creative innovators—whether business people, practicing artists and designers, prospective students of art and design, or educators—The Art of Critical Making will inspire new and rigorous ways of thinking and making. Readers will gain insight into how "critical making" can be a generative, transformative act essential to our collective experience.