Critical Daily    Critical practice in graphic design

The project “Reflection on History of smoking” was created during my course Critic - Critical Practice in Graphic Design and for the purpose of the annual exhibition of our Department of Visual Communication at AFAD in Bratislava that I was curating. The exhibition was called Designer–Critic–Editor–Commentator and was opened in Satelit Gallery (gallery of Slovak Design Centre) in December 2014. Students during the exhibition were supposed to directly participate in the selection and reflection of projects from former and current teachers/students of the department. 

This project was a textual and visual reflection made by one of the students - Andrej Čanecký. Andrej reflected the work “History of smoking” created by former student Branislav Matis in 2010. ”History of smoking is an interesting infographic designed in fresh and dynamic visual style specific for Branislav Matis. I would call such style “neusadené” (slovak expression for something that is not sitting, not static)”, says Andrej Čanecký in his textual reflection. He also included a visual reflection for his installation - he found an image of Branislav Matis standing while designing (he usually works standing behind the computer) and presented it in augmented reality. The visitors could scan the QR code on the wall above the text reflection and watch the video on tablet or mobile device.

The exhibition Designer–Critic–Editor–Commentator was presenting the Department of Visual Communication at AFAD in Bratislava as a critical platform and community of graphic designers who see the permanent reshaping of the profession. It showed that department is able to critically reflect the profession itself, social issues and design works that were produced by its students and tutors during the 15 years of its existence.