Design Literacy: Understanding Graphic Design

become bywords of multimedia, the new graphic design frontier. McCoy
saw graphic design as a pluralistic activity, one in which the components of
Shannon’s model still apply, but no longer in a linear fashion. The
imperative was for integration and cross-functioning of all the elements. “I
think this approach fits modern society because the contemporary world is
subtle and complex. Simple black-and-white dualisms no longer work.”
Is graphic design graduate school a hermetically sealed research
and development laboratory or a pseudoprofessional environment with
training wheels? Those who would attack Cranbrook for being the former
need to consider the impact on the design profession of alumni like
Lorraine Wild, Nancy Skolos, Tom Wedell, Lucille Tenazas, and Jeffery
Keedy. Cranbrook didn’t intend to launch a revolution in theory-based
graphic design. In fact, Katherine McCoy didn’t even want to teach. So
why did she stay for twenty-four years? “Because it is such a flexible
situation.... If you want change you can change. The only real
requirement from the administration is that you attract good students
and produce strong graduates who find their way in the profession.”