Theory + Criticism

Rick Poynor|Essays

Did We Ever Stop Being Postmodern?

Like it or not, argues the V&A's exhibition about postmodernism and design, we are all postmodern now.

Rick Poynor|Essays

Should We Look at Corrosive Images?

What do violent photographs of war do to us as viewers?

Rick Poynor|Essays

A Swedish Perspective on Critical Practice

The Reader, a recent book from Stockholm about critical practice, has some smart insights while missing the bigger picture.

Alexandra Lange|Essays

Announcing LetsGetCritical.org

My new blog collects the best arts & culture criticism, essays and reviews.

Rick Poynor|Essays

The House That Design Journalism Built

Printed design magazines continue to fail and close. Where does that leave design writing and criticism?

Rick Poynor|Essays

Books Every Graphic Designer Should Read

The Designers & Books website has published my list of 20 indispensable books about graphic design.

Rick Poynor|Essays

Paul Stiff, the Reader’s Champion

For the late Paul Stiff, design educator, writer, editor and skeptic, typography must never neglect to serve the reader.

Alexandra Lange|Essays

Muddying the Waters

Explore New York's watery edges with the graduating class at D-Crit.

Andy Chen|Essays

Battle Hymn of the Tiger Cub

Is design strictly a set of rules?

Alexandra Lange|Essays

ISO The Digital Sidewalk Critic

Why is it so hard to say, "I hate my iPad"?

Alexandra Lange|Essays

Objects Fall From the Sky

What's more important: crediting a designer or the designer credited?

Rick Poynor|Essays

Where Is Art Now?

Leaving the art world to decide what art is doesn’t resolve the issue of quality.