A Semiotic Rosetta Stone: Developing a Designer-centric Meta-language of Pragmatic Semiotics

Dave Wood

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    Abstract

    In this paper I outline the development of a designer-centric meta-language that interfaces between practitioner and theoretician, without compromising their integrity and rigour. I express this through a Rosetta Stone metaphor and how, as a design researcher, I developed this concept when I had to pierce through Peirce’s pragmatic semiotic theory to enhance aesthetic practice. I initially found it a challenge to understand Peirce’s unfamiliar academic terminology without any prior formal education in Pragmatism or semiotic theory. The problem for designers is that theoretical language can be intimidating, arcane and opaque. In reviewing the Peircean literature I identified an absence of designer-centric literature, which would quickly facilitate designers’ understanding of Semiosis. This paper therefore is a progressive call for more concerted collaboration between theoreticians and practitioners. This would ideally lead to new designer-centric Peircean literature being published, leading to the enhancement of aesthetic creative practice.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)S28-S37
    JournalThe Design Journal
    Volume20
    Issue numbersup1
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 6 Sept 2017
    EventDesign for Next: 12th EAD Conference - Rome
    Duration: 6 Sept 2017 → …

    Keywords

    • Peirce
    • semiosis
    • designer-centric
    • meta-language
    • Rosetta Stone

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