Design Nostalgia

When I am not busy writing blog entries, designing, looking for work and doing other, you know, important stuff, I would be busy cleaning up my room. Tidying things up and making everything looking prim and proper. And often, I would not only be rearranging books and the various knic knacks I have, but also be throwing out old clothes, bits of paper and stuff that I don't need. I was never one to appreciate nostalgia. I was never fond of old things. I love new things. New books smell better than old books. New white shirts look better than yellowed stained ones. So when there was an uproar about the demolition of the old National Library, I never quite understood why the roar was a loud one. The proposed design for the new National Library was outstanding. I loved it. The old must give way to the new, I say.

Buildings and even trees with heritage and historical value are protected because they are a critical part of Singapore history. Preserved to ensure the future generations could enjoy part of our history in its full glory. Not through books or pamphlets, where the information could be changed and rewritten. Preserved to ensure the future appreciates what was appreciated then.

In my quest to understand the meaning and value of the old, I stumbled upon information that was quite startling. Apparently not only was the Old National Library demolished, but its old logo was redesigned too. And it was changed way before the Old National Library was destroyed. I never seen the old logo, nor was I successful in finding one on the internet. It was as if, the old logo too, was demolished. Forever destroyed and never to be seen again by the public. Was there an outcry when the logo was changed, replaced with a stylized book with flipping pages that transits from bold solid pages to pixels. Was it changed for the better? Is the old logo as important as the building of the Old National Library?

The outcry and protest of the old national library demolition came not from architects or builders, but the general public. The old national library was not only appreciated for its design or architecture, but the memories associated with it too. The memories of the first books borrowed. The memories of perhaps the first crushes teenage boys had in library halls. So naturally, when it was proposed that the National Library be demolished, people with memories of the old library protested. But what about the old logo? Is the old logo part of any memory? Or is it forgotten because it is just a logo? An insignificant little graphic design of a librarian.

Graphic Design as prominent as it is in the world around us, leaves no footprint or memory when they are lost. Indeed they are probably printed somewhere in a bounded design annual. But what if they are not? What if they, for whatever reasons, are not preserved in those books? Stories from that logo would be lost forever. What was the librarian thinking when he/she designed it? Was he/she payed? Did he/she did it out of love? What inspired he/she? How did he/she designed it? Was the logo at that point of time loved?

There are museums in the US that hold collection of graphic design works of great designers which includes Paula Scher, Milton Glaser and Michael Bierut. Permanently kept in collections to be appreciated by the design and art enthusiasts, while the world moves on with progress and fresher graphic design. But what of the general public? Will they go to these museums to appreciate Paula Scher typographic genius or Milton Glasser timeless posters? Is graphic design only beautiful to graphic designers? To me, it appears so that way, and it is sad.

As countries and corporations progressed forward, it seems that the easiest thing to do to reflex such progress is to change the graphic design. Redesign the logo to project a sense of friendliness. Rebrand to show the world that you are fresh and not lagging behind. But many a times, such changes never did really changed anything. But amidst the cloud of rapid change, something gets lost. DBS is soon to undergo a ten million dollar branding exercise that would reflex its asian sophistication. Perhaps they would change their logo and they would become more asian. We would only know later. The world never blinks an eye when old logos are redesigned and identities that had served for years are revised. Graphic design changes so fast, that it is no longer valued. Its original intent lost.

Sometimes I wonder who is to blame for the general public lack of concern for graphic design. The CEOs who chair board meetings, government officials looking down from their ivory towers or the graphic designers who are enthusiastically redesigning logos so that they are fresher, shiner and more colorful, complete with drop shadows and gloss. I am all for progress, but sometimes, a little slowing down could do us some good.

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