Subjectivity and Objectivity in design debate

A famous subjectivity and objectivity debate in the design world is between Crouwel and Van Toorn. Crouwel takes the opinion of objectivity and Van Toorn the subjective side of the debate. The discussion involves 3 main points, the professional role of a designer, the value of grids and typographic tradition and the function of graphic design when designing for building such as museums and art galleries.

Crouwels opinion is that as a designer I must never stand between the message and its recipient' where as Van Toorn doesnt agree with the opinion of Crouwel in saying ‘I do not believe that a designer can adopt […] the position of neutral intermediary. The acts you perform take place through you, and you are a subjective link. But you deny this subjectivity, meaning you view your occupation as a purely neutral one.’ The debates continues a back and forth of both mens opinions and they respectfully listen and take into account one an others beliefs. Van Toorn then expressed his view very clearly To me, your approach is not relevant, and in my view you should not propagate it as the only possible solution for a number of communication problems, because it’s not true. What your approach does is basically confirm existing patterns. This is not serving communication – it is conditioning human behaviour.’ but Crouwel dismissed this, ‘as pretentious as a piece of so-called good design, or as a clean piece of design. 

This debate is very old and some of the opinions are now outdated and no longer applicable to graphic design in the modern day. This is because the notion of there being only one position for the designer to adopt is redundant. Graphic Design today is characterised as 'pluralism' according to Rick Poynor which is defined as ‘willingness to accept that there are plenty of ways of doing design, or anything else, and many equally valid outcomes.’