The gist…

Personal involvement in particular subject matter will not automatically lead to good design. In fact, your personal involvement may put you too close to the subject to see it clearly.

[This is a work in progress.]

[Disclaimer: This article is NOT about photography.]

What is critical distance?

Let me say first that critical distance is the opposite of personal involvement. It is that outward feeling of observing something without engaging in it. So, you are just close enough to see it. But not too close. It's being able to see the forest, not just the trees.

Why is it important?

Critical distance is an important part of the design process because it is the pulling away that helps create balance with the diving deeper into. Having the right amount of distance to your subject can provide you the right kind of focus to ask the right questions about it. The pulling and pushing of critical distance and personal involvement will almost always be involved in any design project. And this pull/push will lead to better design.

A great example…

The graphic designer and photographer Reid Miles designed over 500 album covers for jazz record label Blue Note from around 1955 to 1967. His work is a tremendous example of mid-century modern design. And yet…he did NOT like jazz.

Notes

Look for the comments on critical distance by Experimental Jetset in section 4 of this interview in issue 24 of Graphic. Click here.

A wonderful article talking about the man and the work — Reid Miles. Click here.