Limitation, restriction, constraint, these are nasty and troublesome words. They inhibit and they hinder. They prevent fun, expression and creativity. They stop us being free. What good could ever come from such spiteful words?
Or maybe these words aren’t as selfish as they seem. Perhaps they hold a valuable reward for those who look a little harder.
Design briefs are often riddled with limitations that designers find stifling. It is not uncommon to hear the melancholic lamentations of repressed creativity when passing by a studio window. The under-loved designer must consider the client’s nonsensical requirements and their unrelenting budget, as well as those pesky time and logistical restraints. And as if that’s not bad enough, they have their own conscience to grapple with, telling them that while an un-recycled metallic stock printed with fluorescent ink and UV foils would look spectacular, it might not be the most environmentally sound solution to the brief. The challenge becomes finding alternatives.
“When forced to work within a strict framework the imagination is taxed to its utmost
– and will produce its richest ideas. Given total freedom the work is likely to sprawl."
(T.S Eliot)
Working within limitations requires creativity. Solving a brief with many restrictions can yield a more stimulating result than one with few. When working on a low budget, for example, the designer is challenged to find an effective and appealing solution that relies wholly on good design and innovative execution.
The concept of positive limitations exists beyond the design brief. In everyday life what we perceive to be ‘freedom of choice’ can sometimes effectively be a burden of too many choices. When we are at liberty to do exactly as we please, we find ourselves stumped for what it is we really want.
This paper will explore choice in the field of design and other creative realms. It will examine the challenges of limitations faced by designers and the ways in which such challenges can enhance experiences and results. The limitations of budget and ethical considerations (such as sustainability) will be key areas of consideration.
