COGITO: Design Almanac

01 / 03.2023

: 01: Cogito, Cogitare—from Latin—to think. A concept introduced by Descartes in his book, «Principles of Philosophy.» Descartes writes: «By the name Cogitatio, I understand everything that happens to us who, being self-aware, are aware of ourselves, to the extent that we have accompanying knowledge of it. So, not only cognition, will, and imagination, but also sensation is the same thing here that we call cogitare.»

02: The film is the result of a collaborative effort by students from Group BD3203C (St. Petersburg). The module’s assignment was to produce video content promoting the activities of HSE units.

At the beginning of the academic module, the goal for us students was not to simply compile a film. Initially, we intended to broadly convey information about the activities and distinctive features of various design disciplines. During the process of gathering literary and visual materials and developing an individual narrative approach, we arrived at a consensus that a different direction was necessary. Instead of demonstrating the specifics of different types of activities, we decided to explore a unifying concept—the process that underpins them all. Thus, we settled on the theme of thinking.

: Graphic Design: : Layout: Smirnova Anastasia

: Website Authors: Razoryonov Stepan Fedotova Sofia

Stepan Razoryonov > Book Structure > Books (HSE)

: This video tells the story of the book from the perspective of its narrative structure and the interplay of its elements. The video also discusses the origins of the artist’s book and its influence on contemporary literature.

Smirnova Anastasia > Algorithm > Design Labs (HSE)

: Algorithm — a video about designer thinking, the sequential creation of a design product comparable to a logical code algorithm, the importance of words and their meanings in design, and the idea that thought does not always have to be subservient to logic.

Cheprasova Polina > Font Research > Fonts (HSE)

: Through the video, the viewer gradually immerses themselves in the world of typography, which has gone through countless stages of development and modification. The video demonstrates what the world of letters consists of and which aspects are important for this craft.

Fedotova Sofia > Chair Alphabet > Design Futures (HSE)

: Tired of furniture? Do you question why we need so much of it? We’ll talk about who and why they invent new stools, and how a single rock can cost nearly forty thousand dollars.

Krotenko Yulia > Visible / Invisible > Photo Lab (HSE)

: An educational and informational video essay on what photography is, and the role analysis and image reproduction plays in design thinking, conveying the idea that we can hold the entire world in our minds—like an anthology of images.

Shilikhina Varvara > Art Practice > Art Practice (HSE)

: This game narrates the creation of a project in the Art Practice discipline. The game format is always interesting to people because it allows them to become part of the story.

Apanasik Varvara > Sound Design > Sound Lab (HSE)

: The video demonstrates to the viewer the profound importance of sound design and why sound constitutes one of the most vital components of any multimedia product. To understand this, the focus is placed on the scientific aspects of the question, concentrating on the evolution of human sound perception.

Ekaterina Andreeva > Dramaturgy of Design > Packaging Lab (HSE)

: This video explores what design dramaturgy is and how contemporary design connects with the customer’s emotional journey. It also examines the elements of consumer influence and the approaches to creating design, both past and present.