Caps Lock - How Capitalism Took Hold of Graphic Design, and how to Escape from it | Ruben Pater

Capitalism could not exist without coins, banknotes, documents, graphics, interfaces, branding, and advertising—artifacts that are created in part or in whole by graphic designers. Even anti-consumer strategies, such as social design or speculative design, are eventually integrated into capitalist societies, serving economic growth. Design is trapped in a system of exploitation and profit that contributes to inequality and the depletion of natural resources.

CAPS LOCK uses simple language and vivid visual examples to demonstrate the inextricable link between graphic design and capitalism. It contains numerous case studies that reveal the relationship between design and capitalist cultures and societies, and analyzes how design education and professional practice support the market economy while at the same time remaining hostage to it.

The structure of the book is built around chapters named after the roles that designers can play (Educator, Engineer, Hacker, Futurist, Activist, etc.). This emphasizes the importance not only of what designers create, but also of the socio-economic functions they perform in everyday life.

Each chapter consists of thematic articles that provide a variety of examples of objects and design practices. The book also features radical design collectives working on alternative approaches where design is integrated with the principles of community and mutual aid.