Matters of Form: Questions of Race, Identity, Design, and the U.S. Census. Issue 1 (2nd January 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Balzhiser, Deborah; Pimentel, Charise; Scott, Amanda
• Is Part Of: Technical communication quarterly. Volume 28:Issue 1(2019)
• Page Start: 3
• Page End: 20
• Publication Date: 2019-01-02
• Subjects: Critical theory -- design of communication -- ethics -- intercultural communication -- rhetorical theory -- textual analysis -- visual rhetoric/visualization techniques; Technical writing -- Periodicals; Technical writing -- Study and teaching -- Periodicals; 808.0666
• DOI: 10.1080/10572252.2018.1539192
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1057-2252

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This case examines how functionalist approaches manifest culturally based on users' contexts. The authors conduct a critical visual semiotic analysis of the race and Hispanic origin questions on the 2010 U.S. Census form, demonstrating how incongruities in design potentially harm people. This demonstrates a need for adding critical analyses to design and research and it refocuses the Society for Technical Communication's value of promoting the public good on to design and documentation in order to fight injustice.