Creation, Authorship and Christmas Cards
by Bennett Holzworth, (3 comments)
The act of creation has been resonating with me lately. Through my art and letterpress work I have been enjoying creating without a client or a specified goal. I have found it to be therapeutic and rewarding. I am beginning to understand the idea of designer as author. After reading “The Designer as Author” by Michael Rock in Eye, no. 20, I began thinking about design outside of clients or even money. As designers we put so much stock in “real” projects and budgets. These are a part of our everyday lives, but are they necessary elements of design? As designer we don’t have to wait to execute someone else’s business plan. We have the power to do so much with our available knowledge.
Last year I had the opportunity to see the AIGA Minnesota design show. The work was inspiring, but one thing really stuck with me. In order to enter the show the piece had to be reproduced over a certain quantity. I’m not sure if it was 250 or 500, but I’m sure it would have knocked out some stationery work I have done for small clients. How elitist is this? Is money so much of a factor in design that we rule out the small budgets and unique projects? The National AIGA seems to be focusing a majority of their efforts on business as well. After hearing people on the AIGA Minnesota’s board talk, I think their gaze is even more focused on corporate business. Although this is important to design, it is also important to not let the scales tip too far toward business and away from creativity.
Above is one of my largest steps toward design authorship. I designed and letterpressed these Christmas cards to send to friends and to sell in stores. So far so good. The cards have sold out and the only thing holding me back is the quantity that I was able to create in the limited time. Next year I will be able to anticipate the season. I will be posting updates on next year’s card at Type B Press.
Here are a couple of graphic designers that I was totally impressed with. The founders of twenty2 decided they wanted to start making wallpaper and fabric, so they started designing and producing their own. Their products have been used on Oprah’s makeover episode and on Extreme Makeover Home Edition. More importantly it is very cool stuff.
If all of us graphic designers had a little more business sense, we would be unstoppable. If we were all creating and authoring our own projects alongside our work from everyday clients, maybe we would be more successful at proving why design is so valuable.
Comments (3)
Nate said:
I’ve often thought of this, Bennett. Be it Christmas cards or Jonny Awesome novels or Wally, jr. kids books - we certainly have all the needed know-how to branch out of our day-to-day client project jobs to do something a little more fulfilling on our own. I think that one of the best things a designer can do is evolve out of their starter-career and grow into their own business using their design talents/knowledge coupled with something they are passionate about. I’m happy to hear the cards sold out, good luck on next year’s batch - they look great!
Posted on December 20, 2004
Bennett said:
Nate, Do you have an example of Jonny Awesome or Wally Jr. for the rest of the world to see? I would love to see what you are up to.
Here is a design acquaintance that is doing some work outside of clients. Max Riffner is doing his own graphic novel. Some interesting stuff.
Posted on December 21, 2004
Bennett said:
Here is a link to Lotta Jansdotter, another designer making her own line of products.
Posted on December 30, 2004