Be A Design Comic?
by Nate Voss, (21 comments)
RANT:
I have to make apologies right away … for using Marker Felt as the type on this webcomic. Seems so uncouth on a graphic design blog to do such a thing. But alas, fearing making this strip even less timely than it already is I had to make a few sacrifices along the way.
If you didn’t catch it, David Car5on, my opinion of whom can be inferred from this comic, invited himself on Design Matters with Debbie Millman a few weeks back. As is typical of his style, he stood her up. I say typical because a few years back he stood up AIGA Nebraska (my chapter) and stuck us a hefty bill and many pissed-off attendees. He bailed on AIGA Colorado’s podcast a few weeks back, though miraculously he managed to show up to that event. Let’s see, he’s also bailed here, here, and here, and that’s just a fast Google search for “David” “Carson” and “cancel.” I can only imagine he is stuck forever in 1995 and periodically travels here for a few modern conveniences. There are plenty of other anecdotal stories I’ve heard throughout the years of Carson being a dick and canceling on little-to-no notice on speaking engagements, but to stand up the Queen Bee? I think not, David. I think not.
First, collectively, everyone just needs to stop inviting him to speak about anything. Anything. Anytime. Ever. Chances are he won’t show up anyway and if he does … what then? Why hear from someone who’s done nothing of note for the past ten years? And even then, really, if you go back and read The End of Print, how much of it looks like unintelligible garbage by today’s standards? In fact the only time you seem to hear about this guy anymore is when he screws someone over who’s put time, effort, and money into an event for him and he bails. At this point the only thing I would be remotely interested in hearing him speak about is “why I’m such a dick to everyone.”
Second, if he has been scheduled to appear, and doesn’t get wisked-away in his 1995-bound time machine, and does actually follow-through on a commitment, may I suggest that all of his attendees simply stand him up.
I thought this mild bit of amateur entertainment might be better than a 5-page tirade about how badly I despise that overrated horse’s ass, but it wasn’t until I’d already made the graphic for that story. May as well share that as well.
END RANT.
Comments (21)
AddictedtoDesignBlogs said:
Who is David Carson?
Posted on March 19, 2007
Thomas said:
In before the edit.
Posted on March 19, 2007
marc english said:
i warned debbie. he has twice invited himself to aiga austin’s Design Ranch, and as we proudly say, “Design Ranch: Since 1999 and Still Car5on Free.” ok, we don’t really say that, but we’ve turned him down twice. because he has stiffed my friends and colleagues.
the denver gig was his excuse to debbie, that he would be in flight. from what i understand, the gig was 2 days before. yet he made sure he told debbie that he “sold out” the place. no offense to denver, or to car5on, but i also sold out the place (and i ain’t no big cheese, in spite of the smell), which is pretty easy to do as they have a commited group of designers who likewise fill a room for hinrichs and frykholm.
i did a stint in 1999 in guatemala, at their 1st-ever design conference. of course i was picking up the slack, as the conference was postponed as their intended headliner FAXED them, the NIGHT BEFORE that he would not attend. nice.
this in last week from a well-respected, multi-award-winning creative, who, a bit more self-effacing than me, would prefer to go nameless….still, i pass this on:
or the time he told a certain design firm partner at a Society of Publication Design soiree a few years back, when asked about such things, that he likes to get his name out there, and since he isn’t paid, and if something else comes up, well…S.O.L.
then there was the time he showed up in seattle for the aiga ‘95 gig. the day after he was supposed to speak. or the time he showed up for the aiga film/tv conference several years back. whoops: wrong slide tray. oh well.
or the time in st. augustine, where i ended up doing the same gig he had done the year before, and ….well, the stories are legion. wait for the movie.
and just one more, as i really have better things to do. this from an amazing young woman in tijuana, who at age 30 or so, has been doing her own conference sinc 2001, absorbing all costs herself.
< - - - Looking thru my files, I found this… that’s what happen with David at the Esquina Norte Conference in Tijuana on the 2002
Date: Thu, 27 Jun 2002 14:01:26 -0400
Subject: Re: Second International Design Conference “Esquina Norte”
From: “David Carson” dcarson@earthlink.net
To: chicapin2@yahoo.com
Id like to be a speaker…i have lots of new work!
DAVID CARSON
On 6/27/02 6:07 PM, “JHOANA MORA” chicapin2@yahoo.com wrote:
David, I’m glad to hear that you are interested to be a speaker at the Esquina Norte Conference, I just have a small request! A lot of people who’s gonna come this year, they went to see you at the Doble Sentido Conference in Ensenada, that we made 2 years ago, so… can you change some of the slides? so they can see someting different.Date: Thu, 27 Jun 2002 19:03:23 -0400
Subject: Re:
From: “David Carson” dcarson@earthlink.net To: chicapin2@yahoo.com
It can be ALL differnet-lots of new work! David
On 6/27/02 7:29 PM, “JHOANA MORA” chicapin2@yahoo.com wrote: so, can i confirm you?
Jho.
Date: Fri, 28 Jun 2002 12:36:52 -0400 Subject: Re:
From: “David Carson” dcarson@earthlink.net To: chicapin2@yahoo.com Yep.
Date: Thu, 03 Oct 2002 18:35:07 -0700
From: ” david carson” dcarson@earthlink.net To: chicapin2@yahoo.com
Subject: [No Subject] i am unable to make the trip i came back to many problems at work
and not be gone friday. sorry for all the hassle.
i dint really have much different stuff from last time… - - - >
so…2 years after speaking somewhere…says he’d like to speak, has all new work. and then when he declines says he doesn’t have “much different”.
yeah, same old, same old.
i do know there are some who suggest that his contributions to the field, blah blah blah. don’t we have a responsibility to those who honor us by choosing us to share what we have learned? because, as my design teacher once told me, “there is always someone younger, hotter, faster.”
was picasso an asshole? sounds like it. he had a career that spanned decades, not years. if only car5on had worked on the ATT logo, then he could latch onto the faded 90s glory of Oasis, who have also been known to act the prima donas when they did bother to show up.
Posted on March 19, 2007
justinpaluch said:
Wow, I felt bad about missing him in Denver.
Posted on March 19, 2007
dj_sissor said:
wow, i think my graphic designer cherry has been fully popped. Thanks guys for demistifying the iconic legend of my early years. As you can see I am working too much to be able to get out to many conferences.
Much love from houston, tx!
Posted on March 20, 2007
Enrico said:
I thought the parody was great. But what is up with his headband?
Posted on March 20, 2007
> michael nielsen said:
sounds like an genuine a-hole. note to self: don’t piss off the voss-man. Just remember, i showed up to The Open, so i don’t want to see any posts like this about me. out.
Posted on March 20, 2007
mydarndest said:
HAHA… I did see him at FITC in Toronto. He hit on my students, enough said… BUT he did buy me a drink… after I told him he did not have a good idea in 10 years. We talked for an hour. I share your love to hate dc. There are plenty of current young designers who are breaking ground in our biz that have their ego under control.
Posted on March 20, 2007
ben swift said:
I liked your comic and the comic-y use of a comic-y font. You shouldn’t have to appologize to make the right choice.
Posted on March 20, 2007
ChrisM70 said:
I went to an AIGA/David Carson lecture in Kansas City about a year ago, and I must say that he was quite engaging. I had heard many stories like the ones recounted here, so I was expecting the worst. But it was just the opposite.
He showed up EARLY. He went through the gallery looking at the entries of a local design competition. He gave a slideshow of his work. He shared some of his design beliefs.
All in all, I had a pretty good time, and came away a little inspired and got some nice 90’s nostalgia.
Perhaps he is a real jerk, but I just wanted to share that MY interaction with Mr. Carson was without incident.
I don’t understand all the snarkiness. Just say that you think his behavior is unprofessional and be done with it. You don’t need to draw cartoons (Carson wears headbands?) and call him a dick. Did he do something to you personally? If not, let him be.
Ironically, this is the first mention of Carson I can remember seeing in a design blog in about 2 years. Spend your time writing (and drawing) about people you like.
Spread Design Love - Not Design Hate. :)
Posted on March 20, 2007
Laura said:
Carson showed up at the premiere screening of Helvetica at SXSW - both in the movie and in person. He didn’t really say much, but managed to annoy a bunch of web people by saying something along the lines of the ‘if you can’t do, then teach, and if you can’t teach administrate’ quote but he said, ‘if you can’t design, then you can be an information architect.’ Pretty arrogant thing to say to a bunch people who pride themselves in being information architects.
Posted on March 21, 2007
> michael nielsen said:
now i kind of want a blog about me being a complete asshole.
Posted on March 21, 2007
rev. marc english said:
dear SPREAD LOVE, NOT HATE: design is just a fucking job and does not exist in a vacuum. and some of us are lucky to be in a job we enjoy. some of us are also lucky enough to be asked to spread whatever wealth of experience we have gained.
there are some that think design can be done for the public good, can even make the world a better place.
but when one is called upon - or foists themselves upon - a willing (and paying) organization, then we are designers second, and human beings first. and if someone causes harm, financial or otherwise, or shows contempt and disrespect for friends, colleagues, and peers who are genuinely engaged in understanding and learning, and trying to fight the good fight, then we do NOT need arrogance and contempt from those whom some aspire to ‘emulate,’ regardless of the reason.
you are right on the money: we should be here to love first, to praise. but too many have not been shown the love, but only scorn. unless they were being “shown the luv” as noted by Mydarndest above (which is hardly a unique story).
do you suggest that voss save his quite pointed and witty editorializing for only republicans or democrats, or only for causes you believe in? i believe that voss is following in the footsteps of founding father, graphic designer, publisher, author - and editorial cartoonist - ben franklin, and unmasking a fraud. that kind of thing is never pretty, but in an educated and enlighted world is necessary. its nice to know that someone like voss has the insight and tools to do so. but about that headband…
(and yes, it’s nice to know that |>AVI|> CAR5ON did take some time and put on a nice show. you CAN fool some of the people all of the time…and no doubt George W and Saddam are/were both loved by their children, proving them lovable to some degree. but no one has to love actions that are without value, that detract from the love you so rightly advocate. even jesus got pissed and trashed a temple once, if you recall.)
Posted on March 21, 2007
Adrian said:
On a lighter note, does anybody else think it is funny that David Carson uses an Earthlink email address? For some reason that just seems appropriate in the context of Nate’s “living in the past” cartoon.
Posted on March 21, 2007
Nate Voss said:
Re: The “Headband”
Eh. What can I say? 90’s flop hairdo’s on aging designers aren’t quite in my artistic repertoire. Go with “badly drawn hair” and I’ll work on my rendering.
Posted on March 22, 2007
felix sockwell said:
english, love you man. thanks for putting the info out there. its a dirty job but needs to be done. was just in Dallas last week and always looking for an excuse to come back (shameless plug: doing huge Herman Miller project with Frykholm, Pete Bell & Brent McMahon).
If you could send Willie’s bio fuel bus to pick me up for next year’s Ranch I’d preeshy ate it, lover (btw- I’ve already been to DR as an attendee- good fun- dan winters & son are amazing)
Posted on April 6, 2007
Joe Clark said:
Please don’t call Debbie Millman, who will remind you of her name every five minutes in her podcasts, any kind of bee, unless you are comparing the buzzing sound of an insect and her whiny, nasal delivery.
Actually, she and Carson are a perfect pair in some ways.
Posted on April 6, 2007
newwavegurly said:
Wow. So refreshing to see someone be vocally negative about David Carson for once.
After working for many years as a graphic designer, art director, and a graphic design educator, I can honestly say that I just don’t get all the hype about David Carson. Sure, he did some innovative things with Ray Gun, and has done some interesting design work, but there are designers and art directors out there who have done work that is just as innovative as his, if not more so.
Most of all, I don’t appreciate the disrespect he has for design education — something that he has been vocal about many times — and I don’t understand why design institutions continue to invite him to speak.
Posted on April 8, 2007
Jessica said:
When I saw this comic I laughed out loud… Carson bailed on AIGA Atlanta in ‘03, my senior year at Atlanta College of Art. We were told by our professor it was typical, but I had no idea how much until I read the above comments. Hah.
Posted on June 29, 2007
DC1974 said:
I feel like I’ve seen a leprechaun. I’ve only tried to see him once: 1999 at Limn in San Francisco. He had just had a book come out. He showed. Gave his slide show. Answered questions. Offended one person with a flippant answer to a question. And then stayed around to chat and have wine. All and all a pretty pleasant experience.
I had know idea that he got there via time travel (admittedly, it was easier back then coming from 1995 to 1999), or that he had “reputation” as a jerk.
Posted on March 31, 2008
Andrew Yoon said:
He just bailed on designing a big book for our company, leaving us with a month to miraculously get a 400 page book designed and press ready, is refusing to give up our 50% deposit, and has the nerve to say he could singlehandedly design it in a week and a half but won’t… presumably because he has booked time to surf.
David Carson is a hack. He agrees to speak or design, then as the deadline approaches, he realizes he can do neither, and flakes along with a nice wad of cash.
David carson is an asshole. He’s conned way too many clients and designers our of hard earned money and credits.
Fuck him!
Posted on April 8, 2008