Be A Design Cast 41 : The Road to Hell
by Nate Voss, (4 comments)
Some years ago, Milton Glaser wrote a short article for AIGA (later reprinted in Metropolis Magazine in 2002) called the Road to Hell. It reads very much as a moral compass for graphic designers; the more you would answer in the affirmative, the closer you are to burning forever in a firy pit filled with drop shadows and Copperplate Gothic. Click on the link above or in the show to read the article, and follow along as Donovan, Steve, Adam and I tackle the list one-by-one to find out how bad we really are on the BADCast. That is pretty much the entire 36 minute show right there, and as Steve said shortly after; “That really got out of hand quickly.”
—nv—
podcast [at] beadesigngroup [dot] com
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Comments (4)
Prescott Perez-Fox said:
It seems this little quiz breaks down to a few underlying questions:
• Do you read the copy for the stuff you’re designing? • If so, do you challenge your bosses/clients for the actual policies? • Do you ignore controversy and touchy subjects, or take a stance? • Are there any absolutes (eg, no tobacco, no oil)? • Where does morality fit in your day-to-day work as a design professional?
Of course, that last one is a bit of an essay question. For Spec work, my rule is that I won’t spend more than 30 minutes on the creative proposal, which basically means the potential client is getting some rough sketches or the cheesy mock-ups.
I’m afraid I won’t be joining y’all in Nashville — I’m afraid I simply let the logistics slip. Also, it would have served as a mini vacation taking up at least 4 days, which isn’t the best timing for my work these days. But I’ll see you guys soon enough, I’m sure.
Posted on September 7, 2007
Prescott Perez-Fox said:
Forgot to mention — you might be interested to read this story about the Staten Island “Ninja Burglar” who was recently stabbed in an burglary attempt.
http://gothamist.com/2007/09/07/statenislandn.php
Posted on September 7, 2007
Kyle said:
Speaking of Nike’s … why don’t any tire companys make shoes? Their rubber holds more weight and lasts hella longer … I’m sick of my fucking Nike/Asic/Reebok shoes wearing out after 6.5 months of toe thrashing. Make me a shoe that isn’t fueled by the depths of capitalism. Do you guys think there will ever be a consumer backlash on products like this … or am I a raving conspiracy nut? Gamer fuel …. word. All we need now is Grain Belt to do designer beer for morning meetings.
Posted on September 26, 2007
ana said:
Having worked for the devil (a company that marketed products for RJ Reynolds, Audi, Coca-Cola, M+M/Mars and several brands of liquor), I can tell you that it becomes a lot harder to say no to the money and the glamour than you think. There was an office full of designers who found a way to convince themselves that the work they were doing was no less harmful than shilling sugar-coated cereals — “Our work is done in bars and nightclubs only. If you’re old enough to get in, you’re old enough to know better,” become our rationale. I was only able to walk away from the company when the possibility of losing RJ Reynolds, our most extravagant client, led the executive staff to consider marketing chewing tabacco which could be sold to 16-year-olds.
That’s when I turned in my notice and left that life behind. Even now, I suspect that I would still have taken the job. I met amazing designers who are super talented and whose reputations have not be irreperably damaged by working for the devil. If anything, they are now wiser and smarter about the kind of work they do and the type of clients they are willing to promote.
Posted on October 11, 2007