Since I started getting paid to work, I’ve always gone back and fourth with what to call myself, professionally, that is. I’ve called myself a “designer,” a “programmer,” and a “developer.” In some cases in an attempt to convey a lot at once I’ve done, “designer/developer.” Those of you that know me, what would you tell people I am? If you had to introduce me, what would you tell them?
Shy of that, I found out today I’m a designer. I’ll be changing my resume and portfolio to say “designer.” Sure, I develop and program, but after today I’ve come to the conclusion designer suits me best. Why? Because today I got mad when I saw some very piss poor design, and the element being designed had no immediate bearing on me or my work. It was really just horrible design in just about every way possible.
I’m not one that goes out and talks about how good I am at anything - except maybe some video games - but when it comes to design and art I rarely consider what I do that good. It really depends what you put it next to. However, this was one of those times when I had no problems expressing my discontent.
This is an ad for my radio station that is going to get printed in a periodical. I saw the ad and just went nuts. I couldn’t believe someone would make such poor design choices. Slightly miffed, I chose to prove to whoever cared to listen that good design is not hard. I took a brief 20 minutes and whipped up a ad that fit the same space and contained the same information. Maybe it’s just me, but the purpose of an ad is to communicate and thus entice. But let’s look at the evidence, shall we?
Below is a PDF that shows the ads side-by-side. The as-is ad on the left (the one that will get printed), and my 20-minute redo job on the right.
Which one is communicates more clearly?
Which one is easier to read?
Which one doesn’t make your eyes bleed?
I know not everyone has an eye for design, colors, or what have you. But this ad was made by someone with “designer” after their name. I honestly think Stevie Wonder could have made better design choices. And what made me even more upset was just the fact that there were several people that approved the design. Sure, I blame the designer, but I put just as much blame - if not more - on the person above them that said, “that looks good, pass it on.” This ad should have never seen the light of day.
So I now know I’m a designer because I get passionate about design. In this case, poor design…but I’ll go on wonderfully about good design when I see it too. I like programming too…I spent five years making a living as a programmer, but I find myself getting more excited over design (good or bad) than I do programming. I’m just a guy that likes the presentation of the end result. Programming is about nuts and bolts, which requires some degree of design itself, but the thing that makes a difference to the public is how it looks (which effects how it functions).
I’m more likely to skimp and cut corners with programming. I don’t cut corners with design. Thus, I’m a designer.
So what are you?
Now the funny thing is I looked at the ad on the right and knew it was yours. Not to say that its a bad thing but you do tend to design things that have your “signature”. I personally like it.
So does the fact that something doesn’t agree with our design aesthetic make it necessarily wrong? (Although the ad to be printed is really really bad).
No…in many cases design breaks down to taste, like music, food, or anything else. We all like different things for different reasons.
But with something like ad design the purpose is to communicate a specific message. You can throw famous people and millions of dollars at it and if it doesn’t communicate what you want, it’s thus bad ad design.
Since this ad was *very* bare bones, it’s only job is to communicate song names in an effort to convince readers to listen to the radio station. Overall, a very simple chore, yet they botched that by making the text extremely hard to read and the ad as whole very obnoxious (regardless of taste).
This isn’t fine art. Fine art is solely dependent on personal interpretation. Advertising design is NOT about letting the viewer CHOOSE - it’s about TELLING the viewer what to do and how to feel.
…and I don’t know if it’s good or bad that I can be identified by my style and design choices. Hmmmm…I guess most artists/designers have signatures, no reason why I shouldn’t, I guess. Thanks though :) Glad you like it. I guess I’ll stick with it as long as it keeps me employed.
I run up against the same struggles in my work. Trying to simplify what other people mess up. It’s not easy being a designer. I prefer the term communicator.
You do have a very distinct style. But that isn’t a bad thing though. I agree with you though…the ad was meant to communicate and that means it should be as clear as possible.
Wow… that dude with the headphones looks to be quite offended by that bad design on the left. He’s scowling at it something fierce!
-SF