Sacrificing Quality
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- noneck
How many of you have given up trying to do work that you're proud of?
Or, to put it another way, how many of you only do work that you're proud of?
I haven't done much that I'm proud of in a long time. I feel like I'm just mindlessly grinding out sausage here, and I'm starting to wonder what would happen if I started giving a shit. What would happen if I ONLY released work that gave me a big ol' boner?
Would I starve?
- desmo0
You just defined 'starving artist'. Unfortunately, its usually the grind work that pays the bills. The work you are proud of happens during your own time.
- omg0
stay hungry, stay foolish...
- Arvizu0
That depends on what it is about the work that makes you proud. Is it the flawless execution? Is it the fascinating and powerful idea? Is it the increased market share it provided for your client? I think there is always a reason to take pride in your work—even if it isn't the kind of work that isn't breaking new ground... broaden your definition of pride and you won't starve or compromise... This reminds of what Paula Scher is talking about right now: http://imprint.printmag.com/desi…
- sorry for the double negative in my post... you know what I meant.Arvizu
- whereRI0
i have the same current conundrum. I have decided this week, to use it to my advantage. im going to make crap for money and as crap as they like it, and not complain or get depressed anymore. I just have to find the inspiration to do more personal work that fulfills me. I used to do so much stuff on the side but over the years the industry has broken my will and love for creating stuff. well no more i say! weeks of surfing and running on the mountain has filled me back up and i am ready. forget doing good work for money, just make your own stuff. remember why you got into it in the first place. i used to find it fun to sit and animate for days and just make little things. it stopped being fun but im finding it again. good luck.
- JackRyan0
I try to remember that this is a service industry...and I have to find creative outlets elsewhere, or I get sad.
- bored2death0
I found the content I'm working with is a HUGE factor in how satisfying it is.
I was working for a little design factory doing mostly print. It was quantity over quality. It was formulaic. Cheap little men getting cheap work done for their cheap companies. If I had to look at istockphoto one more time I was going to slit my wrists. I was payed well but that didn't keep me happy. Luckily my dissatisfaction was noticed and I was fired. After almost four years, I was out of a job and had a portfolio full of embarrassing garbage.
Somehow I found part-time freelance doing web work involving entertainment, toys, etc. The content is usually amazing and it's exciting to be working in a new medium. Sometimes I have creative freedom and sometimes I don't. Since it's part-time, I'm barely paying my bills but I've never been more proud of my work.