'Bad design is irrelevant'
- Started
- Last post
- 48 Responses
- JamesEngage0
I think you're all taking yourselves far too seriously!
- ian0
Hey the lure of just doing 'cool' stuff is pretty strong but most jobs just dont need it they need solid design that gets the message across.
The superfluous 'cool' design leads to threads like this. However, if its cool, its cool and sometimes ya just need some eye candy.
- sparker0
most people who devote their lives to a career, engage, tend to take it seriously. i think "you take yourselves way to seriously..." is a cop out.
next time you need to see a doctor, ask him if he takes himself and his work seriously, or how about a carpenter/contractor...or architect.
you're a great designer, why not take it seirously...seems immature not to.
just my opinion, or am i being too serious?
- blend20
I always thought bad design would be something that did not only fail to accomplish the task at hand, but also possibly make matters worse. Say, a television commercial accidentally giving a totally wrong brand impression when misintepreted. I guess functionality really isn't the same thing, but it could be one very important ingredience of relevance. Sure a piece of art or other body of work may be captivating, but it may still also be totally non-functional as far as the original goals were concerned.
what else makes something relevant?
- sparker0
just remember, pretty things can still fail. design is derived from use and function...not aesthetics.
- jevad0
"design is derived from use and function...not aesthetics"
well said.
- sparker0
that's not to say, design shouldn't be pretty...i like pretty things as much as the next person...but don't lose sight of the purpose.
:)
- CyBrainX0
I think Rand was being very rhetorical, in the same way Jakob Nielsen was with the Flash is 99% Bad campaign. With all due respect to Paul Rand, some people just want to make a name for themselves with sensationalism.
-------------------
"but hey, if the flyers dont have 'that look' ... the intended audience wont even pick it up.."
One of our responsibilities as designers is to exceed the expectations of our audience/client sometimes. If we keep giving them the same shit they are familiar with, then we do a disservice to them and ourselves.
My first design job was with a printer and I designed fliers in Long Island for 2 years. The audience for those are very open minded and the best thing about that job was how free-form the art could be. Afterall, "The Grand Opening of blah, blah blah..." is a pretty wide open field for graphic interpretation.
- ********0
CyBrainX,
we have tried..
but that certain circle only responds to one type of design. (basically because its been hard-coded into their thick little skulls.. )thats why i say there is a time and place for everything
- sauerbraten0
blasphemy!
- phist0
amen, brother
- thislandslid0
i can't believe anyone on here would be retarded enough to defend themselves from this paul rand quote by puting down mr. rand. thats just insane.
- godot0
I agree with something Jonathan 'wow look at me I designed the iPod' said, although he's more obviously concerned with product design:
"If more people took design more seriously, we'd be surrounded by fewer pointless objects - fewer silly plastic products that don't solve any problems".
I think this argument can be applied to all types of design to a great extent.
Ok, enough, someone start another LOTR thread :-p
- godot0
That should have been: Jonathan 'wow look at me I designed the iPod' Ive, just in case you thought his last name was actually 'wow look at me I designed the iPod' .
- i3i2and0n0
designers need to rid themselves of an ego.
problem solved.
but...thats the thing that motivated them in the first place.
ahh my head is going to explode.
be humble.
- JamesEngage0
yes you do sparker
- CyBrainX0
thislandslide, do you really think it's "insane to defend myself" from the statement that all the stuff you see out there today is superficial and pretentious, bad design.
Ok, let's have it your way. I suck. I'm a pretentious, superficial designer who's work is irrelevant because Paul Rand says so. I should not question him because he is famous and did great work and can never be wrong.
I should just retire and so should all us. Well, it's quite simple your way.
- ********0
Design is about striking a balance. Aesthetics are as important as the problem or message, cause it is the aesthetics that add the value and ultimatley make things memorable.
Good design is simple, easy, beautiful, and bad design is David Carson.
As for Paul Rand I think he has perhaps earned the right to spout a bit of shit now and again.
- ********0
david carson is an eye catcher.
- thislandslid0
hey cybrainx (sp?): i think you are taking my comment way too personally. and you are putting way too much into my comment. i wasn't saying any of those things. i was probably too harsh, but i wasn't saying we should all give up.
im just saying that i think the man has earned his right to spout off his opinions, and i for one will listen to what he has to say. and if he critiques modern design, so what. critique is good for everyone. and in my opinion critique should be a bigger focus on these design forums as opposed to just perpetuating trends.