Bad Design Sells
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- Concrete0
Designing backwards is regrettably the way forwards...
- gramme0
I work for a small design studio, with a number of longstanding client relationships, some of which go back 10–15 years. We are almost never forced to sacrifice good design for the sake of commerce. I see no reason why good design and good commerce are mutually exclusive in some people's minds. Just because the client wants big images doesn't mean the packaging can't be gorgeous. That's like saying the type could never work unless set in Bello. Good design = good strategy executed beautifully.
Your boss is right that you are here to help clients move product, but as designers it's our job to use aesthetic excellence to improve movement of said products. If he thinks the two exercises are separate and non-compatible, go work somewhere else. There are many successful design firms and agencies that would heartily disagree with your boss: VSA, CP + B, Pentagram, Why Not Associates, Cahan & Associates, Michael Vanderbyl, the list goes on and on.
- surfito0
will take 10 years to realize your boss is right.
try to get out of it on time.
- calculator0
link to your company site, or it's not happening
- mantra0
or whats not happening
- eating_tv0
It's true. We're slaves! Slaves I tell you! Slaves of the bigwigs with their corporate ideas! Flee! Flee!
- mcLeod0
most mainstream design work calls for the proper communication of the intended message as well as being aesthetically pleasing. the aesthetics part is what you as the designer are responsible for injecting to the process while still maintaining the correct communication of the message, even though no one else may notice.
- Ranger0
You all sound like a bunch of frustrated artists.
- stem0
Would you like to expand on that Ranger? - Sounds like you might have something interesting...
- Ranger0
I meant Artists are selfish, doing it for themselves, striving for perfection the way they see it. Designers = selfless, doing it for clients to satisfy their brief.
- stem0
Yeah, that's what I thought you were getting at. You have to remember who is paying the wages. Yes, by all means be passionate about your work but don't be too precious. Offer you expertise, but you HAVE to be able to back it up.
Oh... and don't throw your teddy bear out of your cot if you don't like what the client says.