From the eye magazine blog.
Just a little fun? Or advertising that plumbs new depths of cynicism?
Reminded me of the great debate last semester from Jonathan & Dale/Stephen, Allister & Vasare about the ethics of advertising. It raises really uncomfortable questions about the current political climate, and how far advertisers (in essence, designers, us) go to sell some tat.
Also, a good time to mention Milton Glaser’s ‘Road To Hell‘:
“I once created a test called The Road to Hell. I had just finished illustrating a section of Dante’s Divine Comedy for an Italian publisher. When I first got the assignment I was unhappy that I had been given Purgatory as a subject as opposed to Inferno. As an illustrator, Hell had always seemed more interesting to me. Frankly, I never quite understood the difference between Hell and Purgatory. As you may know, the difference is simply that those in Hell are not aware of what put them in Hell and are doomed to be there forever. Those in Purgatory are aware of their sins and consequently have the possibility of getting out by moving to a higher plane. This fact immediately made Purgatory more relevant to me, in part, because Purgatory is where most of us are right now. In any event, awareness of what we actually do in life seems worth thinking about.
1. Design a package to look larger on the shelf?
2. Do an ad for a slow-moving, boring film to make it seem like a lighthearted comedy?
3. Design a crest for a new vineyard to suggest that it’s been in business for a long time?
4. Design a jacket for a book whose sexual content you find personally repellent?
5. Design an advertising campaign for a company with a history of known discrimination in minority hiring?
6. Design a package for a cereal aimed at children, which has low nutritional value and high sugar content?
7. Design a line of T-shirts for a manufacturer who employs child labor?
8. Design a promotion for a diet product that you know doesn’t work?
9. Design an ad for a political candidate whose policies you believe would be harmful to the general public?
10. Design a brochure piece for an SUV that turned over more frequently than average in emergency conditions and caused the death of 150 people?
11. Design an ad for a product whose continued use might cause the user’s death?”
Ambiguity & Truth
Brand Identity Conference, AIGA, NYC
June 21, 2004
http://www.miltonglaser.com/pages/milton/essays/es2.html
1st post – hope this works! Really interesting ideas there, have been thinking recently about the level of control we actually have as designers, especially if anyone is working as a student designer at the minute. Obviously if we are doing jobs for the money, turning work away might not be an option, but what if we begin to ruin our enjoyment in the subject through completing unfulfilling work, or work which we don’t agree with? Money vs fulfillment; there’s got to be sacrifice somewhere…
I agree with Stephen but if anyone wants to work for a design company they will have to sell their soul. In an interview you can’t turn around and say well I wont do work for this, this and this, as some other designer whose soul had long been blackened by money and greed will come in the door behind you and it is them that company will hire. Design companies are profit driven, especially in this economic climate. This is what is putting me off being a graphic designer, I want to be true to my morals, My mum is a trade union rep I have been brought up not to buy certain products due to companies moral and political ethos, and you would be shocked at how many large corporate companies are corrupt, the companies that most designers would kill to get a design contract with, which would bring them down a road of recognition and fame. I want to be known as a designer who stuck to their morals, so what if I may be living in a cardboard box but at least I will be happy, I will never sell out my soul for money or fame.
Yes, it depresses me to think that most of the people I admire, from actors to musicians to designers to artists, have probably stepped on a few people, turned their back on a few principles in order to get where they are.
Of course talent and hard work can go a long way, but what happens when you’re up against your friend in a job interview and they ask you why they shouldn’t hire your friend?
I had never thought about that Tom that’s so depressing, there’s a lot of back stabbing to be successful! Is it worth it?
I’m of the mindset that if it comes along, and it isn’t directly detrimental to someone else’s work and life, I don’t see why I shouldn’t get paid to do what I love, but I won’t go chasing it, I’m not ambitious.
Brilliant post, nicely done. And thanks for mentioning all that info – you have introduced to me to three new blogs and I love them all! Cheers