September 13, 2008
By Design - An Itnroduction
I have this great little book somewhere (I can't find it at the moment) called Walking on Alligators: A Book of Meditations for Writers by Susan Shaughnessy. I don't remember where or how I got it. I do know that I sort of broke the rules. Instead of just reading it for a daily meditation, I read the whole ting at once.
All of the meditations were headed by a quote from a writer. I remember none of the text, but I can recall a few of the quotes. There is one that comes to mind tonight and if I could find the book I would quote it exactly and tell you who the author was. But since I can't the best I can do is paraphrase.
What this means is, if you are in the middle of writing something, keep it to yourself. Don't tell the story at cocktail parties because it will drain the energy you need to actually write the thing.
I'm going to break that rule. Because I can.
I have begun writing a book. This itself is not news. I have in fact started writing a book many times. But this is the first time I have started writing a non-fiction book. I will almost certainly be self publishing and I will offer limited edition autographed copies for a significant premium!
I've got a good start on the basic outline since it is essentially autobiographical it follows a fairly familiar time line. I needed to get past the outline and put down some actual words so I wrote a brief introduction. It is the thunder I give away today!
All of the meditations were headed by a quote from a writer. I remember none of the text, but I can recall a few of the quotes. There is one that comes to mind tonight and if I could find the book I would quote it exactly and tell you who the author was. But since I can't the best I can do is paraphrase.
"Don't give away your thunder."
What this means is, if you are in the middle of writing something, keep it to yourself. Don't tell the story at cocktail parties because it will drain the energy you need to actually write the thing.
I'm going to break that rule. Because I can.
I have begun writing a book. This itself is not news. I have in fact started writing a book many times. But this is the first time I have started writing a non-fiction book. I will almost certainly be self publishing and I will offer limited edition autographed copies for a significant premium!
I've got a good start on the basic outline since it is essentially autobiographical it follows a fairly familiar time line. I needed to get past the outline and put down some actual words so I wrote a brief introduction. It is the thunder I give away today!
It occurred to me the other day that I should write a book about design. I know what you’re thinking already “Just what the world needs. Another design book.” It is true that there are a lot of books about design. Go to your local book store and you’ll find shelves of them covering everything from graphics to interiors to architecture and industrial design. There are shelves of books about design theory, design techniques and the impact of this design or that designer.
With the exception of a biography of type designer Frederick W. Goudy, I have never read any of them. So what makes me qualified to write this book? I feed and house my family with a salary earned as a graphic designer. I’ve been making my living this way for 20 years
How did I get to this position without having read a single design book? On the job training and good advice from some very talented people that you have never heard of - because they’re not in any of those books I haven’t read.
Why haven’t I read any of those books? I can answer that in two words: Design Conferences. I have been to a number of design conferences in my career and the one thing they have taught me is that designers are a pretentious lot. That and the reality that every design agency on the planet has done work for Unilever and/or Coca Cola.
They speak in lofty terms about the importance of their work and the impact design can have on the world. While back at the office they work on making more effective packaging for soap and better ads for soft drinks. So that you will buy more soap and more soda.
What do I think I have to ad to this? A touch of reality. A touch of reality about the fact that while design is about making things better, that is not the reason for design. Design is about making things better so they’ll sell better.
If you choose to read on, you will not find any grand theories about the role of design in the universe or how designers can save the planet. The original title for this book was going to be “Everything I know about Design.” But that would have been far too limiting and more of a pamphlet than a book. What you will find is my biography as a designer and by the time you reach the end you will have hopefully learned a few of the things I have learned along the way.
With the exception of a biography of type designer Frederick W. Goudy, I have never read any of them. So what makes me qualified to write this book? I feed and house my family with a salary earned as a graphic designer. I’ve been making my living this way for 20 years
How did I get to this position without having read a single design book? On the job training and good advice from some very talented people that you have never heard of - because they’re not in any of those books I haven’t read.
Why haven’t I read any of those books? I can answer that in two words: Design Conferences. I have been to a number of design conferences in my career and the one thing they have taught me is that designers are a pretentious lot. That and the reality that every design agency on the planet has done work for Unilever and/or Coca Cola.
They speak in lofty terms about the importance of their work and the impact design can have on the world. While back at the office they work on making more effective packaging for soap and better ads for soft drinks. So that you will buy more soap and more soda.
What do I think I have to ad to this? A touch of reality. A touch of reality about the fact that while design is about making things better, that is not the reason for design. Design is about making things better so they’ll sell better.
If you choose to read on, you will not find any grand theories about the role of design in the universe or how designers can save the planet. The original title for this book was going to be “Everything I know about Design.” But that would have been far too limiting and more of a pamphlet than a book. What you will find is my biography as a designer and by the time you reach the end you will have hopefully learned a few of the things I have learned along the way.
Posted by: Stephen Macklin at 10:02 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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