Everybody is a Graphic Designer.

March 30, 2008 In Uncategorized

I am an Illustrator and Graphic Designer. I also do websites; both Flash based and CSS based. From the moment I could hold a crayon in my hand, I’ve spent the majority of my life studying and practicing the visual arts. I went to college for this assuming that my classmates would also be the same kind of visually obsessive types I was. I was under the impression (falsely) that only people who had a background or natural ability in art would pursue it as a means of income. I know I wouldn’t even imagine trying to go to college for statistics or quantum theory, as I have no ability to understand or deal with it on any level. My days are filled with perusing gallery award winning sites and searching out, analyzing and admiring artists work from all over the world. I am obsessed with trying to make things look as good as they can and making ideas seem as interesting and yet straightforward as possible for others.

Yet it seems to me that being a graphic designer is one of those few occupations that EVERYONE thinks they can do without the slightest education or practice in. I find it fist clenchingly frustrating to be hired as an expert by a company who needs someone to make their ideas pop and look interesting and professional, yet seem to think it is a great idea to ignore all the work and advice I give them. If they know so much about my job, then why are they hiring me? You don’t go into a 5 star restaurant and order the Chef’s specialty, only to go back into the kitchen and tell him how to make it. No one would think to step up on the stage of an accomplished singer and try to sing the song themselves or attempt to trade stocks on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange for a week.

You put together a website based on the companies target audience, their goals, their companies image and examples of work they admire, along with color schemes, researched fonts, images and everything else you can think of to help them achieve the goals they have for their company and many of them seem to think they have a better understanding of how to make their site look fantastic than you do.

“What if we make everything on the site round?”

What if I punch you in the face and shit down your throat?