Monday, 1 November 2010
Graphic Design Is Not Morally Exempt
Peter Bilak:
Right and wrong do not exist in graphic design. There is only effective and non-effective communication. Every one can complain about advertisements in the magazines, but clients are only interested in whether it attracts possible costumers or not.
Yes, they do — right and wrong exist in graphic design. They exist in everything. Just because clients aren’t financially interested in right or wrong (though they should be) doesn’t mean right or wrong don’t exist.
Two relevant quotes. First, Norman Berry, a British creative director at Ogilvy & Mather:
I’m appalled by those who [judge] advertising exclusively on the basis of sales. That isn’t enough. Of course, advertising must sell. By any definition it is lousy advertising if it doesn’t. But if sales are achieved with work which is in bad taste or is intellectual garbage, it shouldn’t be applauded no matter how much it sells. Offensive, dull, abrasive, stupid advertising is bad for the entire industry and bad for business as a whole. It is why the public perception of advertising is going down in this country.
And Luke Sullivan, in Hey Whipple, Squeeze This:
To those who defend the campaign based on sales, I ask, would you also spit on the table to get my attention? It would work, but would you?
(Source: uxmyths.com)
