Work for spec and spec work.

I came across this petition-thing on not doing work on spec sometime ago, and that got me thinking about spec work and work for spec.

What can I say, as a business practice, I do not do work on spec. I believe it to be a bad business practice. If you’re going to ask an artisan to do something, you should pay for it. Otherwise you are not serious and you are not behaving respectfully (toward the artisan).

On the other hand, I managed to win some since projects using spec work in my portfolio. Spec work has always been a controversial topic. Does it count for something? Is it ok for a mid-career person to have some or a lot of spec work in their “book”?
As a Creative Director I worked for at Saatchi & Saatchi in LA said to me once “clients will always stop you partway to genius, with spec work you can show future employers/clients that you can get there…” which is what people want to see.

Good work is good work, no matter if it’s “spec” or “for real”, work on spec…don’t do it…

Design for the other 90% (click here!)

While not an industrial designer, I still strongly believe that people in the design field should use their talents to help repair the world (at least once in a while). While watching a recent ABC World-News-Podcast I came across an item about an exhibit called: "Design for the other 90%" which talked about how very simple industrial design is helping the developing world. This is a well worth your time, so please click on the links below to find out more.

Let's use our power to help the world...


http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=3322068


http://other.cooperhewitt.org/

I'll know it when I see it

"I’ll know it when I see it!"

That is what the client said to me, yes you’ve heard right: I’ll know it when I see it. I waned to scream, literally stand up grab him by the shoulders, shake him up and explain to him in no uncertain terms that he is the biggest idiot I have ever meat. BUT I DID NOT.

Nevertheless, what is this “I’ll know it when I see it” business what happened to a creative brief some guidelines, something, anything. I guess when you are salaried it can work like that, but still it’s maddening.

On the other hand unlimited exploration is very clearly a great thing, but I don’t thing it overshadows the frustration of not knowing where you are going, and if you’ll ever get there.

So, have you ever heard that? And what did you say in response?

Advertising as a Mirror of Society

I have been thinking a lot lately about the connection between what a society (any) produces in terms of its advertising, and that "product" says about that society. For example, a society filled with macho men and vulgar behavior, will it produce, vulgar advertising and design?

More on that as it becomes clear... to me that is

iphone... one step... in which direction

So, I am sure the internet is abuzz with the new Apple iphone just launched a few short hours ago. And as designers and people working in advertising and technology, I am sure this will create a whole new set of issues to think about. And not to mention that it WILL no doubt launch the age of cell phone video ads (the sky is the limit…)
BUT, I will like to ask one question:

WHERE ARE MY OTHER 72 GIGS OF MUSIC.

I own an ipod that says on its back “Music to Live By” and so I would like all of my 80 gigs of music there for me, wherever I go. So now, you give me all this PHONE, but no space for my music…

Yes, this is a step forward, but why did we have to go back at the same time…

01/10/07 - as a post script, others have not been too happy either... here is one view:
http://www.macworld.com/weblogs/editors/2007/01/keynotereax/index.php

Sting as a product placement! ?

One of my favorite TV shoes this Fall has been Studio 60, and while it seems clear that it will die soon (very sad) one thing it has provided me with is an insight to the where advertising and product placement is heading.

In a recent episode, the musical guest on this fictional Saturday-night-live-like show is non other then Sting. And in the midst of a scene that has nothing to do with sting, you hear one of the characters tell the other that “sting is here, and he has a new album out”.

The next thing you see is Sting on the stage practicing the Lute, and yet again, we are told more about this new album of his, “which is just coming out”. I thought that this was a whole new level of product placement (or an all new low), but thinking further about this it occurred to me that many WB shows (which seemed to originate this) featured “music from”, but rarely the artist. Then I caught the original Spiderman movie, and saw Massie Grey singing on stage as a part of the movie plot (another variation of this).

Still, I can’t help but wander, Sting (in the flash) as a product placement, what’s next, sting naked?

And in the beginning

Sitting at the intersection of design (graphic) and commerce, I find myself wondering (out load) about where is this all going. In a time when graphic design in merging rapidly with advertising (my first love), amidst news that advertising is really dead, I begin this blog wondering (again) where is this all going to.

What are they going to be teaching in design schools in a decade and what would the needs of the industry be. Are you going to have to be an Art Director + Graphics Production Artist + Code Engineer + moviemaker to make it as a design professional?
Or is there another version I have not considered. I think it is safe to say that the answer to these questions is yet unknown, but some hints will; I am sure come up as we continue.

Welcome! Hope you can visit again