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The current state of design - 5/28/2009 9:31:00 PM

Bingo

Posts: 11
Joined: 6/14/2007
Status: offline

I love design.

I've seen so many changes through the years, in technology and in trends.

But I've never been more discouraged about my beloved profession than today.

So many friends and talented designers have lost their jobs and are struggling to find work, both freelance and full time, in this terrible economy.

And, the few that are still employed, (I'm one of the lucky ones who is), are finding it more difficult than ever to prove our value.

The pressure to perform is enormous and the respect is fleeting. Better to meet a tight deadline, than provide a well thought out, appropriate and beautiful design.

Why don't CEO's get it? Are they all greedy crooks, proud to be in the top 1 percent club while the world falls apart around them?

In these times, it's more important than ever to differentiate, make things easier, clearer, more organized, more aesthetically pleasing, with best design.

Design effects everything!

It touches every aspect of our lives, it entices, sells products, evokes emotion, makes the world a more beautiful and interesting place.

What can we do to improve this situation? What can we do to help our CEO's get it?

Feel free to chime-in, or sound-off on this topic! Share your experiences, successes and failures. Or, just whine like I did !!

_____________________________

Ivan

Post #: 1

RE: The current state of design - 5/29/2009 11:01:33 AM

drewdesign

Posts: 18
Joined: 10/13/2007
From: New York City
Status: offline

Good question Ivan.

I live and breathe design but I too am being to get so discouraged with what's happening today. Everything now boils down to the dollar. How much does this cost? Why does it cost this? How can I get this cheaper? Yet not fully understanding the impact & value design has on a business.

I run my own design studio in NYC...have been now for close to 3 years and my business is very dry at the moment. Been working for 20 years and only in the last 5 years have I seen the industry in such bad state. My first year and half of business was great then BOOM it began to dry up. Bottom line, clients were looking now to save money and cut their design & marketing needs. When I try to explain that cutting this is like cutting your accounting or legal depts, they look at me and say that's not a fair comparison as these two are VITAL services where design & marketing are luxuries. Yet I point out how businesses cut them in bad times but then spend double on them when money flows again because they need to play catch up.

Honestly, I don't know what will make CEOs or decision-makers regard design in the same vain as accounting, legal or even IT. Nowadays, I'm wondering if I did the smart thing in leaving corporate to start my own business.

_____________________________

Andrew Bass
Straight Design
212.822.8858

(in reply to Bingo)

Post #: 2