Mark Busse is fighting the good fight. A fight that Errol Saldanha brought to my attention years ago with www.beyondgraphic.org.
One that I in turn fought when nudging through the change of PGDA to Proscodi, the Professional Society of Communication Design. A fight that Errol continues on with Cdot, the Communication Designers of Toronto.
From Mark:
Though I use my training in Graphic Design daily and often find much of what I do professionally to be based on visual language and aesthetics, it is only one of many services I offer my clients. Being labeled a Graphic Designer feels a little like being called a draftsman, colour artist, desktop layout artist or something else that does not come even close to describing what I do. I believe this is likely true of most of my colleagues in the communication design industry and I want to know. Though it irks me when people cite Wikipedia as a source of definitions, it is interesting to note the definition of Graphic Design on that site as a subset of the field of Communication Design.
We are not graphic designers. We are beyond graphic.
Technorati Tags: beyond graphic, design, Design Organisations, Designers
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Well then, what would you want to be called? It is easiest for people who don’t understand every nuance of what you do to put a title to your profession even if it is too general. Be realistic – it’s just a term to help classify – for other people – what you do. I think it somewhat egotistical to put yourself so above and beyond a term that probably is best understood in general terms by the general public. After all, I doubt people would search the yellow pages for “Communication Design Professional”. Out of curiosity, how do you label yourself in search engines and phone books?
Really, it’s just arguing semantics.
Brad,
In response – we are being realistic. We strongly feel that we are no more Graphic Designers than we are Graphic Artists or Commercial Artists.
And as far as the general public understanding what Graphic Designers do, if I ever mention it, their eyes glaze. When I ask them what Graphic Designers do, they mumble something about Photoshop.
For search engines you do what one usually does – mention the skills on offer – web design, graphic design, photography, copywriting, marketing, project management … etc.
If you google Communication Design, you’ll see a number of Universities are already teaching CD, with Graphic Design as a subset.
How about Communication Artist?
…wait, the word ‘artist’ commands no respect either, being an artist myself. Though I still label myself an artist even though I paint, draw, design, conceptualize, communicate, and generally try to improve something by using some sort of medium. Do you consider yourself an artist?
I didn’t mean to be rude in my last post (intonation doesn’t translate well over the keypad…) I am sincerely interested in this discussion, because as an artist, I feel there is little respect, understanding, or fair reimbursement for the work an artist does. But that respect is up to the client, I think (hey, if there’s no demand, there’s no pay. If there is demand, you can make a great living doing something you love). Other’s opinions and willingness to understand what I do is somewhat out of my control.
I’m sure the term Communication Design may just illicit the same glazed expression, if not an eye-roll from the same people. If the general public is not interested in what I do, I can’t say I’d care too much. But there are plenty of people out there who do respect the creative types of industries. Those are the only ones I care to talk to about what I do. The others? …. *snore*
I think that people can speak most effectively through their work, ambition, and creativity – not their title.
I have been frustrated at the respect the title ‘artist’ gets… but hey, I’m doing what I love, and the term, if not well understood, fits a broad range of abilities that few other people have. I’m okay with that. (though I, too, could use a little extra cash.
Brad,
I started out as an artist, then switched as it was not practical for me.
It was my fault really. I was lousy at trying to sell portraits. Yeah, I had grand dreams of being a famous portrait artist.
Comments like “why should I pay you hundreds of dollars when I can just take me a polaroid?” were too much to bear.
Selling design is easier for me. But it’s not just the design I’m selling. It’s the whole.
When I walk clients through the proposal, I explain in detail and they do get it.
They understand that design is just a part of what they are paying for.
If I was only selling design, clients certainly wouldn’t agree to what I’m charging.
Hey, it’s cool being a graphic designer, most people I talk with wish they had the guts and talent to pursue their artistic sides commercially: I used to be an elementary teacher, and you should have heard the pity responses I got when I mentioned what I did! But I agree (back to the topic)that graphic design is not all I do… I mean, people do conceptualize graphic design to only mean computer graphics. But I use my Fine Arts skills as well almost continually(whether in Illustrator with a paintbrush or starting with regular artist’s mediums): maybe we need a title that incorporates the two, but coming up with that would take some thinking about(my husband suggests: “Graphic and Artistic Visual Designers”…?)