Oh, how I would like to offer a course at every graphic design program in the country! I would call it "How to design for real customers"
Or maybe "Do you have any idea how much your ridiculous, complicated, not-a-standard-size piece is going to cost to be printed?"
or possibly just "What were you thinking? 101"
The course would be simple... Students could learn things like:
1. What are standard paper sizes? (Here's a hint...8.5x11 and 11x17) (wait, that's more than a hint...)
2. What is your customer's total budget for this project? (It's less than you think, especially after they finish paying *your* bill!!)
3. What need is the customer trying to address? (It may not be a deep need they have to showcase your illustration/design/layout skills!)
4. What are Pantone colors? Is it really necessary to cause your customer to have a total cow because that shade of purple does not EXACTLY match the purple on the letterhead/business cards/vehicle magnets/outdoor banner/reusable tote bags? Pantone is a company that sells ink!!! Of course they want you to only buy their overpriced and unnecessary inks...that's their entire business model!
5. Have you ever tried designing something in black and white in order to save your customer on printing costs? (Hint...you should!!)
6. Why you don't need to convince your customer that special, high-end paper (linen, cotton rag, etc) is utterly necessary to the success of their project.
7. Which is more important...design or content? (Hint...it's not design...)
8. Why you should have a copy of your printer's price list in your office.
9. How to provide your customer with copies of all design files, explain what the files are for, and make sure the customer really understands. (You will learn the shocking truth that, after paying one design fee, customers will attempt all future design themselves using your files, Microsoft Word, and cheap paper...)
And finally...
10. Why every graphic designer should work in a printshop for at least 6 months...yes, making copies, not doing fabulous design work.
So, I have the syllabus ready! I'm qualified to teach at a university! I'll be accepting offers via email starting...now!
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3 comments:
I feel your pain. You've inspired a follow-up piece: "Web designers must die!!" Which is actually largely geared toward the same group. "What? This serif font won't be readable? Usability? HTML?? What's that? I'm an artist!" BARF. Stay tuned...
Isn't that amazing? They're everywhere! Like creative zombies, they will eat your brain!! I understand exactly how fun the design process can be, but most of the time it seems everyone involved has lost sight of the point of the project until it's too late and a redesign would be costly and damaging to the customer's shedule. I am going to start wearing my Wonder Woman Underoos to work while I undertake a one-woman battle against this!
This is allll so disgustingly true! As a poser graphic designer and former employee of the wonderful Queen Bee, I am SO happy that I learned everything from you!!
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