Hey there,
I'm doing a research project based around social resposibility within graphic design. The title of my project is 'All Graphic Designers are Liars' and im trying to find out to what extent this statement is true.

At the moment I am trying to gather examples of really misleading graphic design, and also good examples of honest design. Therefore if anyone out there has any good images they want to share i would be very grateful. Im also interested to hear other peoples opinions on this subject.

I'm mostly looking at posters and advertisements but I will welcome any other formats of design.

Feel free to share any views
x

You have to explain a little more why you think graphic designers might be liars. If you think its because of fake offers and crap on posters and ads, its not the designers who lie, but the companies who make the bad claims on those posters.

If this isnt what you intended, then you definally need to explain yourself a little more.

Seems like it should be all Marketers are liars?

Graphic designers do a lot of work that is not involved in marketing, at least not commercial marketing.

Hard to say that someone designing a logo, or art design for clothing or something similar is a liar.

Yeah, the only way that i have seen in the past with graphic designers being 'liars' is when they are unethical with the way their pricing is compiled. That is usually because they are fairly new to the industry and are intimidated by their client.

Also, again with people new to the industry they may use certain formats in a design because they personally believe it will work better for their clients market when studies prove otherwise. That's just ignorance though, not lieing per say.

I think that's a bit of a cop out guys. For a living I make people want things they don't need and in that sense the OP is correct.

I love what I do but I have no illusions about it.

pbc

I don't lie when I design. I believe I am an honest designer. I'd never communicate anything I didn't believe in. But that's just me. In fact, I couldn't do a good job if I didn't believe in what I was doing.

And Paul, I'm not sure why you think that wanting is dishonest. At least that's what I'm hearing you say.

Want things they dont need, true. That's a very good point, we make our clients products and services look good, that is our job. However we are not doing that to lie to anybody, we are simply creating what the client ask. If the client told us to make something look like crap, we could make it look like crap.

Graphic Design Clients would be considered liars before graphic designers. Graphic designers just communicate a message or vision given to them in an appealing graphical form.

Liars I think clarification may be needed on this one...Do you mean unethical in their business practices, credentials, skill level or what they promote? Are you talking the entire industry, some, or a few who design? Your thesis statement is broad, and could potentially put off designers wanting to assist you, since your statement doesn't narrow down in what vien you are referring to.

Also in the frame of illustrating good and bad design, you need to have in context about the images you intend to select...why you selected them, and how they validate your point. In one sense this can be a gross misrepsentation if you just merely post images of designers work and label them bad. For example if you pull images from a student's portfolio, is it really fair to call this bad, when they are in the process of learning design. Or a seasoned professional who had a marketing team and other non designers, dictate and revise a project, beyond the point of what the original designer intended. Or the freelancer, who had a client who insisted they wanted a rainbow palate in their logo. Yes there is bad design, there are unqualified people passing themselves off as designers, there can even be some designers who run a business unethically, but to state: All of us are Liars, is one of those statements, you are going to loose a good portion of your audience trying to persuade in your paper because of your phrasing.

Are you a liar because you titled the thing "All Graphic Designers are Liars"? Didn't you call it that to make it sound more exciting? Do you see any...similarities between your perceived subject matter and how you chose your title?

In any given situation, not all of any group is this way or that way - surely you realize that going in. I therefore recommend that you contemplate on it, then get back to us.

Ditto.

I'm sorry but that sounds a little disingenuine guys - we're just the messenger, the client is the liar.

As far as I'm concerned the entire system of capitalism is built on lies and exists to promote greed in people. I find it sad.

Yet I live here and need to find a way to exist, so I do. I try to not be taken in by the hype.

A good example - I just did a big campaign for the Eagles. The top tickets were $265. I know that in LA there are a lot of rich folks who have no problem forking that out, but I also know that someone out there got themselves farther into debt to go see this show, for whatever reason.

"Heaven and earth are not human-hearted. All else is straw dogs."
- Lao Tzu

pbc

^^
I'm not responsible for what others do. I'm only responsible for what I do. I agree with your TAO quote, but that doesn't mean that want is a bad thing. Want should not be something we use as our salvation, but it's not bad, or unethical. As long as I have that in mind, it's ok. If others do not realize that, then maybe they need to experience want more often so they can move toward enlightenment. That's my take.

Well said Stever - in my mind it is actual need that they need to experience, not desire. There is no end to desire, which is one of Lao Tzu's main points.

While it is true that I am only responsible for what I do, and in that sense I am an honest designer because I give my best everytime out, there is also something to be said for the larger chain of responsiblity called society.

You had the most holsitic approach here, you stated that you only work on things you believe in. I certainly cannot say that. I think most of the work I do is for people whose main concern is to become famous and stay that way, not strictly to make the best music they possibly can.

Lao Tzu also stated that wise rulers don't make their people want things they don't need. In that there is no end.

For me it's important to attempt to grasp the larger picture, while focusing on the microcosmic things which take place around me, for these are the only things I can ever understand. Actually the macrocosm can only be grasped through the microcosm, at least that's what my experience has been.

You are way cool Stever.

"Advertisting is the sound of the stick tinkling in the swill bucket"
- George Orwell

pbc

^^
Take Prince for example. Maybe he wants to stay rich and famous. Maybe that's his sole purpose for existence. But that's his issue. But his music and act brings people joy. A great deal of joy. People love to watch him perform. They go to his concerts to get a break from the stresses of the world, or just to admire him. Whatever the reasons, he brings them joy. And joy helps the world to be a better place. I realize that according to the TAO this is not true joy, but you know, that's ok. Who knows, maybe their joy will move them toward the light. It's not for me to say. So, when I look at your work I see that your are promoting joy. Whether that be for Neil Young. Celine, Cher...or Prince. And that cannot be a bad thing. I think that you, being who you are and what you believe, are the right person for the job.

Those concerts are lovefests. And you are informing people when and where those lovefests are taking place. You're helping to spead the love, man.

Anyhow, that's the way I see it.

"Love is all you need."
John Lennon

Unless I'm missing something that is exactly what others have indicated here. ?? So you'd be agreeing...