Thoughts from the Dirty City

Even as a design student I can remember hearing those fate full words that would follow me the rest of my career. If you are a designer you have probably already guessed what words I am referring to.* “Everyone is a designer”

As a student the phrase made me giggle. Mostly because I felt like I was being let into a secret club and this phrase was the code to get you in the door. I would laugh and agree every time it was said. How irritating that people think they can do what we do. The scoffing and hem-hawing. “You know they don’t treat medical or law degrees with such disregard” I could go on any on with the mocking things that were said, but I am sure if you haven’t already heard it you can use your imagination.

By the time I was working at a small but highly reputable non-profit I had gone from laughing at the joke to truly understanding the depths to which the sting could be felt. I remember turning red in the phase and forcing the words back down my throat as some one from the development department would request an invitation that they already laid out in Microsoft Office. Everyone was a designer, and it started to feel as though no one really appreciated how much time and effort I spent cultivating my skills to be able to do what it is that I do.

After all, I spent years at university. Pouring over text books, memorizing terms, studying history, trends, process. I soaked up all I could about the theories of color, composition & type, studied ad design and marketing principles. You name it, I studied it. If I think about the hours and hours spent in computer labs and studios it makes me want to scream. All that time spent learning to use the industry standard software so that I could use all my newly cultivated skills to the utmost efficiency. Not to mention the student loans I racked up paying for supplies, books and all the other crazy things they make you buy as a student. Just who do these people think they are to say they have the ability to lay out an invitation. I mean really.

I’ll tell you who they think they are, they think they are Designers. And you know what, sadly, they are right.

Maybe it came with age, or maybe experience. Perhaps I have to many causes that mean a great deal to me to continue fighting this particular battle. Regardless of why, I have come to the conclusion that everyone is, in fact, a designer. Yes, I have my BFA in Graphic Design, but all that means is that I have a piece of paper from a university. It doesn’t qualify me to be a designer any more than anyone else.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I have dedicated my life to the study and practice of Design. And I have a collection of work and clients to show for all my efforts. Oh yah, and a degree. But the only thing that really matters is the work. Titles are arbitrary.

To all the designers out there that still get irate over this type of thing, I totally understand. My hope is that deep down “they” know the truth. But even if they don’t, you know how hard it is to survive in this industry when you know what you are doing. Those who don’t will never get past doing the flyers for the church’s Friday Fish Fry, so does it really matter?

*So if you didn’t guess right and you think you are a designer you may want to reconsider that.