i agree about the preparedness thing. but i think the part about poking and prodding them is the real gig for us; and in my opinion, the fun part. it is also the test of your real ability to think and make, rather than be a monkey. it gives us a position to interpret, re-interpret and guide.

there are also the kind of gigs where they come to you specifically to find out what they want, who they are… yada yada. thats when you get to pwn

design explained

Although the song is a bit whinny for my taste (I’m sorry if anyone is/was a fan), I really did enjoy the video. It depicted the boy and girl as illustrators, living parallel lives. Even though they seem to love what they do, their work places aren’t as fun, and they both seem to not ‘fit in’. Being on the other side now (the ‘real world’) I can relate to that feeling we sometimes get, of having average lives, day in and day out… but the lesson in this story is to keep life interesting and try hard to not become boring-old-cranky-wasted people. And who knows, we may even find love while drawing on subway billboards with dry-erase markers.

Watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIcFgl6zf3A

If 99.8% of it’s applications are wrong, then, as you have said possible in the end for .2% it is perfectly designed to be applied?

so yes, i do agree with that point of yours; that it is about it’s application, only. However, being a fanatic about it and positing a censorship of it is a bit irresponsible.

also to say that because something wasn’t made with the exacting rigor that historically defines it, you are able to hold it in judgment under those standards is such a cowardly mentality unless you knew the full intentions of the author. Which, as evan pointed out, wasn’t to be the height of typographic achievement or even to by scrutinized by such terms. There is something to be said about reckless competence.

for instance if you replaced the word typography with music:

“Technological advances have transformed MUSIC into a tawdry triviality. The patriarchs of this profession were highly educated men. However, today the widespread heretical uses of this medium prove that even the uneducated have opportunities to desecrate this art form; therefore, destroying the historical integrity of MUSIC.”

You can see how ridiculous it becomes to say something like that. Especially if you believe in the potential of the unheard, unseen, or undeveloped talent. the only line i agree with in there is that it degrades the HISTORICAL integrity of TYPE. but it does everything else for it. granted that it may not be what the author intended, the uses, even mis-uses, of anything lends to a fuller understanding of it. and in that understanding, progress. An example: If you were a guitarist, how well can you assume your understanding of your abilities unless you were tried in every form and style? Your talents may not lend to a certain style, but that information you get from trying helps complete the knowledge of those that you are better in.

now take a second to fully question your hate of such a thing as Comic Sans…check your premises, you will find that it has nothing to do with the typeface itself.

I will stop though. But let me say i do share your concerns, if not your approach.

“Comic Sans was designed because when I was working at Microsoft I received a beta version of Microsoft Bob. It was a comic software package that had a dog called Rover at the beginning and he had a balloon with messages using Times New Roman.

There was no intention to include the font in other applications other than those designed for children when I designed Comic Sans. The inspiration came at the shock of seeing Times New Roman used in an inappropriate way.”

Read the rest on Vincent Connare’s personal site here:
http://www.connare.com/comic.htm

Also:

Robin keeps saying the painting is “Neat.”

Ted: Observe (clears throat)
He starts talking about the brushwork and the compositionand it’s “Kandinsky-like emotional resonance”.

Robin: And you can enjoy it even if you’re not a pretentious douche.

Ted: Robin, are the colors “Neat” or “Neato burrito.”