Design School Reader by Steven Heller

Author:Steven Heller [Heller, Steven]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781621536918
Published: 2020-07-14T16:00:00+00:00

Many graphic designers don’t like to explain themselves or be questioned by readers.

“I first came across run-a-muck graphic design at the turn of the century in Wired Magazine,” he adds, turning his myopic eye to a pivotal magazine that was deliberately designed to be edgy and test the limits of print design and typography in the digital world. “Technology has dramatically reduced the cost of multi-colored printing. I could scarcely believe the unreadability and the hop-scotch snippets presented in obscure colors, and small print nestled in degrading visuals. At the time, I just shrugged it off and did not renew my subscription due to invincible unreadability.” Wired was the first mass publication of the wired generation; Mr. Nader fails to recognize that it was expected to push boundaries of design in this early digital stage.

“Now, however, the imperialism of graphic designers knows few boundaries. Many graphic designers don’t like to explain themselves or be questioned by readers. After all, to them readers have little understanding of the nuances of the visual arts and, besides, maybe they should see their optometrists,” he crows. Although the “imperialism of graphic designers” has a clever sarcastic ring, it is, in fact, meaningless.

The last three paragraphs, however, prove that Mr. Nader has really gone off the rails since his folly of 2000: “Well, nearly a year ago, I wrote to Dr. Keith Carter, president of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and Dr. Christopher J. Quinn, president of the American Optometric Association, asking for their reactions (enclosing some examples of designer excess). I urged them to issue a public report suggesting guidelines with pertinent illustrations. After all, they are professionals who should be looking out for their clients’ visual comfort. Who would know more?”

“Dr. Carter responded, sympathizing with my observations but throwing up his hands in modest despair about not being able to do anything about the plight of readers. I never heard from anybody at the Optometric Association.”

“Of all the preventable conditions coursing across this tormented Earth, this is one we should be able to remedy. It is time to restore some level of visual sanity. Don’t editors think print readers are an endangered species? One would think!”

Well, Mr. Nader, if you had critiqued graphic designers for illegibility crimes in the early 1990s, when digital typography was in its grunge and experimental phases, you might have had a reason for a modicum of outrage. But today it seems from this post that your once acute vision is sadly impaired.

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