Hello Julien ! I'm just writing to say that I'm so glad to I discovered your work. I'm an artist-researcher undertaking a Masters in Anth. at Université Laval / Québec, and I'm working on illustrated zines about (les enjeux / the challenges) of canadian franco-prairian artistic production. So everything about this, learning about your work, and this particular piece, both are of great interest to me. I'm excited to delve into this article and to discover more of your work. Merci !
It was an absolute joy to work with you on this, Julien! You covered such a wide spread of important topics in a way that I know our readers will be able to understand and appreciate. Fingers crossed that we will be able to do more, and more radical versions of, pieces like this in the future. Solidarity forever!
Thank you Julien for your It’s Nice That essay and this follow-up.
I have been a working graphic designer since the mid 1980s. I have been creating motion design since before it was called that.
I have been fortunate in my career to have been hired in jobs and on my own by employers and clients who elevated the role of the designer, editor, photographer, illustrator.... They realized their businesses’ success was tied to the work we did with and for them.
But as the volume of work and creators of design, illustration, photography, et al exploded, the prestige of that work and those who were responsible was diluted. There were still “celebrity designers” who could command respectable compensation for their work. But the overexposure of visual design led to a familiarity that in time compromised its value—particularly in the eyes of those who were responsible for slicing budgets.
I am now employed by an entertainment giant in the US and I work with a fantastic team of designers and design thinkers. But we are near the bottom rungs of a ladder of “marketing professionals” who spend their days working to shape and refine our creations to achieve the desired success.
I am old enough to remember a time when expert marketing professionals relied on worldly design thinkers to develop strategic visual communication and trusted the designers’ business savvy decisions. Now strategic thinking has been severed from our perceived expertise. Marketing professionals rely of reading the tea leaves of data, rather than trusting the intelligent instincts of creative designers.
I am not sure how to remedy what a good friend refers to as the “ghetto-fication” of the creative worker. We should strive to be seen as decision makers and not just makers of that evil word “content.”
Maybe we can start be asking to be called something other than “creatives.” bit.ly/xk9-creative
I just read your piece and wanted to share that it strongly resonates with me. Your words somehow summarised what I felt, experienced and reflected upon in the past 2 years. Last year I enrolled in a master's programme in an art academy in the Netherlands. However, after this first year, I decided to quit the programme and enrol in another one which is exploring the connection between creative and "humdrum" types of labour, and the economic aspects behind artistic work. I liked the plumber example as I was wondering about the same question but in regard to IT professionals (engineers, developers, etc.). Both are rooted in problem-seeking/solving, self-expression and creativity. The results could have either functional or artistic value or both. However, in my opinion, engineers tend to receive higher wages and be much more respected when compared to artists, designers, and alike. And I think here is where the notion of "logical VS creative thinking" enters the scene. My perception is that engineers are usually regarded as "logical" and "productive" whereas artists are as "creative" and "unproductive". But what is a product? Perhaps, praising productivity over creativity is a sign of shortsightedness, a lack of ability to recognize that they are two sides of the same coin. The "Productivity <=> Creativity" comparison needs to be critically examined. It is indeed a complex topic, yet an exciting one! Merci :)
Hello Julien ! I'm just writing to say that I'm so glad to I discovered your work. I'm an artist-researcher undertaking a Masters in Anth. at Université Laval / Québec, and I'm working on illustrated zines about (les enjeux / the challenges) of canadian franco-prairian artistic production. So everything about this, learning about your work, and this particular piece, both are of great interest to me. I'm excited to delve into this article and to discover more of your work. Merci !
Merci beaucoup Zoé!!
Great read as always - much needed for me today!
thank you so much! happy it resonated with you!
It was an absolute joy to work with you on this, Julien! You covered such a wide spread of important topics in a way that I know our readers will be able to understand and appreciate. Fingers crossed that we will be able to do more, and more radical versions of, pieces like this in the future. Solidarity forever!
Thank you so much Elizabeth! I definitely would love to collaborate more!
Thank you Julien for your It’s Nice That essay and this follow-up.
I have been a working graphic designer since the mid 1980s. I have been creating motion design since before it was called that.
I have been fortunate in my career to have been hired in jobs and on my own by employers and clients who elevated the role of the designer, editor, photographer, illustrator.... They realized their businesses’ success was tied to the work we did with and for them.
But as the volume of work and creators of design, illustration, photography, et al exploded, the prestige of that work and those who were responsible was diluted. There were still “celebrity designers” who could command respectable compensation for their work. But the overexposure of visual design led to a familiarity that in time compromised its value—particularly in the eyes of those who were responsible for slicing budgets.
I am now employed by an entertainment giant in the US and I work with a fantastic team of designers and design thinkers. But we are near the bottom rungs of a ladder of “marketing professionals” who spend their days working to shape and refine our creations to achieve the desired success.
I am old enough to remember a time when expert marketing professionals relied on worldly design thinkers to develop strategic visual communication and trusted the designers’ business savvy decisions. Now strategic thinking has been severed from our perceived expertise. Marketing professionals rely of reading the tea leaves of data, rather than trusting the intelligent instincts of creative designers.
I am not sure how to remedy what a good friend refers to as the “ghetto-fication” of the creative worker. We should strive to be seen as decision makers and not just makers of that evil word “content.”
Maybe we can start be asking to be called something other than “creatives.” bit.ly/xk9-creative
Thank you so much for your insights Bill! i’ll make sure to read your piece on creatives.
Hello Julien!
I just read your piece and wanted to share that it strongly resonates with me. Your words somehow summarised what I felt, experienced and reflected upon in the past 2 years. Last year I enrolled in a master's programme in an art academy in the Netherlands. However, after this first year, I decided to quit the programme and enrol in another one which is exploring the connection between creative and "humdrum" types of labour, and the economic aspects behind artistic work. I liked the plumber example as I was wondering about the same question but in regard to IT professionals (engineers, developers, etc.). Both are rooted in problem-seeking/solving, self-expression and creativity. The results could have either functional or artistic value or both. However, in my opinion, engineers tend to receive higher wages and be much more respected when compared to artists, designers, and alike. And I think here is where the notion of "logical VS creative thinking" enters the scene. My perception is that engineers are usually regarded as "logical" and "productive" whereas artists are as "creative" and "unproductive". But what is a product? Perhaps, praising productivity over creativity is a sign of shortsightedness, a lack of ability to recognize that they are two sides of the same coin. The "Productivity <=> Creativity" comparison needs to be critically examined. It is indeed a complex topic, yet an exciting one! Merci :)