The Designer as Buffoon

Adrian Shaughnessy has an very entertaining article on how the many in the media portray designers. I remember a TV show, Lou Grant, that had a photographer who was filthy most of the time, and lived like a bum. They called him 'Animal'. I am not sure if it was an inspiration (?) to many shooters, but since that time I have wondered why so many photogs dress, uh, down. I guess it was part of the story they wanted to tell about themselves. "Brand?"

Now I hear "the clients don't think we're professionals," and "we aren't being treated with respect." Not sure wearing a pair of holey jeans, flip-flops, and a dirty Nirvana t-shirt would command much respect from a CEO. (BTW... true story - I was the guy called in to shoot it after the CEO dismissed the other shooter instantly. I wore slacks and a jacket, got the shot and won over a client for 5 years.)

Designers, photographers and illustrators have an 'image' in the media. Whether it is deserved or not is open for discussion. What is your image? Is it what the media portrays it to be, or is it your own? Or would it make sense to have your personal 'brand' be more in tune to what your customer's brand is?

Design Observer: writings about design & culture: Adrian Shaughnessy: The Designer as Buffoon: "Ikea offer us an even more ludicrous figure. There is no subtle casting here. Ikea’s man is the designer from hell. He is some sort of European design fascist; a buffoon who appears to live in the house and garden you might imagine Elton John owns. He wears a beret and looks as if he is about to explode in a fit of designer pique. He even has a name and a manifesto: this is Van den Puup, and he represents “Elite Designers Against Ikea”. His role is to make Ikea look sensible, practical and democratic, a feat he achieves by espousing elitism and behaving hysterically."