Comments on: The DIY Era http://www.jwphill3.com/design/the-dyi-era/ Sat, 01 May 2010 15:52:01 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: The Tridea Way » Let a Professional Do It http://www.jwphill3.com/design/the-dyi-era/comment-page-1/#comment-615 The Tridea Way » Let a Professional Do It Sun, 28 Jan 2007 15:24:59 +0000 http://www.jwphill3.com/2006/11/07/the-dyi-era/#comment-615 [...] In the do it yourself era, you have alot of people taking projects into their own hands. Now, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing if you’re, say, working on your house or learning a new hobby. But some things should just be left up to the professionals. As [professional] designers, it is our job to protect the brand of your company through through design. So what does that mean? [...] [...] In the do it yourself era, you have alot of people taking projects into their own hands. Now, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing if you’re, say, working on your house or learning a new hobby. But some things should just be left up to the professionals. As [professional] designers, it is our job to protect the brand of your company through through design. So what does that mean? [...]

]]> By: J Phill http://www.jwphill3.com/design/the-dyi-era/comment-page-1/#comment-300 J Phill Mon, 13 Nov 2006 00:08:48 +0000 http://www.jwphill3.com/2006/11/07/the-dyi-era/#comment-300 That's a good point Steve, technology is advancing far faster than the DIYers. So they wouldn't be able to keep up. I'm also thinking that the [potential] clients they get for cheap might not be the kind of clients we would want to work with anyways. That’s a good point Steve, technology is advancing far faster than the DIYers. So they wouldn’t be able to keep up.

I’m also thinking that the [potential] clients they get for cheap might not be the kind of clients we would want to work with anyways.

]]> By: Steve Tucker http://www.jwphill3.com/design/the-dyi-era/comment-page-1/#comment-299 Steve Tucker Sun, 12 Nov 2006 23:54:46 +0000 http://www.jwphill3.com/2006/11/07/the-dyi-era/#comment-299 Good observation. I can completely appriciate where this point of view is coming from. However I think no matter how good DIY tools get there will always be a clear distinction between a true designer and a DIYer. This is simply by virtue of the fact that technology in this industry is always advancing and the skills of professional designers progress and develop at a much faster rate than the DIY tools out there. We will always be a step ahead of the game. Good observation. I can completely appriciate where this point of view is coming from. However I think no matter how good DIY tools get there will always be a clear distinction between a true designer and a DIYer. This is simply by virtue of the fact that technology in this industry is always advancing and the skills of professional designers progress and develop at a much faster rate than the DIY tools out there. We will always be a step ahead of the game.

]]> By: J Phill http://www.jwphill3.com/design/the-dyi-era/comment-page-1/#comment-226 J Phill Wed, 08 Nov 2006 00:46:39 +0000 http://www.jwphill3.com/2006/11/07/the-dyi-era/#comment-226 I think that if you got that basic training, I couldn't include you in that category. You have a working knowledge of what design is. This is definitely the age where everyone is a designer/photographer/etc. I love photography and shooting things but I never claim to be a photographer. The photographers example could be even worse then proclaimed "designers." I think it will just take [potential] clients alot of wisening up and research to separate the amateurs from the professionals. I think that if you got that basic training, I couldn’t include you in that category. You have a working knowledge of what design is.

This is definitely the age where everyone is a designer/photographer/etc. I love photography and shooting things but I never claim to be a photographer. The photographers example could be even worse then proclaimed “designers.”

I think it will just take [potential] clients alot of wisening up and research to separate the amateurs from the professionals.

]]> By: Napfisk http://www.jwphill3.com/design/the-dyi-era/comment-page-1/#comment-225 Napfisk Tue, 07 Nov 2006 23:08:03 +0000 http://www.jwphill3.com/2006/11/07/the-dyi-era/#comment-225 I have to admit I'm guilty myself of creating 'designs' for a couple of people. Not web designs, but 'look and feel' things, a couple of logos... I did get basic training in this (back in the early 90s) and have been 'working' with Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign for number of years. Yet, I'm not a designer – and I always tell people that. Still, they want to have something, as a favour, because they know they really suck themselves, and so I comply. So, sorry about that ;-) What to do about it is not an easy question. Get even better, educate people how to look (so that they actually SEE the difference), talk about it a lot. But even then chances are you're arguing in front of a friendly audience and the people you want to reach will nonetheless stay deaf and blind and turn to the easy and cheap solutions. I personally believe this is going to become even worse. Today, in this age of everyone 'doing their thing', everyone is a designer, a photographer, a movie-maker and a writer. And the tools they need for that become ever cheaper and ever more widely available. Perhaps, as a professional, then, your only option is to become the purveyor of these tools. There is, after all, honour to be got from bringing technology to the masses, even while that may sometimes seem you're drowning in a sea of anonymity. I think we should face it: the age of the artist is over. We're all artists now. Help us at least be good ones, then. I have to admit I’m guilty myself of creating ‘designs’ for a couple of people. Not web designs, but ‘look and feel’ things, a couple of logos…

I did get basic training in this (back in the early 90s) and have been ‘working’ with Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign for number of years.

Yet, I’m not a designer – and I always tell people that. Still, they want to have something, as a favour, because they know they really suck themselves, and so I comply.

So, sorry about that ;-)

What to do about it is not an easy question. Get even better, educate people how to look (so that they actually SEE the difference), talk about it a lot. But even then chances are you’re arguing in front of a friendly audience and the people you want to reach will nonetheless stay deaf and blind and turn to the easy and cheap solutions.

I personally believe this is going to become even worse. Today, in this age of everyone ‘doing their thing’, everyone is a designer, a photographer, a movie-maker and a writer. And the tools they need for that become ever cheaper and ever more widely available.

Perhaps, as a professional, then, your only option is to become the purveyor of these tools. There is, after all, honour to be got from bringing technology to the masses, even while that may sometimes seem you’re drowning in a sea of anonymity.

I think we should face it: the age of the artist is over. We’re all artists now. Help us at least be good ones, then.

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