(FRIDAY MEDAL ROUND, sorta) Graphic Designers: "Just Trust Us"

Michael Beirut's recent article over at Design Observer, titled "This is My Process", very succinctly (in my opinion) discusses every designer's frequent dilemma: how to explain project processes and get clients to take the expert opinion for which they are paying.

A short snippet:

"When I do a design project, I begin by listening carefully to you as you talk about your problem and read whatever background material I can find that relates to the issues you face. If you’re lucky, I have also accidentally acquired some firsthand experience with your situation. Somewhere along the way an idea for the design pops into my head from out of the blue. I can’t really explain that part; it’s like magic. Sometimes it even happens before you have a chance to tell me that much about your problem! Now, if it’s a good idea, I try to figure out some strategic justification for the solution so I can explain it to you without relying on good taste you may or may not have. Along the way, I may add some other ideas, either because you made me agree to do so at the outset, or because I’m not sure of the first idea. At any rate, in the earlier phases hopefully I will have gained your trust so that by this point you’re inclined to take my advice. I don’t have any clue how you’d go about proving that my advice is any good except that other people — at least the ones I’ve told you about — have taken my advice in the past and prospered. In other words, could you just sort of, you know...trust me?"

I've long thought that graphic designers, as a group, would benefit greatly from some sort of Nike-esque slogan. Could our anthem be "Just trust us?" Or "Graphical Design is a Four Letter Word"? Perhaps simply "Your Layout Sucks My Ass." The options are so numerous and lyrical that we, the graphic designers of America, may not be able to come to a consensus. We're overly opinionated, picky, and disagreeable...as a whole.

Speaking of personal catchphrases, when Cho's mother was visiting a few weeks ago, she mentioned how a childhood Cho would follow her around, making various requests. When her mother hedged, Cho would repeat, "Just say maybe" over and over, until her poor Mam relented. Bobby Crocker has always been known, in slogans, as the "That's Crap" guy. He uses the phrase to air an opinion on anything from literature to high fructose corn syrup.

For me, there's the venerable "I Believe The Hype"…a saying which Bobby based on the fact that if a product/concept/band/etc has a snappy advertising campaign or misleading info-graphic, well, I'm 100% IN.

This is not quite a Medal Round and not really a MeMe, but:
What would your personal catchphrase be?

 

Comments

[Dairy Queen]

Lately its been: "You better shut your mouth when you're talking to me." (stolen from a movie!)

I am also a fan of "You're not the boss of me", "Word to *insert your pals mom's name here*", "Holey Moley", and "I'm the boss. You're the applesauce."

[the polish princess]

I've been trying to think of something all day, and I've got nothin...I'll report back when I think of one!

[speeder]

suck it!

[General Disarray]

"I'm quietly judging you"