I took Intro to Communication Design this semester, and it changed my view of this type of art forever. Before I started this class I was under the impression that graphic design, though for profit, is still ultimately art. Right? Isn't that what it portrays itself as? As I learned, through many parts of class, you're not paid to produce art, you're paid to create visually stunning pieces which ultimately are either thrown away or used to turn huge profits. Most of which you'll never see on your meager salary. You're paid for on-demand creativity. Creativity, as defined by my Intro to Comm Design teacher, is not a "talent" but instead an "ability" that you work at perfecting; a skill.

The value of the work itself, especially to the outside world, is that it's either spam (thrown away) or it makes them buy something. They never know that you did that awesome Scion commercial, that piece for Nike, or even that amazing print campaign for Apple Computers. Graphic design is directly linked to capitalism. In and of itself, capitalism isn't "evil" though when you mix art with capitalism, the art becomes cheapened. The value of the art is then transfered to how much that piece increases profits. Only within the design community itself, do we assign value to graphic design pieces based on merit, creativity, processes, and aesthetics. The average viewer would never think of a print piece in their favorite magazine as art.

Ad agencies get most of the comm design students from this school. Though these are semi-awesome places to work, your work (as fellow blogger Joshua Blankenship states) is passed through so many hands that either your work is not recognizable in the end or it never saw the light of day. In my opinion this is akin to art slavery. Though it has its place in the world, I would never put myself in that type of situation.

When I make art, I still have this "idealism" that people will appreciate it. I want people to view it, as art, not as an ad. I don't want my art to be seen for 2 weeks and thrown away, or immediately thrown away because the person deemed it as "trash." If I make something, I want it to have a lasting effect outside of the art community. Though, according to Postmodernism, there is no "high" and "low" art, I would definitely conclude that ad agency art is low art. Much better examples of art, especially things seen as art outside of the design community, come from small design firms (mom and pop shops).

I still respect graphic design, however, as an industry I despise it. I still appreciate what my graphic design brethren are doing, however I can not respect the industry that it serves.

So I pack up my bags and I leave graphic design, only to come to a place not far away. I am going to change my major to New Media Design. Which, as stated before, is more animation, 3d modeling, film, special effects, and basically anything time-based. I want to leave graphic design and go into an area where my art will be appreciated aesthetically outside of the design community. Where it wouldn't be thrown away, but viewed with awe. I want to be recognized for my abilities, for what I put out, instead of how many customers I bring in. Ultimately, I do realize that even though I'm changing to a similar place in the design world, I hope I will not be as linked to a capitalistic whoring ad agency as before. Perhaps I'll work for a game design company or a film special effects company? Perhaps I'll be known for something more than how much money I'd bring to a company. Perhaps I'll be something more than a whore of capitalism? At least I'd like to think so.

The Postal Service - District Sleeps Alone Tonight