I’ve gotten to mid-life not entirely sure how these things work:
Flying Standby
Snapchat
Trickle-down Economics (pretty sure these don’t work)
Mail Order Catalogs
Toilets
Caucuses
Internal Combustion Engines
The Suburbs
TV Ratings
Wireless Technology
Network Television
Credit Card Points
Conservative Ideology
Hey, everybody. I have Account Creation Fatigue, or ACF. Seriously. I had to create one on USPS.com the other day. I know, I know. Privacy and security. I get it. The internet these days is crawling with hackers, incels, bots, Russian operatives, and the alt-right. It’s a scary place. And we need to be vigilant. But goddamn. What used to take me less than a minute, to hold my mail, apparently is going to take 7 business days because the USPS website with my newly created account on it can’t send me a text message because my number isn’t, well, I’m not sure what my number isn’t. So instead, it will send me something through the mail. Or I can try to put up with their voice automated system where I lasted about 2 minutes. I mean kill me know. I guess just keep my mail coming. Hopefully the Amazon package thieves don’t take it as it overflows. The internet superhighway of interconnected utopia just ain’t what it used to be.
I’m a fucking 250 pound tight end sweating it out at training camp flaunting it in front of the cameras looking to put in the time and make the cut.
Actually no, I’m an opinionated graphic designer with a social media account. And this isn’t an episode of Hard Knocks. This is my life. But where I’m the same as that tight end is that I know, as well as the tight end knows, the only way to get better at our own unique positions in life is to put in the reps.
You want to get better at design? Only one way to go about doing that. Put in the time.
Design, design, design. And then, design some more. Still won’t be good, but you’ll be gettng there.
I’m trying to get better at this. Showing lots of work. Lots of options. And leaving it up the client to decide. I’m trying to not do that. Because ultimately, I should be able to make the call. To focus the direction. To finalize the design as it should be. So it has the best chance of existing in the world and succeeding in whatever ways it needs to.
In the creative process, I’ve found myself, initially, working towards one good idea first. And then, being buoyed by having something, the freedom that follows is so liberating sometimes great can follow. The only time I’ve made something great this has happened.
Hot tip: if you’re running for president and are in need of a logo fast, and you want to be bold and direct, here’s what you should go with. Ready? Do you have a pen? Write this down: Motherfuckin’ Franklin Gothic Std Condensed. This as a type logo is all you will need now and ever again. How is it that none of the other 20+ presidential campaigns thought to go with such a powerful type choice? If you want strength, this is your font. If you want no-nonsense, this is your font. If you want to look like you didn’t really make a decision but still need to make a decision, this is your font. What colors should you use? Whatever, it doesn’t matter. These letters will speak true no matter what palette you conjure up.
Anything else?
My Twitter account is meant for a not-too-distant future where fascism is fully unleashed on the country through an unelected totalitarian government of Republican anti-democratic zealots who ruthlessly silence dissent in all forms by shutting down livelihoods in whatever cruel way they so callously see fit and they will have no trouble combing through my vitriolic Tweets that contain all my rage directed toward the shadow spineless conman who has no business negotiating with a tea cup in this now our current unraveling present. I want my Tweets to make very clear I want no part in their bleak future of power hungry white men who deem it their duty to silence citizens, disregard the environment, and divide via whatever wall they can find.
