The eye of the beholder?

Design. When something can divide opinion in such a drastic way then generally speaking I think it's a worthwhile subject.

I've been a professional designer (some of my past employers would tell you otherwise) for over 15 years and i can honestly say that along with politics, religion and which is the best Chevy Chase movie nothing can divide opinion like a design proof.

The most recent case in question happened today. A straight forward (or so i thought) design I'd created for a magazine cover. The typography I'd implemented was relatively straightforward, but I'd tweaked a few of the subheading to create a decent overlap effect. It fitted, I thought with the look and feel of the publication.

The Creative Director I had been working under agreed and thought it looked excellent.

The Managing Director who had the absolute last say on everything didn't.

Cut a long story short, the typography was changed. Even though the two people who worked on the principles of the design was myself (a designer with as I've said over 15 years experience) and a Creative Director (with 25 years experience). But the 'main' man who thinks that great design means using as many typefaces as possible and as many gimmicks (design cliches) as possible deemed his opinion to be the correct one.

Later I spoke to the Creative Director who quite frankly was within a gnats cock of handing in his notice and he said "It's like calling a plumber to come and fit you a new bathroom, then standing over him and telling him what thickness of pipes to use". Hmmm.

So, I suppose like Jenna Jameson when Liverpool are at home, most of the time its great to do something you love. Occasionally its a bastard.