Tibor Rocks My Socks!

I have a new design hero... I thought you might all like to know. I think that his very short article concludes in an incredibly consise solution for how to make a difference even if you end up working for corporate America. Essentially, screw the man by using there wealth and resources. If they don't go for that pitch you make for some advocacy snuck into their advertising campaign, consider I don't know: copying your zine on company time or paper, create posters with the latest software you pirated from the office, use their staples, plotter (you get the point... whatever you can get away with and not get fired). You could do more honest things like spec recycled paper for the annual report, or less harmful paper packaging over plastic packaging.

There is one point that I didn't agree with Mr. Kalman about. He said that corporations are creating things that people neither love nor hate. I think part of the problem is that designers are so good that we have the power to make people love things. I believe in the Saatchi and Saatchi Lovemark. I only hope that as a designer I can use this power to make people love things that are good for society, and the future, not the pocketbook of the man I aspire to steal staple from.

Side Note: I'm not sure how successful I was in formulating my question for Tim Hamil the other day, but in short I was glad to hear that he didn't think that he was working for a company that was harming America (whether it is or not), and that he had several really amazing examples of what he liked about Walmart besides that they are cheap. This whole idea of being an ethical designer really is nothing except a personal issue. If you personally feel comfortable about the companies/accounts that you work for is what is going to count in the long run. I am just really happy that this class is making me generate my own limitations, and realize that I am not the only designer that is gung-ho about making a difference in the world (no matter how taboo that seems to be in the current / postmodern art scene). At the very least it has come to my attention that even if I can't work for some cultural force rather than a corporation, I regard it my responsibility to do no harm, if not improve the status quo.