First Things First 2000. A Manifesto For Design.

"The First Things First 2000 manifesto, written and launched by Adbusters magazine in 1999, was an updated version of the earlier First Things First manifesto written and published in 1964 by Ken Garland, a British designer.

The 2000 manifesto was signed by a group of 33 figures from the international graphic design community, many of them well known, and simultaneously published in Adbusters (Canada), Emigre (Issue 51) [1] and AIGA Journal of Graphic Design (United States), Eye magazineno. 33 vol. 8, Autumn 1999 and Blueprint (Britain) and Items graphic design profession's priorities in the design press and at design schools. Some designers welcomed this attempt to reopen the debate, while others rejected the manifesto." (Netherlands). The manifesto was subsequently published in many other magazines and books around the world, sometimes in translation. Its aim was to generate discussion about the graphic design profession's priorities in the design press and at design schools. Some designers welcomed this attempt to reopen the debate, while others reject the manifesto.'

MY OPINION?

I agree that you should have you values and opinions and you choice whether to take a job or not. But you have to work your way up somehow. I do think that design is undervalued from those who have no interaction with the design industry, other than being the viewer of design. Telling my friends that I do Graphic Design for a degree you can tell from their reaction. People assume it is an easy course, a course in Photoshop. Which is far from the truth. But if you talk to those who are involved in art, they will relate with you and Graphic Designers are actually highly respected. One lady once said to me that Graphic Designers are the most talented of artists.

I think this underestimated view of Graphic Designers has come from thinking all graphic design is is, 'advertising dog biscuits, designer coffee, diamonds, detergents, hair gel, cigarettes, credit cards, sneakers, butt tonners, light beer and heavy-duty recreational vehicles.'

However, is it not just a job to fulfil a brief? When we first enter the world of Graphic Design we are going to have to start from the bottom in most cases and work up. The only way to get a feel for the industry and how everything works is this way. Once we get to 'the top' we have to know what we are doing, have some experience.

But the other side to this argument is that do we want to 'dirty' our design reputation with design for dog biscuits? If we are going to get our names our there, should it not be for something more worthwhile?