The Impotence of Being Earnest.......

Do you think design has been lacking the power of seriousness? As I have written in my previous blogs, the manifesto First Things First published in 1964 and again in 2000 sure does. However, Matt Soar, doesn't necessarily agree or disagree. The "usual suspects" that originally published First Things First made a statement concerning designers commitment to social responsibility opposed to product marketing. What I find interesting is they omit the fact that they are representing the upper class, professional elite, that can afford to stand by this "moral high ground over advertising." The middle class majority is not "uninspired" or "uninformed" but have insufficient funds. Advertising and marketing, the implicit "enemy", well they pay the bills. Design doesn't always reflect the designers morals but the designer's chosen life style. Sure "resistance", "rebellion", and "revolution" are words associated with products in today's designs but that doesn't mean political movements are less important.If only at the very least Soar believes designers should begin to see the audience as citizens rather than consumers and become less concentrated on marketing strategy. For then maybe morals, can emote through the fluff.