![\"permarketing-bck\"](\"pic\/permarketing-bck.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
When I first read about Beck’s do-it-yourself CD art for his latest effort, The Information<\/em>, in an article on Wired (Link)<\/a>, there was something about it that seemed off to me; something a little too… slick. Now, after simply seeing the image at the top of an entry on Design Observer (Link – I’ve not even read the post below it yet)<\/a> showing the guts of the DIY insert, I realize what bothers me – and it’s no small thing.<\/p>\n Just so you’re aware, I like Beck’s music. I was one of those in the early 90’s playing the stuff that other designers in the office thought was “weird”. Stuff like Radio Head’s first CD. Cuts from sampler CD’s I’d get through magazine’s like Industrial Nation. And Beck struck a lot of the right chords with me. But I don’t know if I feel that way anymore; not after seeing what feels to me more like a gimmick than anything else. As a personal example, a long time ago I started making my own cassette inserts; usually based on the album cover art (I’d buy albums just for the art sometimes). The only one I have left is this one, a custom cassette insert for Wall of Voodoo’s Call of the West<\/em> (still a great album):<\/p>\n Not exactly the best cassette insert art, but it wasn’t intended to be slick and polished – it was done because it was fun<\/em>. Besides, at least it was mine<\/em>, even if it was inspired by the album art. At least it wasn’t some slick peel-and-stick-by-numbers creation that had as much to do with cosmetic surgery as it did with creativity. You see, that’s the other problem I have. We’re confusing unbridled<\/em> creativity with copy and paste. Our remix culture has removed not just a portion of the skill but placed boundaries on creativity by giving us the pieces with which to work. Low-definition components.<\/p>\n I won’t say there isn’t some level of creativity involved in selecting the particular<\/em> sticky image and placing it in such a way that everything looks aesthetically pleasing or communicates some profound insight. No. But I am suggesting that this replaces the unlimited<\/em> imagination that resides in each and every one of us. That by giving people the pieces we inherently set some the boundaries. In contrast, no matter how unslick or untrained some original final work may be, at least it’s the product of an unfettered mind – limited only by what the individual could wrap their opposable thumbs around.<\/p>\n Sometimes it seems like we’re turning into an index finger culture: point at it and push the button to insert it… or just point. We’re becoming WYSIWYG. So Beck’s effort, which now feels to me like a marketing gimmick, seems also to be a sad commentary on where we’re heading. Personally, I prefer a piece of plain paper and a pencil… not just for me, but for even the people who don’t believe they can draw.<\/p>\n {Update:<\/strong> There’s a related post, “The borders of user created content” (Link)<\/a>, on Raph Koster’s blog which touches on similar issues. Well worth the read.}<\/p>\n {Top image sources: Beck DIY components from the Design Observer<\/a> and sample art from Amazon<\/a>}<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" When I first read about Beck’s do-it-yourself CD art for his latest effort, The Information, in an article on Wired (Link), there was something about it that seemed off to me; something a little too… slick. Now, after simply seeing … Continue reading
\n
\nThe problem I’m having is that the whole idea of anyone even needing to use clip art or peel-and-stick images reinforces in my mind the generally-perceived notion that regular people don’t have the wherewithall to truly<\/em> do-it-themselves. It seems to reinforce the idea that art and design are for those who were supposedly born<\/em> talented; that it’s a gift. I don’t like that perception because a) it belittles those who work hard to become competent at their craft and b) it suggests that the so-called average person will never be able to acquire certain basic skills because they weren’t “born talented” – when the truth is that pretty much anyone can develop those skills with practice.<\/p>\n![\"permarketing-wov\"](\"pic\/permarketing-wov.jpg\")
<\/p>\n