Someone once told me that it was naïve to think that you could change the world one design at a time. Being a Christian designer, I am morally and ethically inclined to want to help others and to do good with what I’m good at. I started doing these one-a day poster designs, but got discouraged after about the 12th design. I thought, “Who am I getting to?” “Will my designs touch anyone?” And the biggest question of all, “Am I wasting my time?”
This past weekend, I had the pleasure of hearing a speaker that quelled those thoughts and gave me a better understanding of doing good by designing for a greater purpose.
Tim Belonax is a graphic designer/writer/teacher/all-around-great guy. He was a designer for Chronicle Books, Project M, Mine, and he now works at Facebook. Most of his works focus on creating a social impact through positive designs.
Friday night, at the Anchorage Museum, one of the first slides Tim presented was of Paula Scher (my graphic design inspiration) , Chip Kidd and a picture of himself as a child. I knew immediately that I would not regret coming out to hear him speak. He confirmed that with, “You’ve taken the time to get to know someone new. These gatherings bring us back together.” As a designer, we can’t be afraid to join other networks and mingle with one another.
Tim spoke on “The Poster in the Age of Internet Reproduction.” A poster is supposed to be a poster. The way technology is today, almost everything has become digital. He presented a slide that displayed the popular poster, Keep Calm and Carry On. That poster was later put on notebooks, key chains, t shirts, phone cases, etc. Tim says, “ as if it were a logo.” This type of marketing, ”demeans the meaning and makes it tasteless.” He notes, “ its capitalism at work.”
Produced by the British government in 1939
Designers have the ability to help others; to create something for a cause greater than self-promotion. I found myself mentally jotting down notes and names of non-profit organizations that promoted positive change. Tim mentioned how designers are always willing to help raise money for disaster reliefs. He displayed several amazing posters created by himself and others to help raise awareness, money and assistance in these disaster areas. “Designers can do more than make posters.”
Tim belongs to a “poster culture” at Facebook. While I’m not really sure what that all entails, the examples of the posters he showed were all positive and encouraging. Some were funny, but for the most part, simple and to the point. With these, he answered some of the questions that had me questioning myself. In order to reach someone, in order to make a difference, a design doesn’t have to be flashy and over the top in effects. Those designs have their place, but sometimes, simplicity wins over an audience just as easy.
That night, my right eye was swelling from wearing contacts. I nervously approached him after the lecture. He didn’t laugh at my discomfort. He graciously took a picture for me, asked my name, and then thanked me for coming out. I left there with a smile on my face and encouraged to do something that I was going to give up on…design for greater cause. That’s my purpose. As long as God is pleased with what I do, then I can make a difference.
