Filed under: design (and branding) | Tags: cheating, graphic designers, morality
Today I saw a web banner on one of my “frequented sites” that featured a shiny button promoting an event. I think the shiny button was a “NEW!” button or something like it.
Anyway, this button stood out to me because it’s FREE on one of the many design resource websites that offer free vectors with the “Web 2.0″ shiny aesthetic.
I’d just like to ask that any designer whom is tempted to drop one of these freebies into their design to please reconsider your decision. I don’t ask that you not use free vectors, but at least change the freaking color… or some kind of tweak to make the freebie your own… or at least change it to be aligned with the brand being promoted!
I’m seeing more and more of this, and it’s troubling. Is it really so different than using cheesy glitter graphics? Is morality now based on aesthetics according to designers?! I hope not.
Finally: I pray for the well-being of any designer I one day employ who tries to do (or does) what I’m talking about. I hope this person doesn’t have a family depending on them for a check because they will be very quickly unemployed. There must be some kind of standard to what we do as designers, and what I saw today on the web banner is unacceptable – especially since it’s on such a prominent site. It is a hack-job, and someone needed to call it out.
</rant>
