a graphic design tragedy

“If you can design one thing, you can design everything.”
— Massimo Vignelli

I find the power in these words are in the intent to activate the designer. Possibilities not only in process, but more importantly in how process is applied. Limitations are constantly being imposed on designers; by clients, society, budgets, deadlines, ourselves. I love that there was a time when the idea of endless possibilities was not absurd.  A space and place where people were not afraid to stand up and say “over here, me! I have the answers, or at the very least know how to find them.” What is the wrong notion here? That designers need to think beyond one discipline or that we live in a designed world or that design is often decoration, but just as often much more or that design can move mountains. A wee bit of bombast, naivete even, to be fair, but still a stimulating and romantic notion. In the end I am happier defending it than refuting or dismissing it.

-D