Design is not the meaning of life

Hello, you!

Before we get started, I will share two fun news items:

1: I’m suddenly way more booked than I’ve been in almost a year ?? Which caused a bit of a delay with this newsletter, but things are balancing out and we’re back on track!

2: I have a webshop and it is freshly stocked with new riso prints, do with that info what you will.

Ok, let's go!

I’m the kind of person who needs to believe in what I do. Whether it’s belief in the good of whatever project I’m on, or belief that I’m gaining or honing skills that matter to me, or belief that I’m simply on the right track creatively, I tend to look for meaning in the creative work I do. Recently, I’ve tried not to hold that idea so tightly. I’ve tried to just be a silly little guy.

I joke, but just in case there is anybody else out there who, like me, needs a little reminder that the world doesn’t end if your work isn’t the greatest creative achievement of all time, I’m here to talk about that.

After the hellish year that was my 2023, full of creative identity crisis and very little work, I eventually stood still long enough to remember that graphic design isn’t the meaning of my life. Frankly, I got into graphic design because getting a degree in fine art didn’t feel serious enough and I wanted a “real” job. I didn’t have that aha-moment of seeing a gorgeous poster and thinking that that’s what I wanted to make forever. I just thought “this could fit me” and went for it. And it did – it does – fit me, it just doesn’t provide THE meaning of life for me.

Take this with a grain of salt, but I wish more designers remembered that their work alone isn’t going to save the world. Design is this amazing tool for communicating and inspiring, but it falls flat whenever it’s overthought or half-baked, and with the focus on receiving attention and praise (thanks big name design awards and social media) and the unhinged speed with which we have to design to meet the demands of the market (thanks capitalism), a lot of design is really quite useless. Or at the very least soulless.

I wonder what would happen if more designers stopped taking design so seriously and invited the little weirdo they used to be into their work. I’m not there yet, but I’m trying to lean in and embrace the things that drove me into the arms of Creativity to begin with. Drawing people, experimenting, dreaming up worlds beyond this one. So far, it feels more meaningful. So far, it has lead to the opening of my web shop (butts!!) and the embracing of my generalist nature. So far, it has lead to money finally coming in again. Because I’m not pretending design is the meaning. I’m deciding to use the skils design has given me to do what’s meaningful to me.

Is that something that’s worth trying for you?

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And until next time, take care ??

Thanks for reading! I hope this gave you something today. I'd love to have conversations on this topic – believe it or not, I'd prefer talking to writing any day. Let me know if you have things to add!