On the Conflict Between Writers and Designers
by admin • December 2, 2011 • On Communications Tools and Tactics
This from Designer, the publication of the University and College Designers Association, on the tension between designers and writers.
What writers think about designers
- Designers don’t (can’t?) read.
- Designers see copy as potential gray blocks (that if not kept gray can mess up a design).
- Designers have ego problems.
- Designers aren’t detail oriented.
- Designers only design to win awards (from other designers).
- Designers are usually late for meetings.
- Designers are inflexible and stubborn.
- Designers don’t appreciate how critical a word is to the meaning of a piece.
- Designers insist on wearing trendy (non-business-like) clothing.
- Designers can’t (maybe just won’t) understand the serious business of writing and editing.
What designers think about writers
- Writers are good spellers with inferior imaginations.
- Writers think that people actually read their copy.
- Writers have ego problems.
- Writers are stuffy, boring and obsessive-compulsive.
- Writers don’t care about cutting-edge work, entering shows and becoming rich and famous.
- Writers call too many meetings and write too many memos.
- Writers are stubborn and inflexible.
- Writers won’t cut a couple of crummy words to make the copy fit.
- Writers wear polyester and don’t laugh enough.
- Writers want designers to wear shoes.
- Writers secretly want to be designers.