I was watching another of Hillman Curtis‘ Artist Series short films. This one focused on the designer David Carson. While not my style, Carson has a very innovative design eye. He helped to pioneer the use of “dirty” type and “grunge” design. Many critics argue that Carson is arrogant in his work, and that his style is self-indulgent. In the short, Carson responds:
“Self-indulgent was the big negative term, which I think is a very positive term. I wouldn’t want anybody working for me that wasn’t doing very self-indulgent work – totally absorbed in it. So, as we get more computerized I think it becomes more important than ever that the work actually become more subjective, more personal, and that you let your personality come through in the work. So, it becomes more important that you pull from who you are as a person and put that into the work.”
What a smart thought. Great creativity cannot exist without its creator. Our designs, art, creation are inherently self-indulgent – otherwise they aren’t truly ours.
Watch the film here.
