Consumerism
- Started
- Last post
- 63 Responses
- mitsu
It needed it's own thread.
http://www.thismagazine.ca/issue…
As a graphic designer who's job has a major impact on this phenomenon, what is your stance of this topic?
- soda0
great link from Bluejam there...
some good shit in that mag.
- mitsu0
yeah, forgot the link credit.
also in need of credit is the articles authors, Joseph Heath, and Andrew Potter.
this also looks to be a good read:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obido…
- Blofeldt0
Designers and advertising are only the messengers. As designers I believe we all get caught up in our own hype, collective ego, our percieved importance and influence. We don't have any power. Get used to it.
- mitsu0
right, but are you more jaded when seeing other advertisements for consumer goods, since you are privy to all the marketing strategies and whatnot?
- DutchBoy0
great topic! consumerism must be dealt with!
i'll read it when i come back. Have to go shopping now!
see ya.
- Blofeldt0
Advertising is a funny thing. Most of what's advertised doesn't apply to most people.
However, I recently realized the power advertising. I was found to have slightly high cholesterol. As a result I changed some of my diet including my margarine. And guess which one I already knew about and bought? Flora-Pro active. The most advertised, and the only one I knew. So there you have it. I'm pretty desensitized to ads, I work in the industry, but ads that relate to your life have impact.
- vespa0
Blofeldt that's a classic way of denying all responsibility
- mr_snuggles0
Personally, I believe designers can make a difference, but at the end of the day it's up to the client and the big business leaders of the world.
It kills me when you flip through old issues of Shift or Adbusters and you see all these environmentally friendly technologies that aren't being used. People have proven that some of these new developments can actually save these big corporations money in the long run, but big business doesn't seem to care about longevity, it's mostly about making as much money as you can quickly...
These are the folks that have the real power to create more honest and friendly products, yet too few are jumping on the bandwagon.
Bigger problem is that too many consumers just don't care about what they are buying. Sounds like lot's of people here do, but this is because we're closer to the issues...
Changing the way the consumer perceives their world is the first step...how, I'm not sure...but people NEED to think before they buy..
- Kuz0
very interesting and educated critique of consumerism, but kinda trails off into opinionated nonsense towards the end there.
- mitsu0
also, what's the motivating factor for consumtion when it comes to material possesions? would you say it's acceptance of others, or just out of own personal interest?
or a little of both?marketing isn't the sole driving force for consumerism. many times it's driven by what society says we need or just things that we 'must have'. do you try to maintain an awareness of this, or just remain blissfully ignorant to better the 'kid in a candy store' effect when at your local apple store?
- mr_snuggles0
Definitely a bit of both, but I still see most of it as "keeping up with the Jones'"
- soda0
I've got a new policy for when and where I buy stuff from now on. I am always going to buy from the smaller business, the local stuff, try and spread the wealth a bit.
Fuckin sick of Tesco metros everywhere for farks sake!
- Blofeldt0
I think it's important to remember that society is not an natural phenomenon layer like ozone, or enforced upon us by shadowy forces. We ARE society.
As the taht article cleary states is the way we define ourselves is by demonstrating what we are not. BUT we have to conform to rules.
If i broke out of these rules, and started wearing a duck suit and threw kippers at everyone and ate peoples dogs, i could argue that i was just expressing myself, but everyone else would think i was A) mad, drug and/or lock him up B) A pain in the arse punish him to make him conform.
Conformity is important. Without conformaty what's to stop me driving how I like all over the road. In fact without conformity, who's to say what a road is, or where it goes?
- JazX0
ying/yang
- MLVR0
Myself I have a fetisch for packaging and products image. I will never forget when I bought a wool-sweater at Jigsaw in Copenhagen. How the model clerk unfolded a bag by swinging it in the air making the bag open up because of the air coming in to the bag. How she folded my sweater and stabilized it with a piece of thick card board. Wrapping it up in wrapping plastic. Putting an emblem sticker to seal it put everything in the bag with a beautiful designed look book and put the nicely printed receipt in a small envelope with the jigsaw logo slightly embossed on it.
-
- mitsu0
blofeldt, i agree, but i think the key is moderation.
however, i do like the idea of a duck suit...
- mr_snuggles0
non-conformity is the new conformity...
- Blofeldt0
I don't think that as a designer i have any responsibility. If someone kills someone with a hammer, it's not the hammers fault. We're the tools of big business.
If you want to change the world you have be a politition. But you know designing's fun. We wouldn't want to stop our enjoyable arty jobs now would we?
- Blofeldt0
I’ve long understood how our society uses other people to give us what we want and have learnt to live with it because I’m not prepared to be a hypocrite and stand on a soap box claiming how awful everything whilst still enjoying material luxuries and a nice lifestyle.
- prodigalslacker0
while i like good packaging and ad campaigns, i am against consumerism beyond the nth degree. the consumer populace disgusts me, i get physically ill when i visit a mall, and i know it's my fault.
i know that if i end up going in to the design world post college that i'll have to contribute to this massive stain on society. and i'm going to loathe every minute of it. it's too bad that society has drifted so awry that people care more about getting the right gifts for christmas than actually caring for the well being of others (they could donate their time and money, but no, money is the most valuable thing ever!)
disgusting.