79 Short Essays on Design – Wylie

I really enjoyed the section of this assignment titled “How To Become Famous”. Most people would be lying if they did not say that at some point in their life they did not want to become famous. Whether the next big rock star or a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, most everyone has a dream that they aspire to involving fame. It was interesting to hear the author say that becoming famous really is not that difficulty. You just have to know your field and know your audience.

It was also interesting to hear him say that “rich” and “famous” are not mutually exclusive. Many people usually lump the two terms together, but in actuality, one often comes at the price of the other. Producing work for a large corporation with a large pay roll may yield a larger pay check for the graphic designer who comes up with a genius advertising, but the fame will most likely not follow. For example, I’m sure the marketer who thought up the series of Budweiser “Clydesdale” commercials received a hefty sum, but you could not name the man. Conversely, many people are familiar with the work of Banksy, a street artist who creates politically-charged works of art. Banksy, however, does not get paid for his work, though many people know who he is.

The rest of the article provided great insight, but the above is what stuck with me the most. Ideally, I would like to achieve a balance between the “rich” and “famous”. Though I certainly will not complain if I can find a way to have both!