This is actually my second economic crisis as graphic designer. In my opinion these times definitely weed out the week, which I do think is healthy for any profession because it usually leads to innovation and better things on the horizon. This process is the natural order of things.

And remember folks what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.

Those of us who are in this for the long haul will persevere regardless of anyone’s comments, whether it be from those in the industry or general economic correspondents telling us that we won’t find work.

The comment about “wanting to work in restaurant design..” however, I found to be highly condescending and hope that if I ever get the opportunity to be in a position of influence in the design industry, I will encourage people to pursue doing what they love rather than passing unhelpful and needlessly patronising comments.

I also find it highly ironic that the first thing after that post on Design Week is a list of “Related Jobs”.
Now, lets stop worrying.

I find it rather ironic that so many well-established designers are so adamant in saying there should be less designers in the industry (particularly one Mr. Michael Peters, who complains about there being too many designers doing mediocre work) becaus…

As for the larger issue at hand, I agree completely with Dr. Chae. Design is a luxury in a culture of excess, especially in recent years in being increasingly trendy. The bad and mediocre will get cut. You won’t have to divert design students from the field when the realities of the economy will slam everything for real very soon.

I don’t think we’ve seen the worst of it, guys. We’ve just hit record low unemployment rates around the world, and millions of more jobs are projected to disappear this year. The US and UK are watching bailouts left and right. Iceland has imploded. I think our mindsets, culturally and socially, are still buzzed from the good times of the past decade or two. Reality will set in.

With that said, design will certainly survive, obviously. Who knows – years from now, we may even see this credit crunch as a blessing for the industry. Since culture has always been the a byproduct of the social/economic/political goings-on, maybe this economic downturn will force some kind of real re-evaluation towards a more purposeful and meaningful use and thought about design.

I think the iPod came out right after the doc com crash. who knows what will happen this time.

i think the recession will make for some interesting (and yes difficult) times where we will have to push our creativity and find ways stay inspired.

in the end i think graphic designers are versatile and can contribute their creativity to other fields.

So, I’ll be the devil’s advocate and say that maybe this recession will make people reconsider and put their energies towards other things. Our creative energy and thinking can be applied elsewhere than corporate logos and branding. Discouragement, on this scale, is unhealthy, but reality does have to set it sometime. But creative thinking can be used in any profession.

Maybe this will also force designers to reconsider where their efforts are being put. I hope that a creative energy grows that encourages designers to put their efforts towards ideas that really can impact the world in ways other than visual noise.

I’m rambling a bit, but I think this recession can be cause for revolution. I’m thinking back towards studios like Super Studio, and Archigram and other ‘movements’ that thrived in hard times.

We need more stubborn designers who are unfretted by what other people say or write. Those are the design students who should and will stay.

I would estimate that less than a quarter of my class are gainfully employed as full time designers.

Some have had placements and been told that they won’t be kept on due to the credit crunch. Some have been strung along on placements working for buttons yet doing the job of a full time designer and others have been knocking on doors for months with no luck. On top of that the next batch of grad’s are about to be unleashed.

So this summer will be a really really tough time for the majority of young designers. I wouldn’t advise giving up but the rent has to be paid somehow.