Hulsbosch design director Steve Harrington argues self seriousness

The creative industry needs to stop taking itself so seriously and let the work speak for itself, writes Hulsbosch design director Steve Harrington.

"Pound for pound I'm the best designer in Australia."

Those are certainly NOT my words. I won’t mention the source but this utterance has always been a source of amusement around the studio.

Those words, like so much of the self-important drivel that spills from the mouths of designers and creatives, is indicative of the sorry state the industry is in.

If you were to believe the profiles of the creative people that you read in magazines and online, you’d think this industry was overflowing with visionary creative geniuses. You can’t go for a coffee without tripping over an uber talented designer. At least that is what they’d have you think.

When did everyone start talking themselves so seriously?

In the 80s people didn’t take things so seriously and it was probably our industry’s most creative days.

Are we so insecure that we need to try and convince each other that we are talented?

Why not let your work speak for you?  There’s no clearer proof of your talent, creativity, and ability to do your job well than the work that you produce.

This is just a job after all. We’re designing soup packets and selling toilet paper, we’re not saving lives here people.

These creative visionaries might argue that their stupid clients get in the way of their visions, but doesn’t that just show that they aren’t good at their job?

So much of our role as a creative industry is to use creative solutions to solve business problems – not to create an amazingly cool piece of art to show our peers how talented we are.

Perhaps the real creative geniuses are the ones who are getting on with it. They are creating amazing products, packaging and ad campaigns that answer client briefs and sell more products. Yes that’s right the people who are doing their jobs with dedication and humour.

Isn’t it time we stopped wasting our energy blowing smoke up each others arses and just got on with it?

I’m not saying we should slag each other off either, I think the vitriol and nasty anonymous commenting that goes on is also wrong.

Perhaps if we stop the big noting ourselves so much we might also put an end to the nasty comments?

Maybe it’s time we all just shut up and got on with our work?