“Because the communication arts are just that – arts and not sciences – a designer must be prepared to resist the logic of the client and the presumed taste of the consumer in favor of his own convictions. Arrogant design can be one of the strongest modes of graphic expression. But in order to work it must be rooted in the designer’s security, for arrogant design is the confident and reasoned assertion of his individuality against the guesses of market research or the decisions of the board room. (On the other hand, it could easily be the result of an ego problem or of indigestion.) It has never been easy to be an artist. It is in some respects even harder to be an artist who has elected to use his art to convey someone else’s message. The eccentric sonovabitch in us keeps breaking through, and that’s good. Pride goeth before a fall, but without it there may be no pinnacle to fall from.”
— (via Communication Arts, Sept/Oct 1971)