“A lot of people just completely miss the point that there actually can be joy in doing design, pushing the boundaries and exploring visual culture. New things have to happen somehow and somewhere; otherwise, what’s the point of going on? If new design is based on what was considered ‘good’ in the past, what’s the point? The models for ‘goodness’ are inevitably going to be challenged and I’m not saying that this may be for everyone or to everyone’s taste. Isn’t this about opening up your realm of influences and inspiration to other sources? I like to draw on my own personal history, like comics and Letraset. I’ve had experiences common to a lot of other people, but not everyone is going to respond to the same things or in the same way I do. My work often gets labeled as ‘cute,’ but can’t work be playful or funny? To be considered serious, does it need to be stripped down, severe and universal? Everything would be so homogeneous.
I want to slow people down and find something I think is humorous or interesting. If I were making stop signs, for instance, I’d do my job, and of course I’d make stop signs that could be read quickly. But I’m not making stop signs. We all know the difference between a stop sign and a poetry book, and we wouldn’t design them in the same way. There’s an audience and a function for different things. You can’t have interpretations with a stop sign, you must have instant understanding. But a poetry book you understand within its context.”
— Barbara Glauber (via)