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20Feb
- Designing on the Dark Side: Designers Why So Bleak?
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After spending a lot of time keeping myself updated on the latest “weekly inspirations” or design tutorials or even the newest films to hit theaters, I noticed how dark and gothic artistic designs have become over the years. Why is there such a need to display one’s dark side? In our day and age, we see a ton of depression, mood disorders and suicidal behavior all around us. It’s everywhere! Movies, photos, our choice in clothing and even logos all have a demonic notion that is, for the most part, almost sickening. As adaptive creatures by nature; we take on the qualities we are surrounded with. Are all of these dark, graphic images taking over our subconscious and bringing on more dark feelings? This could possibly be the reason for a lot of the depression that exists in people today.
Take notice of popular trends in our society. No one is truly original, but just copies off what they see around them. Our entire world is based on this. Each a piece of graphic design history. Once something is popular, it doesn’t take long for companies to market on it and sell products. Art is no different and once dark images became interesting, since it was something new and different; the trend spiraled and is now uncontrollable. Is the behavior of our society based on these dark concepts and images that we see all the time? What is it that draws us to these? I think there is an interest in our minds because dark or demonic concepts are something we can’t see or prove and something we fear. Our society is best for playing on our fears. The media knows this and uses it as much as pharmaceutical companies and just about everything does to sell a product. Fear is all around us and as curious beings; we have an interest in the unknown.
Tim Burton is one example that quickly comes to mind. He is widely popular for his dark imagery and it seems to be all that he knows how to do. Even his logo has a foreboding feel with the leafless tree branches and the dark silhouette of a person looming under the thin letters. Every artistic creation he has produced has some sort of dark concept behind it. Most of his work is all based on death, yet he has millions of fans who go above and beyond to prove how much they adore him.
Logo designs follow these dark trends as well. Since logos progress the way art does, there is no doubt that logos would take on a dark, ominous style. Why so dark and frightening? What ever happened to happy images full of life and color. Have we grown to a point where we need darkness and unsettling feelings in our guts to be interested in anything? Personally, it saddens me. Although I support change and progression in art and design inspiration , I wanna know why we turn to the dark side for inspiration. When did good stop overcoming evil?
Why so dark and frightening? What ever happened to happy images full of life and color. Have we grown to a point where we need darkness and unsettling feelings in our guts to be interested in anything? Personally, it saddens me. Although I support change and progression in art and design, I wanna know why we turn to the dark side for inspiration. When did good stop overcoming evil?
Tags: Graphic Design, Logo Design
- 8 users responded in " Designing on the Dark Side: Designers Why So Bleak? "
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February 22nd, 2009 at 11:01 am
Leave the happy images for the kids. We are adults and can handle dark and mysterious images. This is just a phase Holywood is going through anyway. Dark sells. Even cartoons are going dark, like Caroline. The Dark Night was the most popular movie of summer 08 and in November people went to midnight showing of the firt Twilight movie.
February 22nd, 2009 at 1:57 pm
I think that all of this ‘evil’ imagery is related to the fact that graphic artists do not feel that they have to sugar-coat the fact that we all have a perverse and diabolical side. In the past, artists of this kind were typically mariginized because it was a device of society to try and hide/ignore that dark part of our conciousness. In recent years, the stigma that people who are in touch with their dark side are evil has been reduced. I think that everyone knows that happy, sunshine, rainbows and unicorns are not indicative of real life. Sure we all have our happy times, but there is just as much suffering, disappointment despair in all of our lives…why should we be afraid to agknowledge that fact? I think that people are drawn to this dark imagery because it touches something deep within our selves that rings true, as opposed to the facade presented by happier images. It feels a bit naughty to look at a dark image or read a dark composition, because you feel as if you are getting a peek at the unfiltered soul of the artist. The point is, that there is a time and place for both happy and dark imagery - it is up to the artist to determine when each is appropriate.
February 22nd, 2009 at 7:20 pm
I think art - logos included - often imitate and emulate the area around them. Burton has found his niche with the goth groups just as the logos from Jay-Z and Sean Combs resonate with the more entrepreneurial side of rap.
February 23rd, 2009 at 9:09 am
Although I do agree with what you are saying about us being adults and able to handle dark imagery, which may be true for most part, but I don’t think it’s true for everyone. Some people can’t handle it and ultimately let it consume their lives. The question is, is this dark art the cause for a lot of issues and mental burdens that people carry around? Also, if we did have more art around that was more pleasant, wouldn’t that generate more happy emotions and keep us from encountering the dark side?
February 24th, 2009 at 3:54 pm
No shocker that the comments would be in favor of dark. That is the norm in today’s world. Designers think they are being “edgy” and hip by creating such images. Alas, they are no better than disco…this too shall pass.
Burton and the like are really a sad cliche of what people think is cool. While everyone is raving about Coraline…I am truly missing why we need yet another dark film, and why we need yet another Nightmare before Christmas clone. Been there done that folks.
It has ZERO to do with being adults and being able to handle it. It has EVERYTHING to do with going after humanity’s baser nature. Yeah, dark sells…so does porn, so does extreme violence, so does racism, so does hatred, so does Christian bashing. Does this mean we should go there, because “it sells?”
As artists we are to be the pathmakers, not the chroniclers of a degraded society. In history its been proven again and again, when you shine a light and tell people they are capable of doing something better…they DO!
We are all inherently evil. This much is true. And we should celebrate it?!?! Would you celebrate it if I stole everything you owned? Would you celebrate it if I raped your wife, or your 10 month old baby? Would you create an art series of me burning down your parent’s house. That is simply foolishness.
February 24th, 2009 at 9:14 pm
I think that *censored* is really *censored*. We need to *censored* with the *censored* so the overall design community should *censored*.
As artists we should open our mind to *censored* with the *censored* of the *censored*. Writers of blogs play an important role in *censored*, and the more that they *censored* what people write, the less valid anything they write will mean.
February 25th, 2009 at 9:24 am
Great comments guys, thanks. Darkness is a trend, like disco, slap bracelets and apple computers. the media and artist types are over killing it as a genre and its getting to a point where it is not longer deep and interesting but now has become annoying. I do agree that just because something sells doesn’t mean we should sell it. We copy what we see and what kind of examples are we setting with this kind of art? are we breeding more problems? keep commenting! I love to hear your thoughts!
March 5th, 2009 at 8:41 am
Call it trite, pop-theology-musings, but good cannot exist without evil. Both exist, both need expressing.
Big up to Cypher - braap braap!