Once upon a time there was a graphic designer named Milton Glaser who created a very famous logo, something about New York, and he went on to create some incredible work and say some important things and everyone loved him. One day he said something very thought provoking, that "Computers are to design as microwaves are to cooking" - and he was right.
Now on a serious note, what Glaser said is something that in one way or another is reiterated to us at some point in this industry. On more than one occasion one of my tutors has said to me that the Mac/PC is just a tool, an expensive pencil, an aid to the final piece. The digital side is not what makes the piece, it is the thoughts and creativity behind it. What Glaser is saying is that the 'microwave' (computer) in design is too much of an easy option, and by spending time preparing/working on something with fresh ingredients (ideas) can create a much better dish (final piece). Purely digital design often feels very churned out as if on a production line and this is not the way design should be seen.
This quote from Glaser was featured in an article about handmade design on the CreativeBloq website [March 6th 2007, 11:05am] where the shift towards more tradition mediums was examined by an illustrator and agent Lawrence Zeegen. Several artists were discussed within this post and it definitely made for an interesting read. But the subheading on Glaser's section caught my eye - Microwaving mediocrity. Following the quote from Glaser, Zeegen writes 'The man had a point: simply reheating ready meals rather than cooking with fresh ingredients every time can leave the palette craving new tastes and experiences. Serving up mediocre and mundane dishes day-after-day isn't good for the soul - whereas experimentation is the spice-of-life.'
The full article can be found here: http://www.creativebloq.com/computer-arts/hand-made-3079573
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