Graphic design for dummies?

For those of you familiar with Seth Godin (author of Meatball Sundae … founder of Squidoo …a bunch more creds than I’d care to list here) you’ll know his blog is rich with insights on what it means, really means to market today. Effectively. Using all the tools available.

Another way to put this is: Seth is one voice in a really big crowd. But what got me sold on Seth was not his books, but this video clip where he talked about focusing on what you’re specifically GOOD at, as opposed to say, donning every single hat out there, firing marketing buckshot at the world and hoping for the desired response (read: on like, zero budget because you DIY-ed the entire program.)

I liked this video. For someone who is actually comfortable wearing more than one hat, it was nice to hear someone in-the-know telling me I had options. That it was okay to think about calling in the experts. When necessary. Whew.

Today’s Seth post, though, gave me pause. “Why aren’t you really good at graphic design?” Short story: A list of sites, tools to help average Joe become Joe designer. Or at least, to be able to coexist in the same universe as Joe designer.

Seth: I feel a little betrayed. What about the wear-your-hat-with-pride conversation? I’m being a bit dramatic; Seth does pay homage to calling in the specialist, to a degree. Having spent my professional life in teams comprised of picture people and word people, I want to state for the official record that while it IS possible to be something of a master of both, why would you WANT TO?

For one second, let’s leave budget aside. We all know that part of the reason for multiple hat-wearing right now is the nasty economy. Truth? In advertising, this trend started long before October. “You’re a writer. Loved your last TV spot. Here, we have this client who wants a website…”

Marketing pockets are shrinking. Internet-based creative tools are growing. And people (creative types, agencies, basically… everyone) are willing to do more for less—just to survive. It’s a perfect storm for DIY solutions that might be able to “get you by” but are not the caliber you could be enjoying with specialists on the case.

Keep in mind: These specialists are also just trying to survive. So the word “budget” will have as much impact on them as it will on anyone else. Hiring a team does NOT necessitate blowing a budget. But trying to get by with one-size-fits-all services and then having to fix a substandard product? Now that’s a budget blower. And a time suck.

To Seth: I still adore you. But I’ll continue looking for pros to do my design work—even if it means a little creative negotiating. : )