Graphic Journey Blog

Room 101

Room 101

Have you notice how many politicians have used this word in recent months? It is a replacement for money, goods or weapons – that sinister latter word sounds a little more cuddly and anonymous. It is another example of how politics and business find ways of obscuring their so-called transparency.

 

Room 101

“During a recession, it is vital that we explain to people in plain English". So said a politician on the radio recently. Later came an interview with Gordon Brown who said that the government were going to help kick start the economy by using... 

So much for plain English. We put up with government, the city, bankers and worst of all lawyers using  incomprehensible language to protect their little worlds or use this subdifuge to either charge us more money or generally get up to no good. We are now all suffering the consequences of not questioning this.

Room 101

" Shall we go for a drink?" "Yes, cool." " See you at seven". "Cool". " Cool". SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! 

We are designers. We are supposed to be imaginative and individual. Right?  So why do we slavishly follow these boringly lazy trends in, so called, fashionable words? It's so, so, well, uncool. Here's an experiment. Avoid using 'cool' for 24 hours, but keep count of the number of times you hear those around you using and let me know. The most times recorded times gets their photo on this blog. But no cheating.

Room 101

Have you noticed how every journalist, commentator and politician has been briefed to say this... 

Really horrid isn't it?

Room 101

I hate this...

More for Room 101

Some more things I’d like to consign to Room 101.
Firstly this…

And this (with absolutely no apologies to Jeremy Clarkson.)

Lastly BBC 2’s The Culture Show for its unbelievable crassness. Now squeezed into 30 minutes. The pace is ridiculous and the presenters treat - what I had assumed would be a fairly sophisticated audience - like children. In fact Lauren Laverne even sounds identical to a counterpart, Kirsten O'Brien, on Radio 7’s ‘Big Toe’ morning show for kids. Add to this the clubby bar setting in the background, with most of the assembled pseudo club members looking distinctly ill at ease, whilst watching the appalling chummy banter between Laverne and Kermode, the latter of which has inflated his ego to match his ever increasing rockabilly quiff. The only presenter who seems to have real integrity is the super bright, and very likable Verity Sharp, who always presents in a measured and calm way. I asked a young, 30 something, friend of mine what he thought of the show. Whilst he agree with me to an extent, he added, ‘ I quite fancy that Lauren Laverne’. So it would seem I might out of touch? My apologies to any overseas readers of this blog. I know it's all too parochial. But sometimes you just have to get it off your chest.

Room 101

This is my space for pet hates. Here's one...
and here's another.

But not to be all negative, here's something very nice. Sent to me from Canada by Paula Snell (one of my exes) and very talented she is too. This is an example of a timeless graphic that has been strutting its stuff since 1960 and still looks as fresh as a daisy.