Mies van der Rohe once said that being good is more important than being original. Originality is a product, not an intention.
— Paul Rand, from Graphic Wit “Paul Rand: The Play Instinct” 1991
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Comments ( 3 )
I’d like to frame the last part of that quote and hang it over my desk – excellent food for thought.
Katy Ryan added these pithy words on
Dec 14 09 at
1:41 pm
This is great food for thought, I agree…but I would expand on that and define “good” then…that is perhaps the harder term to define. If originality is the end result of something, then what leads to that end result. Rand seems to imply that “being good” is the intention that leads to the original product, but is “being good” really an intention…or is it a state, an act, or a talent? Is “being good” as narrow as the “intention to create an original product”, or does it permeate one’s being so that the “original product” is inevitable and unintentional? I’d like to think of “being good” not as an intent, but as a state of being, or a way of thinking that leads a person, and those surrounding that person, to originality.
Kirra added these pithy words on
Dec 18 09 at
1:12 pm
Kirra, I think you make some great points. What I take from it as a designer, is that knowing my craft is more important than putting all my energy into trying to be original. Originally is a secondary goal to sound execution. One hopefully has the intent to execute their ideas well, original or not.
I think as one expands their knowledge and skills that originality happens because you are adept at your craft or career, and it becomes more inevitable that originality happens.
dana added these pithy words on
Dec 18 09 at
2:47 pm
