Thursday, March 31, 2011

Art People Are Sensitive Folk

Copywriters often get upset when clients edit their copy. Art Directors routinely get pissed when clients tweak their designs. And the Creatives who dabble in both? Well, even more so.


Creators very naturally (and very often) get pissed when their creations get tweaked, adapted and/or moulded into something else they no longer recognise enough to call their own. It's difficult to explain the emotion but we just get overcome by this strong sense of protectiveness over our work, our ideas and our contributions whenever that happens.


And yes, we usually take rejection and disapproval personally. That's why it becomes so very painful to see a client poking and prodding around with what a creative has worked so hard to create and perfect after hours and hours of brainstorming or writing/designing behind a comp screen. Meddlesome creatures "bastardising" a piece of art, we call that.


I guess in spite of what you think your rights are as a client with regards to the work being produced, to Creatives, it is meddling. Because whether you're just buying their design/copy/work or just borrowing it, Creatives consider their hard work THEIRS by birth, sweat and blood. (Much like a baby except with less drool and upkeep. =p) Not yours. Not even if you're paying for it.

2 comments :

Reubz said...

I can't help but think how true this is and how it parallels to how we humans, the ones whom God appointed to manage His creation, are desecrating His creation. Imagine if we, Humans can get angry at the little things we create, how much more will our Maker, the One in whose image we are made in, would take to offense our misdeeds to His original design.

Pam Song said...

ATTN: Reubz
– You're right. We're such terribly selfish and self-centered beings that way. =(

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