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Peter Saville – Commercialism and design

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Peter Saville has been a pivotal figure in graphic design and style culture, ever since his first work for Factory Records in the late 1970s. The images that Peter Saville created for Joy Division, New Order and, later, Suede and Pulp were so compelling that they struck the same emotional resonance with the people who bought those albums and singles as the music.

As a co-founder of the label, he was given an unusual, if not unprecedented level of freedom to design whatever he wanted, just as the bands were with their music: free from the constraints of budgets and deadlines which were routinely imposed on designers elsewhere.

By the mid-1980s, Saville’s reputation as a designer of music graphics was assured and he was sought-after by mainstream acts such as Wham and Peter Gabriel and more recently consulting for companies such as Selfridges, EMI, Pringle, Givenchy, Stella McCartney and Kate Moss.

Saville has always used design as a form of self-expression, and in this exclusive video content, he challenges all designers to ask themselves about what they really care about, and see whether these believes can be maintained in their work. Does culture now only exist for the purpose of marketing? And how easy is it now to create good designs with more and more emphasis on business and commercialism?

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Odd Fellow posted 6 Nov 2008
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As designers we are hired to shape a visual communication strategy for a company or product. It's not about selling out, this is a naïve realism, we are actors and script-writers on a business stage. Of course we can choose the roles we both play and project. As well we know, with these roles come responsibilities, which we can take-up or decide to leave to others to fight. But 'design as a form of self-expression', is when we become artists. If we can find a balance between the two, we are of course in Utopia...
studio vicken posted 5 Nov 2008
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The interviews are not realy explicatives
normando posted 20 Mar 2008
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The two horns of the dilemma are usually seen in terms of "communication for business purposes" and "self-communication" or the designer's cleverness in making an art statement. The purpose of the designer is usually seen as the former by those in the "real world" and the latter when addressed by students. It seems that most times it is almost impossible to present to the client a solution which incorporates both a business/marketing-specific AND a graphically sophisticated solution which enhances rather than pollutes our visual culture. Working toward the solution of that dilemma requires a knowledge of the motives and end of business as well as sound visual literacy and design imagination. As exultnu implies, leading the way in combining those motivations into a truthful, honest expression is much of what constitutes the ethical basis of graphic design.
exultnu posted 17 Mar 2008
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Quite thought-provoking observation of the current design culture, and a warning to be true to the sensibilities inherent in design, which challenged introspection on my part. The degradation of integrity as a virtue is a societal ill of our day. It cheapens. It threatens authenticity on many levels. I work for a large nonprofit and feel that I am doing something I care about, but even in this nonprofit there is the tempation to succumb to the selling of the soul, so to speak, by movers in the organization. The designers here become concerned at any new evidence of the trend. It is hugely important for us to sell truths rather than lies. Since our "product" is a needed hand-up service that touches human beings, it is vital to guard the "soul" of the organization. Our brand is entirely built on people's trust in and admiration of the authentic expression of our motivation and guiding principles. I see myself as a watchman on the wall, influencing via design and well-crafted messages.
caspar_V posted 1 Mar 2008
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amazing insight. i've not heard one person describe the disastrous current situation so well. thank you, peter. i hope more people see this & understand what he's saying.
Mondieros posted 28 Feb 2008
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Very interesting to listen to what Peter Saville said regarding this topis as I am just finishing my dissertation in this area when commercialism is the main part I deal with and the education side of it comes to it as well. In terms of the academical bodies, our module which deals with self marketing and promotion is based on ex-students now working in the industry and are successful. And that is the point I am trying to make that it prepares us the best it can for the "reality" design world after graduating but it takes its pride in success and recognition. Nothing is mentioned in the sense of moral principles or social conscience every designer should have towards today's society. I guess it is up to every individual designer to stay creative and not just profit led.
bennybenn posted 28 Feb 2008
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Very insightful - especially when he talks about the spark of creativity and sense of value in business. This is not just relevant to our industry but across all business.