“It Looks Better that Way” a guide to breaking the rules of design.

One of the most gratifying things about working for yourself is in the grand scheme of things you rarely have to answer to anyone or justify an artistic decision. “It just looks better that way” is a perfectly reasonable answer, whereas a few short years ago, a professor would grit their teeth with a disdainful glare. 

The pursuit of art is all the justification you need in the world for breaking the rules. If it looks better, do it. In fact, breaking the rules is the only progression that leads to new art. 

Don’t mistake this relaxed attitude for laziness or disdain. To break them, you must first know what they are to begin with. Intention is repeatable, stumbling into genius is not and rarely works.

Learn to operate on feel and emotion. No amount of technical skill or knowhow will fix a piece that is inherently bad or flawed. If I'm not excited about a thought within the first few seconds I move on. Don't waste time trying to light wet logs on fire. 

All art is art, that doesn't necessarily make it good though. Taste and preference are prevalent. I'm much more drawn to rough modernism in galleries than finely crafted landscapes or portraits, that doesn't mean I don't appreciate the time and skill, just that my tastes differ. This being said somethings are just, well, bad. Have the self-awareness to know when something is off, I have endless folders of shelved work that didn't quite make it. If you're sharing everything, raise your standards. 

While we’re always in search of the next, there is nothing wrong with relying on the same techniques or tools again and again, so long as it doesn't grow tired or become a caricature of itself. My Grandmother, who was in so many ways the most talented person I’ve ever known, had a saying. “Just paint it white” anything can be painted matte white and will look better. In the same way I find this true in life, I apply the concept often in my work, giving things the steady style that you’ve become accustomed . 

Whether it be criticism of illegible text, dull colors, or misshapen letters, when asked why? I say, because it looks better that way.