Feelin' the love

I’m taking a break from regularly scheduled programming today to share with you instead a phone call I received yesterday. It was from someone I didn’t know, who identified himself as Mike. It turns out I had disparaged a design used by Mike’s business, and he requested that I remove it from the site.

I have obliged Mike in his request, and will not make mention of what specific post it was, but I must admit I only do so reluctantly and only because our conversation was cordial and respectful. It is not because I fear any legal action (there is none to take) or other form of retribution.

But this incident did bring up some interesting points which prompted today’s post. Firstly, let me be clear here. This site is not in the business of criticizing the services and/or products of the organizations whose designs are featured. There are forums for that sort of criticism, but mine is focused solely on the design put forth by those organizations.

That brings me to my second point. I critique the designs—the image and essence of these organizations—that is broadcast for public consumption. These are not internal documents or postings from company bulletin boards. They are out there, communicating to the public for better or worse.

Mike asked me to remove my critique of his graphics because he felt it painted his services in an equally sh*tty light. But what he failed to understand was that his image was already doing that on its own. He might be the best in the business, but the graphics he is using fail to communicate that. And to be frank, they contribute to the epidemic of visual pollution with which we’re bombarded daily.

I expect Mike will stop by Pr*tty Sh*tty again to see if the post featuring his business was removed. To him I say, welcome back. I hope you read this. I hope you take it to heart. My smart ass aside, this blog is a labor of love—tough love, perhaps—and I hope you’re feelin’ it.