Maybe it’s just me, but whenever I’m watching Project Runway, Top Chef or Top Design I imagine that a facsimile based on graphic design would be feasible. I am not saying it would be entertaining or interesting for a general audience, just feasible. After all, Top Design, the show about interior decoration, is as lame as it can get (even though I praised its first season) on a channel like Bravo. So a bunch of graphic designers scurrying around with laptops, Moleskines and white earbuds hanging while designing two-hour logos or magazine covers doesn’t seem so far fetched. We may soon find out: C.M.Y.K. — America’s Top Graphic Designer.
The web site does little to explain when, where or how the show will be, well, shown and for now it’s nothing more than a call for contestants dangling a $50,000 prize and the promise to “launch a new chapter in their career with sponsors of the show as their clients.” No word on who the sponsors are, so you might end up designing for Glad zip-lock bags. The seven or nine finalists will be whisked away for approximately one month and a half to a house or loft in Atlanta, GA where they will face seven challenges and the judgment of “creative directors from design firms, magazines, newspapers, corporations, colleges, production companies, printing firms, and music/film celebrities.” So there you have it, that’s the premise. If you are interested in participating you can attend one of the upcoming casting calls in Charlotte, Chicago, Hollywood, Fort Lauderdale and New York as long as you bring a “fierce portfolio (in print or CD) and your exceptional ‘out-of-the box’ creativity!”
I guess it’s hard to conceal my sarcasm, but I really stopped believing with the portfolios being referred to as “fierce” and creativity as “out-of-the-box.” Nonetheless, I remain intrigued by the prospect of this show and just to kill some Friday time, I thought I would answer some of the design-related questions in the application form. [Application and eligibility PDFs can be found here.]
26. What is your current occupation?
Um, you know, graphic design? I think that will work to my advantage in a graphic design competition.
34. Please list any allergies you have (medications, food, hay fever, dust, etc.) and your current treatment for them if any.
Comic Sans, Windows operating system, Corel Draw, Macromedia Freehand, QuarkXpress. I have stopped using them, the best treatment.
36. Do you have a temper? How often do you lose your temper? What provokes you?
Fuck you.
40. In the creative process, what do you like the most — creating the concept, designing the concept including choosing paper, ink, photos, etc., or seeing the final product?
I love the process of scrolling through my font menu to choose a typeface. Sometimes I close my eyes, scroll, count to ten, and whatever font gets selected is the one I use.
41. List three adjectives that BEST describe you.
Bold, italic and condensed.
42. Do you prefer to work in a team or solo?
Team, although, unlike others, I do believe there is an “I” in team.
43. As far as graphic design, what is the accomplishment you are most proud of?
Buying Phil Meggs’ A History of Graphic Design and never reading it.
46. List three items (outside of your clothes and personal items) you would take with you into the house if allowed and why?
A licensed copy of Gotham, because everything looks great in Gotham. The latest edition of the Type Directors Annual so that I can copy something in case I can’t come up with anything. A PMS 877 chip, because any design looks better with a silver metallic.
47. What type of people would you choose to have living with you in the house?
Bad designers. So that I can win.
Thanks to Meg Paradise for the tip.
Looks like they already found America's top designer, and had them build that site.
On Dec.05.2008 at 09:59 AM