teamwork, YES.

It is very interesting to read this information which comes from someone who had such a large hand in how graphic design has been used. It further reminds me of the inability to see history as it is written. The interconnectedness of this profession with all other things, namely of course business, seems to have carved out the track that it would follow. It seems that few people have stopped to question if there is a way to steer where the track leads before adding onto it.

There are some parts I really enjoy in this selection from Paul Rand:
"If asked to pinpoint the reasons for the proliferation of bad design, I would have to conclude, all things being equal, that the difficulties lie with (1) management's unawareness or indifference to good design, (2) market research's vested interests, (3) designers' lack of authority or competence.
I also enjoyed reading about the German Werkbund, and " . . . the recognition that men are molded by the objects that surround them."

These ideas are where I like to focus, as it seems ever more likely that if we, as designers, design only (or mostly) products that do good- that inform, direct, are efficient for our clients and ourselves and are in step with our own morals, than there is the possibility that only products which fullfill these criteria will be the norm of production.

It seems one of the best things we can do is to create what we can from our own standpoint of progress and good, and convince our clients that any product (including brand identities themselves) can do good, be better, and be presented as such.

In the words of "The Sphinx" in the terribly corny film, Mystery Men, "We must be like the wolf pack, not like the six pack" to which the Shoveler replies, "Teamwork, yes!"