Dennis Miller

title: Roller Girls
company: Imagehaus
category: Poster

For the first half of my career as a graphic designer, I didn’t know anything about hard drives, RAM, or inkjets. My tools were analog—metal type, serigraphy, Xacto knives, rubylith, technical pens, and (to my constant dismay) transfer lettering. The work was just as much about physical activity as it was about creativity and problem solving. I worked with my hands. They got dirty. Sometimes they bled.

For the last ten years or so, my hands haven’t gotten dirty very often. Neither have those of my students. Our exertions are usually limited to staring at monitors, with eyes flickering from one pixel to the next. Even though we work in a building filled with other tools and materials, we’re both guilty of using digital technology as the default tool because it’s easy, fast and clean. Happily, though, we almost never get blood on the keyboards.

There is a downside to having such a safe and sanitary workplace. I miss the real-time, physical connection that I used to have with my work. Further, I see a lack of connection and commitment between my students and their work that seems directly related to the dominant technology in the room. As a result, I’ve added the following phrases to the list of key terms used in my design courses and in my own studio.

“Get up out of that chair.”

“Step away from the work station.”

“Pick up something real.”

“Get your hands dirty.”

During the last day and a half, I’ve gotten to look at lots of beautiful stuff. Careful thought, clever concepts, effective use of software, and flawless printing were seen in abundance. The high level of craftsmanship on display was truly inspiring. The ink fumes alone made me dizzy with delight. However, a small handful of pieces stood out because they were clearly made by human hands. The “Injured Elegance” poster was one of them. It’s not perfect. As silkscreening goes, it’s not even that well printed. But this poster carries evidence of the physical effort that went into its making. It’s funny, messy, kind of raw, and all too human. As the judging for this competition progressed, I kept coming back to it. By the time all was said and done, “Injured Elegance” had become my favorite piece in the show.

Besides, how could I possibly resist a piece that’s been printed on the same wallpaper that graces my mom’s bathroom walls?