Repro Man to the Rescue?
As stated in the past, I am largely print designer. But I have recently taken on a role as a repro guy. It is a familiar setting for me - I spent my on the job training with the same design and print company (I took a 'sabbatical' for freelancing, study etc.) and now I'm back, this time I'm the repro man rather than the junior with creative juices floating our of every pore...
Taking on this role has been challenging in some ways, frustrating in others and inhibiting in yet more...
It is a challenge due to the time-management factor. When freelancing, time seemed of less of an issue, mainly because I was at liberty to go way into the night just to complete whatever project was at hand. Not now though... There are other factors to consider. For example, there is the timeline of completion, proofing, and plate output, in a timely manner so that the print minder has time to print before the end of the day... Time management is not necessarily my strong point. It's quite easy with regards to the actual design work... All it takes is a "go as fast as you can" mentality, and I think I happen to be pretty fast (and probably quite fortunate with regards to getting more than my fair share of hitting homeruns first time)...
The frustration comes in when all the technicalities of designing for print are considered. There are lots of little links in the chain between designing and plate making. A key question that seems to come up again and again is "why is Quark so broken?" Things that shouldn't have hiccups often do. And much of the time it becomes a case of seek and destroy the offending problem... Either that, or finding clever (or expedient) ways of getting around the problem, knowing that it's only an answer to tie you over until the next time round. Lots of web guys find designing for print a horrible task. I personally like the fact that no matter how irritating the process may become, you end up with a tangible thing that you can pick up, hold and (if it's any good) admire. But there's no doubt that days can be lost to silly problems that dont show any sign of getting resolved, and then suddenly disappear for no reason. Frustrating. Yes.
Ahhh the inhibition, the inhibition. What could be inhibiting about being the top boy in the design/repro department? Really there are three reasons. The two listed above and of course - the customers. Do we need to be disrespectful to them? Of course not - they pay the bills after all. But customers have two main agendas when it comes to this industry: "When!?" and "How Much?" And really that says it all. Everyone wants their artwork and printing done straight away, and nobody is really prepared to spend proper money on it. Therefore, everything has to be done as quickly as possible and it doesn't have to be "that great."
I think that's largely the shame of it... The time constraints laid on by "Challenge" and "Frustration" mean that the design in general suffers. Should I really be bothered? After all, the more customers that can be pacified with OK design work, the more money we can all make right? But money is not the drive. For me at least, design is an essential part of my day to day living. If too many days pass without my design mind getting stretched, I can feel the difference.
Should I then just settle down with the fact that currently I'm a repro man and design is really secondary to my function of producing plates and keeping the ball rolling? I think not. I think that the way forward is to slightly change the mental role. "Work smarter" if you will. There ought to be a way to keep on top of everything and still have the time and fortitude to design properly. It must be about time and function management.
After all, isn't it always only about Getting Things Done?
Taking on this role has been challenging in some ways, frustrating in others and inhibiting in yet more...
It is a challenge due to the time-management factor. When freelancing, time seemed of less of an issue, mainly because I was at liberty to go way into the night just to complete whatever project was at hand. Not now though... There are other factors to consider. For example, there is the timeline of completion, proofing, and plate output, in a timely manner so that the print minder has time to print before the end of the day... Time management is not necessarily my strong point. It's quite easy with regards to the actual design work... All it takes is a "go as fast as you can" mentality, and I think I happen to be pretty fast (and probably quite fortunate with regards to getting more than my fair share of hitting homeruns first time)...
The frustration comes in when all the technicalities of designing for print are considered. There are lots of little links in the chain between designing and plate making. A key question that seems to come up again and again is "why is Quark so broken?" Things that shouldn't have hiccups often do. And much of the time it becomes a case of seek and destroy the offending problem... Either that, or finding clever (or expedient) ways of getting around the problem, knowing that it's only an answer to tie you over until the next time round. Lots of web guys find designing for print a horrible task. I personally like the fact that no matter how irritating the process may become, you end up with a tangible thing that you can pick up, hold and (if it's any good) admire. But there's no doubt that days can be lost to silly problems that dont show any sign of getting resolved, and then suddenly disappear for no reason. Frustrating. Yes.
Ahhh the inhibition, the inhibition. What could be inhibiting about being the top boy in the design/repro department? Really there are three reasons. The two listed above and of course - the customers. Do we need to be disrespectful to them? Of course not - they pay the bills after all. But customers have two main agendas when it comes to this industry: "When!?" and "How Much?" And really that says it all. Everyone wants their artwork and printing done straight away, and nobody is really prepared to spend proper money on it. Therefore, everything has to be done as quickly as possible and it doesn't have to be "that great."
I think that's largely the shame of it... The time constraints laid on by "Challenge" and "Frustration" mean that the design in general suffers. Should I really be bothered? After all, the more customers that can be pacified with OK design work, the more money we can all make right? But money is not the drive. For me at least, design is an essential part of my day to day living. If too many days pass without my design mind getting stretched, I can feel the difference.
Should I then just settle down with the fact that currently I'm a repro man and design is really secondary to my function of producing plates and keeping the ball rolling? I think not. I think that the way forward is to slightly change the mental role. "Work smarter" if you will. There ought to be a way to keep on top of everything and still have the time and fortitude to design properly. It must be about time and function management.
After all, isn't it always only about Getting Things Done?
posted by Aaronius at 8:39 am
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