Gunnar,
It's the architects model I have in mind for us. The architecs law
covers a certain set of services and dictates a price range for them.
There is a fixed minimum and a suggested maximum. The architects chamber
observes the adherence of this law. What I've heard from my architects
friends is that the competition is carried to fields which are not
regulated. This is how architecs bureaus work around the regulation.
There is still enough room for a less obvious competition. They've
raised a barrier to exclude a lot of people.
I suggest the same thing for german graphic designers. The first step
would be to ask the graphic design community where they locate the major
problems. (That's why I'm writing) Launching a website is easy, getting
attention with the help of design blogs too. I'm hearing a tenor of
dissatisfaction everywhere. Ok, maybe germany is a special case but
there similiar discussions going on outside of germany (sources can be
provided). I'm a bit afraid that some or the most people want this
competition; especially the younger ones. The second step would be to
sort all the opinions and find the tenor and build up a transformation
strategy. After this it would be necessary to write down everything
(reiterate it throught the community, maybe find some intelligent people
who are willing to join) and carve a petition. If more than 50.000
people sign it the german parliament will discuss the topic. This is the
way we do politic in germany. This petition system is the only way for
us to influence politics during a government period. This and
demonstrations. The industry does their lobbying and the citizens are
writing petitions.
"Saul and I talked about how I could get rich doing nothing but the sort
of job he had to turn down because of insufficient budget. We had very
different roles in the ecosystem. If our prices had been controlled, why
would anyone have chosen me instead of Saul Bass? If prices were now
controlled, why would anyone choose one of my recent students rather
than me?"
There is nothing wrong with financial freedom but the last thing I want
to be is financially rich. It just causes other problems. We both know
that there are other kinds of profit.
You're not Saul Bass and that's good. You're differentiating yourself
from others through your work. It's your worth not your price that makes
people work with you. I'm not listing up each factor that counts; you
know them already.
My friend Nicolas graduated in the same year like I did. He and two
others bought an existing company and made an ad agency out of it. I
worked from times to times on a freelance basis for them. The first time
he wanted me to sign a hard contract of which I wasn't sure that it was
conform with the german law. We discussed it and modified it in a way
which gave him the feeling of security and me the feeling that I wasn't
damaging my business. He told me that he needed these securities because
he perceived the "cake as not big enough" for everyone. I'm convinced
that the cake is big enough for everyone if some people would abstain
from needless luxury. I'm not questioning that someone with a lot of
responsibility deserves more of whatever but I'm asking how much more is
reasonable? ( And yes, I'm satisfied with my standard of living. I don't
envy him. )
As I told you I'm the last one who regards himself as a socialist or
communist but I don't see a reason to draw any bigger satisfaction out
of my work in the communication design field than doing good work. (and
of course make a living of it.)
Best wishes
Kai
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