We dug up a very controversial interesting article by Marian Bantjes on Speak Up addressing the generation gap between designers who got started in the Pre-Macintosh days, and those who came into the game after computers had become the norm.

There are a lot of issues in the creative game today surrounding the bar being lowered by cheap access to the tools of the trade and there are some very strong feelings on both sides. We think it’s just as easy for the old school crew to take a “These kids think the computer will design for them” attitude as it is for the new kids to say “My Creative Director is old, he just doesn’t really get it” and neither side is necessarily wrong or right.

In fact we think it’s lamentable that the term “Graphic Designer” has become some what interchangable with “Photoshop Guy”. But what we can say in favor of cheap technological tools is this- If you’re talented and want to work for yourself, it’s possible. Back in the old days you needed a serious bank roll to start a magazine, a clothing line, or a photo studio. Now you need a few computers, a room, and an internet connection and you can sink or swim on your own talent. If you’re a smart business person you can quit your six figure job to build a seven figure business. While we respect the past, we can safely say we like playing today’s game over yesterday’s.