The Dianense graphic designer Diana Arias sent us his views on the importance of selecting a brand, and designs elected during the last year in Dénia to illustrate parties or culture:
As a citizen of Dénia and a professional in the graphic design sector, I consider that Dénia has had a bad result in the choice of the brand that the University Headquarters of Dénia will promote, directly affecting its public image towards culture and good communication.
History, culture and tradition of a city like Denia is really serious and relevant as to undermine its durability and integrity under a series of really lousy results of contests.
I refer to design contests that for years have been published at the popular level of parties, failures or straw that breaks the glass: The University Extension of Dénia. This year 2016 no treble.
The truth is that you reap what you sow and the view is that this can only undermine and undervalue the image of a city. If from institutions and public bodies are not taken seriously convey the culture, values and customs through proper communication that is referring to society, do you intend to citizens and tourists have a good picture of what it means to us, the dianenses, the city of Denia?
Such is the inertia that has been caught in publishing year after year these contests, neither realize that there are few professionals who are introduced to them so unethical they are, because in reality what they get is to fill the table proposals at the expense of many and for the benefit of one, the convener, at a really low cost, and are not even able to have a reasoned judgment because of the deskilling of the jury.
The design is not tastes, sir @ s, the design has to cover some basic needs such as functionality, transmission, and problem solving, beyond aesthetics and subjectivity. The logos belong to a brand identity, which has to interact in an infinite number of supports and applications, where its versatility, legibility and proportionality prevail.
Doing things right does not cost much. There are organizations that propose ethical standards and advice to companies or organizations to convene calls to projects from equal conditions, such as ADCV (Designers Association of Valencia) proposes equitable formulas for both the convener as summoned. Also Icograda (International Council of Associations of Graphic Designers) published in 2010 its position, setting the criteria that must be met for a call to designers is fair: same recognition for all participants, protection of intellectual property rights of qualified participants and with most professional designers jury.
I'm sure if Dénia take a shift in this direction will acquire an overall much more professionalized and better vision.
Designers do not work for the sake of art.
Well, you're right, there are many posters that seem to occur or step out. A professional is not a guarantee of success, but of course it is more expensive. The festive cartography is confusing, when it does not anodyne so many times. And everything should be bilingual, not just for a few in an open and tourist city.