April 4, 2008

Not quite a bed of roses...well, I guess the thorns are there

The last two weeks, I've worked 58 and now 61 hours respectively. Let's review the part where the client said they were taking the look and feel internal and were going to provide me production ready art... In their definition, that just means that they don't have to review it for more rounds of approval.

I just bought two programs (Genuine Fractals--for blowing images up from 22 inches to 11 feet--and a trial version of Fluid Mask--for cutting people out of backgrounds). They're going with a look and feel that seems to involve psychotic looking models grinning at various computer devices. I've cleaned up pimples from a guy's stubble, trimmed around hair, erased nose hair, all for 'production ready art'.

We went from clean, elegant, rounded to huge plus signs everywhere. Taken out of context, they look like crosses. Or red cross symbols. Or an HP ad. The information booth looks like a huge first-aid counter. The overall feeling I have is that I've still-birthed a child and am now being commanded to raise someone else's mutant.

Today my client raved about how she thought things would look great on site, very fresh. She asked what I think, "It will look new!" I responded in a chipper, lying through my teeth way.

5 comments:

Aimee said...

I'm so sorry you're in that place where you know more than the people you're working with, but you can't say so. Maybe it's good that you can't put this show into your portfolio after all (if I remember correctly).

I hope this will all be over soon!

In the meantime, I am totally green with envy. I'd SO love to do what you do!

Rachel said...

Sigh. That sounds so awful. I hope at least it is all over soon.

Mama Nabi said...

Oh dear... Too bad you can't take LN's stance on life and throw a massive tantrum: It's NOT perfect, I don't like it, I want to start over. :-)
On the other hand, perhaps it's a good thing to nod and smile and wish it away.

OTRgirl said...

The freelancer I work with on the conference guide took one look at the cover they sent me and said that she doesn't want to work on it next year. She doesn't want anyone to associate her with this design. I guess that's close to a tantrum, huh?

It does pay the bills so maybe I shouldn't whine about it...

Snickollet said...

Whine away. Just because it pays the bills doesn't mean it's not awful.

Sorry you're dealing with a cruddy work situation.