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Watched by Matt on October 13 2008:

Aaron Draplin talks about shitty signage at a funky motel.

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16 comments so far

Sean McCambridge 13 Oct 08

Damn RIGHT !

Thank you for saying that. Great example. Great story. Now … how can we convince people/clients/potential clients/governments/companies that will never be our clients to find some taste and stop hiring people who don’t care?

I lived in Germany for a year in college. Everything over there was done well (often too well). I’m not sure if it was pride or taste. But we seem to be lacking one or more of those attributes.

Christopher Sisk 13 Oct 08

Good points… but there’s no reason to slam CorelDRAW or act like it’s kiddie-ware. The same crap could have easily been made in Illustrator, Quark, Photoshop or even some of the junk software that ships with CD labeling kits.

9 times out of 10, It’s not the software – Its the designer and what they do with it.

Grant 13 Oct 08

I saw this video awhile back and absolutely love it. I think it’s begging to be made into a full-length documentary starring Mr. Draplin. It would be glorious.

BCB 13 Oct 08

Who knew truckers have such strong opinions about sinage!?

Chris 14 Oct 08

Don’t be fooled by Aaron’s hat, he is no trucker. I first saw his work in a Gocco print and it was tightness.

He speaks the truth. The sad fact is anyone with a computer and a little software can claim to be a designer. It makes me sick.

J 14 Oct 08

The sad fact is anyone with a computer and a little software can claim to be a designer. It makes me sick.

That’s a sad fact? It’s a great fact. What do you have? A printing press in your house? Or a computer and a little software?

Tim O'Brien 14 Oct 08

“I mean, Fuck It, we’re taking it back.” If you liked that, you should check this video out – some crazy guy talking about his freaking crazy company.

Don Schenck 14 Oct 08

This video embodies much that is wrong with America and much that is right.

Wrong: The new sign. Should have refurbished the old, gorgeous sign.

Right: Mr. Draper’s attitude. We need more “militant” people who will stand for what is good.

Thank you for posting this. It’s VERY inspiring.

Don Schenck 14 Oct 08

S.B. “Draplin”.

James 14 Oct 08

I agree that the new sign looks better than the old sign, and that charging so much for that standard of work isn’t right, but “here’s why America is fucked”? Come on everyone who’s praising this, don’t you think that’s going just a little bit too far?

Keith 14 Oct 08

I love the new sign. It has birds, a gradient, big easy to read text, and some dude’s neighbor’s best friend’s son did it for them on the cheap! What’s not to love?

Great video. Thanks for sharing. I will be sharing with friends, family, and clients to be sure.

Kevin 14 Oct 08

I agree completely, however…

“How can you charge that kind of money for that garbage like that?”

“How can you let that go up and just pollute America?”

I feel the same about his foul language…
“No history…”
“No respect…”

David Andersen 14 Oct 08

It’s ironic that a critique of a communication (the sign) is so incoherent.

k 14 Oct 08

I live in Europe and everytime I go to the US and I see signs, ads, clothes, and I’m like Oh my, how’s this even possible? Don’t they know this is ugly? There’re exceptions of course. Apple gets it and so do its customers. There’s hope :)

David Andersen 14 Oct 08

@k – so nothing is ugly in Europe?

Travis 17 Oct 08

Ha! I drive by the Sunset Hotel every time I visit family in Sedalia. I never noticed the new sign, though. Now I know I wasn’t missing anything spectacular.

Comments are closed