From the Editor's Desk
Just one guy's opinion.
If Design Is Art, What Are You Willing to Risk for the Love of Your Craft?
The Passion and Challenge of Design Porn
Joseph Haecker
Editor-in-chief
Published on:
May 27, 2024
From The Editor's Desk
The Editorial
This blog takes a departure from my usual style, so bear with me...
Growing up in the art world, I later translated my artistic background into lighting design for hospitality, commercial, and high-end residential spaces. The art realm embodies a culture of self-exploration and expression, where passion and love often lead to risks of all kinds.
As a lighting designer, my journey seamlessly intertwined with the worlds of interior design and architecture, where artists become project managers, balancing creativity with timelines, client expectations, and deliverables. However, a silent puppeteer lurks in the background – media.
Media, in various forms such as TV, print, or digital platforms, acts as a tempting siren, offering fame, celebrity, and the promise of wealth to designers. Yet, in this scenario, the design community becomes the "product."
What's the issue with this?
Well, media has shifted the purpose of design. Instead of focusing on the "art" of design, it's now about the "fame" and "riches" associated with it. This shift has altered the culture, pricing, value, and narrative surrounding design.
I founded Design Porn to guide the industry back to its creative roots.
During the 2023 Christmas break, I stumbled upon a used bookstore, perusing the local independent magazine rack. While the magazines might not have met conventional standards, their content emanated passion. These creators published for the love and belief in their content, not merely for praise or clients.
The Netflix documentary "Pamela, a love story," featuring Pamela Anderson, further ignited my thoughts. Pamela faced a moral dilemma when Playboy called – a moment of self-reflection. This led me to question the absence of a similar challenge for designers when mainstream publications like Architecture Digest reach out.
"If design is art, where's the pain? Where's the spiritual challenge? How far are you willing to go for the love of design?"
Starting and running a design-based business is undoubtedly challenging, but every business faces difficulties. Opening a cupcake shop or another boutique retail store doesn't involve a moral test akin to the love of arts.
Design and architecture are ART.
So, where is the publication that tests limits, provokes inspiration, and, upon receiving an invite, makes you ponder, "What am I willing to do and share for the love of my craft?" Where is the outlet that isn't meant for the masses but for the artist?
And for that reason, I launched Design Porn, hoping the design industry will share its most revealing and boundary-testing stories to inspire, cultivate, and advance the art of design.
So, I ask you this...
"You may love design. But are you willing to get naked for it?"
Joseph Haecker
Editor-in-chief
of Design Porn
About The Editor
Joseph Haecker
Editor-in-Chief of Design Porn
Status:
Current Editor-in-chief
Past Editorials
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About Design Porn
Welcome to 'Design Porn,' the exclusive digital haven for design professionals seeking a peek behind the curtains of creativity. Dive into an invite-only world where our articles uncover the clandestine lives of designers, architects, influencers, and manufacturers. We go beyond the surface, delving into the hidden realms and personal narratives, bringing forth candid and revealing insights. Our curated content spans featured articles, lifestyle escapades, pop culture revelations, artistic inspirations, and soul-stirring music, all woven together to ignite your imagination and fuel your creative journey. Join us in exploring the uncharted territories of design—where inspiration meets revelation, and where the raw, untamed essence of creativity thrives. Welcome to 'Design Porn,' where the truth behind the artistry is unveiled in all its revealing and captivating glory.
Get Featured
So, you want to strip naked and bare your design soul to Design Porn? Well, you're in for a wild ride. Design Porn isn't your run-of-the-mill magazine—it's an invite-only, self-published, and fiercely independent counter-culture digital haven. We're not here to play it safe. We ask the questions that other designers whisper behind closed doors, the ones too daring or bold for the timid to voice. To be featured here means diving headfirst into the deep end of your creative psyche, revealing the raw, unfiltered truth of your design journey. Want to step into our spotlight? You've got two options: you can either step up and ask us to shine our revealing light on your work, or be brave enough to be asked. Either way, get ready to bare your deepest secrets. Now, here's the kicker: we're not just about words. We ask for more—yes, we want those revealing photos that lay bare your creative process, your space, and your inspirations. We're here to give our readers a voyeuristic peek into your personal life, your inspiration boards, and the very essence of your design. Being featured in Design Porn is not for the faint-hearted—it's for the bold, the brave, and the daring. So, if you're ready to reveal all, simply fill out our request form. Get ready to take a plunge into a world where exposing your design journey means showcasing the depths of your creative soul.