“Reduction For Growth” [Reflections On Book - 100 Ideas That Changed Graphic Design Stephen Heller and Veronique Vienne - #73]

They said that less is more for me,
And showed me in photography;
But I stayed unconvinced – for links
Are critical to how I think.

For “givers”, every little thing
Ties into all the rest, and brings
To viewers sight and consciousness
Connections – giving more not less.

But as the years have flowed along,
I’ve needed ways to sing my song
With clarity to target’s picked,
Which binders give with method slick –

Divide, then sub-divide once more;
Then in a box, on shelf before
I overwhelm – a shredder helps,
Or all-day fire up north – what else –

Could I have done – fly all that trash
Down south? Much better turned to ash;
Three days, all day, it burned and rid
Me of component parts – so lid –

Was off the box – I built up more,
For each location has its store
Of gathered-thought and souvenirs
Held it tight ’till threat of moving clears –

My buffer once again – released
To enter brand new space with ease;
Here graphic art does much the same –
Post World War II – dump past (with blame).

So “Grids” were in, but “Symmetry”
Was out – clear working space to see
One’s message; skip the detailed plan,
Like Europe’s clearing of the land –

From many years of blood and pain
(Which has built up for them again);
But southern Europe weren’t impressed –
They left their graphics fully dressed.

Thanks Lord for this.

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