nightfall

Confessions of a Design Nerd

Do you often look at colors around you and wonder what Pantone number they would be? Does your heart race with excitement at the idea of being able to print something with reflective metallics? Do you cringe every time you see Papyrus or Rosewood used for the millionth time on something in print? Then you might be a design nerd... and don't worry, you're not alone.

While it may fit the common conception that a nerd is a calculator-carrying, pocket protector-clad, glasses-wearing individual, I think this picture is much too narrow. You don't have to love computer programming or chemistry labs to earn such a distinction. According to dictionary.com, a nerd is defined as "an intelligent but single-minded person obsessed with a nonsocial hobby or pursuit." The many hours I've spent in front of my computer on any one of the Adobe Creative Suite programs comes to mind. However, the use of these programs surpasses a level of pure necessity and functionality-- It's a relationship. I know just how to push their buttons (pun intended), and they sure know how to push mine (Why is it taking ten minutes to apply that Photoshop filter?!?!?). However, the one comfort in this, when I get ashamed of how much I can geek out on discovering the perfect font for a project or a new shortcut for a frequently-used process, is the knowledge that I am not alone.

How do I know this? Well, I know because we, as design nerds, all have one thing in common: we design things. Therefore, this nerdiness can, on occasion, spill over from its usual place in the process of creating to actually become the creation itself. Such products as this Photoshop interface magnet set and the fact that it is currently out of stock by the maker tell me I'm not the only one whose endorphins did a happy dance at the sight of such a witty, ingenious creation. I guess it's a way to allow the processes that already infuse life as a designer to actually spill over into the rest of experienced life. If only the windows could actually edit the images this way... I mean, who doesn't want their refrigerator front transformed into the screen they look at 24/7 anyway? This is further evident in the creation of "The Creative Sleep" pillow collection (featured above), where you can make yours an Adobe home by replicating your computer dashboard's rainbow-colored Creative Suite on a couch or bed. All you need now is a mini plush cursor arrow, no? (Although, any true design nerd can instantly spot that these are outdated, given that they are obviously from CS3 and haven't been updated to reflect the new CS4 shortcuts' gray lettering instead of white.)

So, if you've been suffering in silent isolation from your obsession with color palettes, consider Helvetica to be a feel-good movie, and/or find this hilarious, then you might just be a design nerd too. And don't let anything make you command+Q.