…hold your tongue.

I'm not much of a trash talker, but when I am, I always regret it. I'll try to remember that next time. However, I forget this today when a couple of students asked me if I liked to trash talk. Literally, that's what they asked me. I should have said "no," and kept to my business, sticking to one notch above boredom. Instead, my curiosity got the best of me, and I joined their conversation. They were critiquing a design. Unfortunately, the design was poorly represented and severely out of context. Granted, I said that. But I also joined the fun of picking it apart. A few moments later, a fellow professor walked in. I pointed out the object of our criticism. We chatted about something else for a moment. After the other professor left, I noticed that the students looked embarrassed. They told me that the professor was connected to the project that we were "trash talking." 

I've been here before. Once I tweeted about a logo that I believed was a rip off of another logo. This was during my Chattanooga years. I saw the logo in the local mall and figured it was a national brand. The next day, my boss told me that he received an enraged email from the design team (across the street) who designed the logo I critiqued. I proceeded to write an apology and swore to myself that I'd never again criticize someone else's work (except in critiques). Yet, here I am today, and I just wrote another apology. 

Trash talking design work is futile (outside of a critique). It only serves to make me feel better about myself. Yet, it's a lot of like taking poison and hoping someone else gets sick. Next time, I'll hold my tongue.

And, in case I need reminders, here are a few reasons not to trash talk design work: 

1. Somebody did the best they could with what they got and getting work published is a feat in and of itself.

2. Unless it's a project that has significant implications on society, culture, or an institution, it's probably inconsequential.

3. The free market (and time) will be the ultimate decider of the success or failure of the project.

4. The person who designed it may be across the street or in the next room within earshot.

5. You're probably missing some aspect of the story or context.

6. It's not going to change anything. You’re better off focusing on making sure your practice is top-notch.