July 20, 2006 - 18 comments

Rand’s Mighty Beard

When I was playing the part of a student at Buffalo State College, I coasted through most of my classes by using an essay writing service reddit. Now that's not to say that I was some hot-shot designer (or maybe I was, I'll never tell). It just means that during my tenure in the graphic design department at Buffalo State College, computer-aided graphic design was in it's infancy. In other words, you either got it, or you didn't. Software applications like Adobe Illustrator (88), and Photoshop were mere shells of what they've become today, and most beginner design classes involved rapturous lessons like "how to use a mouse" and "how to find the print button on a GUI." (Yea, I've used GUI to speak to the designers out there -- they never used the word GUI in school in 1989. Nerds used that word, and weird little nerds weren't invited outside of their dorms. Ever.)

Out of this apocalyptic landscape of computer-less design (yea, I know I'm waxing a bit dramatic here, but who cares - it makes for better reading), came a man with a beard and a familiar name...

Rand Schuster was a burly hippie, covered in long, stringy black hair peppered with several strands of gray (stress), and a beard that made you shout "Boo-Ya!" (in a horrified way) every time he passed by. He was definitely from the age of Aquarius, yet taught me (and maybe a couple others in the class who weren't sleeping off last nights hangovers or taking a class in design to coast through college to a glorious life of husbandry, accounting, waiting tables or giving lap-dances at local Buffalo strip club) quite a bit about design and value of deadlines. His temper was legendary, and he would be the first to tell you "Get the hell out of this business!" at the drop of a client.

I managed to take a couple semesters with the guy and beneath the beard and his weird, yet oddly approachable demeanor, stood a designer at the crossroads of his career. He loved the industry one day and despised everything about it the next. He kept his classes on the edge, wondering day by day if they should just head over to the local junkyard and apply for any job that would take them far, far away from an industry that would make you into this much of a paranoid maniac. Keep in mind this was a man with the almost Royal name of "Rand" -- duh. Paul Rand; Rand Schuster, I mean it was as powerful a "designer name" as Tom Cruise or Brad Pitt in the acting profession. He wore the "suit of odd," which meant students could look forward to a joyous career of sandals and over-washed rock shirts as work attire with daily bathing as an option. Yee ha! A future life as an eternal college student!

What I'm saying is that the guy kind of looked like a bear. Not a cuddly one, mind you. More like a terrifying, Steven Colbert-nightmare inducing grizzly bear of design. A benevolent monster that would eat your work and leave it smoking in the woods once it passed through his digestive track. The truth is, once you got to know the guy, you realized that what he wanted you to do was to become a designer almost by yourself.

An interesting approach when you think about it.

He wasn't the best critiquer in the world, but I noticed how he silently reveled during a class where we all slammed each others work like a proud papa bear, grinning a toothy, albeit sinister grin. It seemed like he wasn't trying to save the world, or even ensure that everyone in the class was accounted for. He appeared to try to develop just a few designers in each class that would go out into the world and hopefully do something with their miserable lives. He did this by remaining quiet until someone asked him his opinion. The kids who really wanted to have a career in the design world would speak up and ask him a question. It's a wild approach that I've tried to apply in my own career when I've had the pleasure of managing great creatives. Give them space, give them direction and let them know that you're looking out for them -- all from a distance.

Or maybe Rand just didn't give a shit and hated teaching and designing. I prefer the other explanation myself.

Published by: davefletcher in The Design Mechanism, The Thinking Mechanism

Comments

manthony
July 26, 2006 at 9:10 pm

hmmm
Id go with,,,he didnt give a shit and hated teaching, desing, politcs, the world at large, small puppies and kittens,….

maybe…he was just an asshole?

( im kidding…..but he did become an asshole…glad you didn’t witness that part of the saga)

good writing other wise

🙂

Comments are closed.

manthony
July 26, 2006 at 9:10 pm

hmmm
Id go with,,,he didnt give a shit and hated teaching, desing, politcs, the world at large, small puppies and kittens,….

maybe…he was just an asshole?

( im kidding…..but he did become an asshole…glad you didn’t witness that part of the saga)

good writing other wise

🙂

Comments are closed.

Tracy Sabo
September 4, 2006 at 11:03 pm

As a creative person all things in life give inspiration, Rand finds everything amusing. The beard and laugh are not to be forgotten! As for being an asshole I prefer to think more of the Peter Pan syndrome in his case. I studied with him during the late 80’s.

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Tracy Sabo
September 4, 2006 at 11:03 pm

As a creative person all things in life give inspiration, Rand finds everything amusing. The beard and laugh are not to be forgotten! As for being an asshole I prefer to think more of the Peter Pan syndrome in his case. I studied with him during the late 80’s.

Comments are closed.

Dave Fletcher
September 5, 2006 at 10:12 am

Great point, Tracy Sabo. I was also in the department during that time — did our paths cross?

Comments are closed.

Dave Fletcher
September 5, 2006 at 10:12 am

Great point, Tracy Sabo. I was also in the department during that time — did our paths cross?

Comments are closed.

Dianna
September 13, 2006 at 7:51 am

I wonder what Rand is up to these days? For some reason he crossed my mind this morning so I did a search and came across your article. I studied under Rand as well in the late 80’s. Must’ve worked as I enjoy graphic design as my profession here in Tampa and have freelanced since 1992.

Thanks for the memories…

Comments are closed.

Dianna
September 13, 2006 at 7:51 am

I wonder what Rand is up to these days? For some reason he crossed my mind this morning so I did a search and came across your article. I studied under Rand as well in the late 80’s. Must’ve worked as I enjoy graphic design as my profession here in Tampa and have freelanced since 1992.

Thanks for the memories…

Comments are closed.

Dave Fletcher
September 13, 2006 at 1:12 pm

You are welcome Dianna! Thanks for sharing with the comment. 🙂

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Dave Fletcher
September 13, 2006 at 1:12 pm

You are welcome Dianna! Thanks for sharing with the comment. 🙂

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Kim
February 1, 2007 at 4:49 pm

Hmmmmm… I don’t know why, but I thought of him today and thought I’d “google” him. Your article came up and I just have to wonder why you or anyone, for that matter, would dedicate a complete blog to the guy. I studied under him in the late 80’s, too, and I wasn’t impressed. I remember him chewing me out for something and his words were “I’ll make it so you’ll NEVER be able to get a design job” – he immediately followed that with how he just made tenure and couldn’t get fired, so I shouldn’t even think of complaining to anyone regarding his threat (gee? could it be he KNEW he was an asshole?!?!?). Don’t fool yourself. The guy didn’t give a shit. He didn’t teach me a thing. All I got out of him was the impression of an overgrown teenager who refused to grow up and just wanted to look cool in front of a classroom. And so many students fell for it. I do enjoy graphics, though. I wonder if he still has tenure? Hee-hee-hee-heee-heeeeeee

Comments are closed.

Kim
February 1, 2007 at 4:49 pm

Hmmmmm… I don’t know why, but I thought of him today and thought I’d “google” him. Your article came up and I just have to wonder why you or anyone, for that matter, would dedicate a complete blog to the guy. I studied under him in the late 80’s, too, and I wasn’t impressed. I remember him chewing me out for something and his words were “I’ll make it so you’ll NEVER be able to get a design job” – he immediately followed that with how he just made tenure and couldn’t get fired, so I shouldn’t even think of complaining to anyone regarding his threat (gee? could it be he KNEW he was an asshole?!?!?). Don’t fool yourself. The guy didn’t give a shit. He didn’t teach me a thing. All I got out of him was the impression of an overgrown teenager who refused to grow up and just wanted to look cool in front of a classroom. And so many students fell for it. I do enjoy graphics, though. I wonder if he still has tenure? Hee-hee-hee-heee-heeeeeee

Comments are closed.

Dave Fletcher
February 3, 2007 at 12:22 am

Just a blog entry my dear Kim. Not an entire blog…

But he’s certainly fun to yak about. Thanks for sharing your horror with the kids.

Comments are closed.

Dave Fletcher
February 3, 2007 at 12:22 am

Just a blog entry my dear Kim. Not an entire blog…

But he’s certainly fun to yak about. Thanks for sharing your horror with the kids.

Comments are closed.

Kim
April 9, 2007 at 10:46 pm

I’ll give you that… he IS fun to yak about (mwoohahahahahahaaaaaaa….) Actually, I enjoyed your blog ENTRY very much. It inspired me to actually comment… which is something I rarely do for anyone. Thanks for letting me share. xo

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Kim
April 9, 2007 at 10:46 pm

I’ll give you that… he IS fun to yak about (mwoohahahahahahaaaaaaa….) Actually, I enjoyed your blog ENTRY very much. It inspired me to actually comment… which is something I rarely do for anyone. Thanks for letting me share. xo

Comments are closed.

Dave Fletcher
April 10, 2007 at 2:33 pm

Awesome that the blog inspired you to post, Kim! Thanks a bunch.

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Dave Fletcher
April 10, 2007 at 2:33 pm

Awesome that the blog inspired you to post, Kim! Thanks a bunch.

Comments are closed.