* a designed achievement *

Walking into my father’s office, you are immediately confronted with certificates of achievements. Most are intimidated by his excellence and some are inspired. The certificates are diverse in their design and contents. Most are written in Latin making their contents only known to him and others who were forced to learn the forgotten language. By their design, I am sure they were not received for excellence in 'track in field' or 'archery extraordinaire'. Rather you get a sense of true academic achievements. This never misunderstood for him trying to "show off", rather a true sense of accomplishment.

As far back as I can remember I was always intrigued by the intricate ornamental design implicated in each certificate. There is a major difference if you take any of his 20 or so certificates and place it next to my college degree. Some modernists are anti ornamental – with good reason. But even a modern education deserves a diploma resembling the looks of a Morris & Company Catalogue Are designers still capable of designing with their hands? What would it be like to pick up a pen with exchangeable nibs prior to sitting down and opening? Maybe computers are designers biggest handicap. Rather than enhancing our design abilities, it could be ruining our profession. I miss the flow of the pen and the imperfections of each letter. Who cares if there is a smear here and there?

A couple of week ago, I scanned some of the certificates in. Here ya go!