Okay - why on earth would I save a graphic that I designed that earned me a lot of grief? Explanation: a few months ago I was approached by one of the programmers, who was looking for a simple bit of artwork to go on an opening screen. It was no biggie as the software was still in development, he told me he just was looking for a quick pic to throw in there in the interim. I took an image we often use, applied a couple of simple Photoslop effects, and sent him on his merry way.

A month or two later, "somebody" didn't like the graphic. Who did this graphic? Why? Why didn't you show "somebody else"? We don't just let images out willy-nilly! Um, I din't pass it around because it didn't seem necessary, based on the info I got. So no real trouble, just a pain in the buttocks, a teeny bit of embarrassment. Didn't help that I was in an unusually foul mood the day that issue broke.

This morning, a third "somebody" comes up to me and says, "Hey, you remember that thing you designed a couple of months ago, right?" Um, no, no I don't. Can you be more vague? Finally it boiled down to me saying "If you are talking about the thing I think you're talking about, I doubt I kept it as everyone told me they didn't like it. But I'm not sure we are talking about the same thing. Do you have a print-out of it?" To which this fellow says, "If I had a picture of it I wouldn't need it from you." Touche. Fortunately he found whatever the graphic was he needed, or I suppose I might still be searching for the damn thing. And I still don't know what graphic we were discussing!

This is why, when I drive past the eager young students walking down the street to the local design school, portfolios and Art Bins in tow, I feel like shouting "No! Don't be a designer! If you can find a job, they'll suck all the joy out of you! You fools!"