Graham King

Solvitas perambulum

Quote of the day: Why racists have bad graphic design

society quote
Summary
Charlie Brooker criticizes a television advert by the British National Party (BNP), emphasizing that extremist content often appears gaudy and cheap, akin to a bad pizza menu. He attributes this not to a lack of resources but to the fact that those skilled in design are usually thoughtful and inquisitive, qualities that make them averse to fascism. Brooker points out that if the BNP truly represented greatness, they would secure top-tier designers like Jonathan Ive, but instead, their visual presentation is jarring and unrefined, highlighting their lack of sophistication and appeal.

Charlie Brooker on a television advert by the British National Party, England’s (very small) right-wing political party:

Extremist material of any kind always looks gaudy and cheap, like a bad pizza menu. Not because they can’t afford decent computers – these days you can knock up a professional CD cover on a pay-as-you-go mobile – but because anyone who’s good at graphic design is likely to be a thoughtful, inquisitive sort by nature.

And thoughtful, inquisitive sorts tend to think fascism is a bit shit, to be honest. If the BNP really were the greatest British party, they’d have the greatest British designer working for them – Jonathan Ive, perhaps, the man who designed the iPod. But they don’t. They’ve got someone who tries to stab your eyes out with primary colours.

Read the article: Charlie Brooker on the BNP and their political broadcast.