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Friday, September 09, 2005

LOREM IPSUM DELOR SIT AMET

A.k.a. What they forgot to teach you in design school (continued)

If you’re in design you probably know what “Greek text” or “filler text” is. At least you should. But what they forgot to teach you in design school is how to explain it to your client.



Here’s a typical conversation

Client: Here’s what I was thinking for my marketing piece. I’d like a couple pictures of lions and tiger, or any wild cat. You can just pull something off the Internet…

Me (thinking to myself): Here we go again (actually said) I really don’t think it’s a good idea to take images off the internet. Falls under copyright infringement.

Client: Well, just scan something from a magazine…oh, and I don’t have a lot of the verbiage yet.

Me (hoping client didn’t just see my eyes roll to the back of my head): How much copy do you think there will be, how many words? I can leave space for the text.

Client: Oh probably 50 to 100. Can I see a draft by the end of the day? Get a feel for where we’re at?

Me (thinking to myself): Oh sure not a problem, I can just rip this one right out of my butt. (Actually said) I’ll see what I can do.

4.5 hours later. My first draft is complete. I’ve successfully broken every code of ethics of a designer “borrowing” images from the Internet and I used filler “Greek” text for the missing verbiage allowing for 300 words (who was the client kidding anyway?) I email the draft and await the inevitable.

Client (after 20 minuets of ripping the piece apart): …and what is all this gibberish?

Me: That’s just Greek text. Gives you an idea of how the piece will look once the actual text is in place.

Client: But I don’t speak Greek. Nobody will be able to understand this.

Me: Don’t worry about it, its not really text.

Client: So, where is the space for my verbiage? It doesn’t really look like you left me any room for my story.

Me: Your story will replace the Greek text. Did you have your verbiage ready?

Client: Yes, but I can’t translate it into Greek, you’re going to have to do it for me I guess.

Me: What? No….It’s just…Oh never mind. Email me your verbiage, I’ll make the changes you want and get another proof out this evening.

Next day.

Client: This looks pretty good, but what happened to the Greek text?

Me: The Greeks wouldn’t let me use it so I put your story in place of it.

Client: That’s o.k. I was really worried nobody would understand it anyway.

Me: I understand.

Even my brief stint teaching Mac basics left an entire classroom slack jawed and glassy eyed when I used Greek text to demonstrate paragraph justification (keep in mind, this was 10+ years ago and programs weren’t quite as sophisticated as they are now).

Me: Any questions?

Student: What does that say?

Me: This is just Greek text; it’s just for demonstration purposes.

Student: Is it going to be on a test, because I can’t read it?

Me: No. I just wanted to give you an idea of how justification affects a paragraph.

Student: Well, can I get a print out of that just in case? I’ll have my grandma look at it, she’s from Italy, and maybe she can tell me what it says.

Me: Don’t worry about the text. That will be covered in detail in your design layout class. I believe the instructor is Greek.

posted by me | 9:46 AM | 7 comments

Comments: Post a Comment


I've had many confused comments about Greek text over the years. It's not a complicated concept. People just don't get it. Just a couple weeks ago I had a lady think that it was just part of the design. Like I wanted to give the design some foreign appeal or something. I said "No, that's just where your text goes," but she still didn't get it.

# posted by Blogger dan : 9/11/2005 3:25 PM  

Oh how I sympathize. How bout the client that sends you pictures to use in their brochure they've stolen from the internet and you have to have the "resolution" talk with them. (because you're past even worrying about copyrights at this point)

Oh and the client that gives you bullet points for text and wants you to flesh it out.

# posted by Blogger babyjewels : 9/13/2005 9:07 AM  

HA! Yes, the resolution talk, have had it many times.

Here's a nifty for you. I had an open spot on a press run. My printer GAVE it to me. That's right, for nothing. Instead of using it for myself I composed an easy to read 1 sheet explaination of "resolution", comprised mainly of visuals. Gave one to each and every client, contact of the moment. I think they just thought it was a pretty poster. Most of them hung it on their cubical walls....to liven up the place.

You should see the things I have had to run out and get a pic of on my own (the latest being the corn field in my backyard for a piece on "biomass energy"). I had to completely photograph a 'call for entries' for an art contest. Not that I don't like to use the camera, but come on people, you've already kicked the shit out of me in the graphics industry, at least leave me my photography.

"..flesh it out." Again HA! That is soooo true.

Client: Hi I'm a neurolgist and my boss wants me to put together a trifold brochure for client's explaining what we do. So here's my list, take some initiative, be creative and make me sound good.

Me: NO PROBLEM! I'm an expert in nervous system disorders!...no seriously, I am..... I mean...you have no idea.....oh never mind...hope you don't mind if its in greek text."

# posted by Blogger Colleen : 9/13/2005 10:16 PM  

This post has been removed by a blog administrator.

# posted by Blogger hotpinksox : 10/04/2005 1:44 PM  

I have been known to use this instead of "Lorem ipsum dolor"

"This is not real copy. The client will provide correct copy to put in this space. What you are reading here is to get an idea of what the final piece will look like. It is just a place holder. This is not real copy, stop read now."

As for the resolution talk, I have final just said "no images from the internet." The client was NOT happy but final got it after see the final product.

Thanks for the good laugh.

# posted by Blogger hotpinksox : 10/04/2005 1:45 PM  

I've tried to use actual txt like that in the past. But I rely to heavily on my clients to look over things. Which we all know, usually isn't thorough. And I have a tendency to try to be "funny" with my fake text. So I have had things go out with BAD mistakes, for instance:

Booklet describing speakers at a conference with their picture and topic of discussion. Didn't know the names of a few of the speakers so, under a pseudo picture of some guy, as placement txt I wrote "Richard Head, Phd., Head of Proctology, at a hospital. Topic: When poking goes bad."

Spell check catches Lorem Ipsum...it doesn't catch Dick Head.

I didn't like that job anyway.

# posted by Blogger Colleen : 10/05/2005 12:00 PM  

People are frigging stupid. I dunno how we sometimes have the patience to put up with such insanity. Maybe you should learn Greek... or at least Greek insults... if you catch my drift. :P

# posted by OpenID wardrich : 5/20/2008 11:41 PM  


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