Earlier this week, Squarespace, a creative platform for people to engineer their own websites, launched a new feature. Squarespace Logo now allows users to easily generate a logo and add their name and tagline.
The Logo generator sounds helpful, but what happens to all of those designers who would normally be employed to create these logos? Squarespace’s drag and drop logo method belittles talented designers who have trained to create meaningful creative work for a living. Let’s not forget the individuals who created these logo designs without compensation.
The critics made their voices heard after the Logo generator debuted. Many accused Squarespace of devaluing design work. Some are worried that this type of tool could put creatives out of a job. Squarespace quickly responded to the backlash on their blog by saying:
“It is not a replacement for the brand identity a professional designer can craft and deserves to be compensated for. We expect Logo, much like Squarespace itself, to drive more people to appreciate the importance of design, leading to increased demand for professional creative services.”
Yes, that sounds well and good, but the accessibility of this new tool is what has the potential to wipe out an industry. Squarespace is headed down a slippery slope. By providing inexpensive alternatives to the public, many young and talented creatives are essentially being told that they have little value in the industry. Where does this leave the creative community? What does the landscape look like when everyone’s logo is a silhouette of a kitten with some copy? Let us know in the comments below.