As some of you may know Carpal Fonil is the blog for Fonil Design (there is a link to the right) and Fonil Design is, essentially, a graphic and web design company. As anyone involved in the graphic design industry knows the value of our services are constantly undermined by a client base that doesn't really understand what it is we do other than tweak images on a computer screen. This, combined with increased access to computers and graphic design software, has led people to believe that professional graphic designers are unnecessary and overpriced. Clients expecting spec-work, Photoshop amateurs and graphic designers unwilling to even try and educate clients have created a climate of desperation, back stabbing and resentment (okay, that might be a little dramatic but I haven't thought of a better way to word it yet …). More than anything it is the computer, and a misunderstanding of its function(s), that have people believing that anyone who can operate a computer can do anything on it, failing to realise the most important work (inspiration, creativity, technical knowledge, problem solving, pre-press, practical knowledge, etc) happens in the head. Having said that I have begun to detect a new 'enemy' of graphic designers, one who, really, should be an ally. They are printing companies that offer design services. I don't mean printing companies with graphic designers in house –which is fine as they are still employing graphic designers– but printing companies that offer clients online methods of, more or less, automatically 'designing' their own stationery and bypassing any need for a graphic designer. Aside from taking work away from a graphic designer they are also doing their client a disservice insofar as not offering them a greater degree of creative and practical service. This is tantamount to graphic designers buying basic printers and paper and avoiding having their work sent to a professional printer. Of course I am aware that most good printers would never offer so-called online services but the number of automated all-in-one online-design-to-print services are increasing –and I haven't even touched on the 'deals' offered via online logo development companies et al– and I propose we make a point of pointing them out and calling them on it (For the past month I've been emailing one local company printlux.com asking whether they are a print company or a print company trying to put graphic designers out of business and they refuse to reply). Maybe it is idealistic but it would be encouraging to think that professional graphic designers could conduct themselves in a manner where competition is based on a clients interest in the work we do rather than how little we can charge for it. If you are a graphic design and are interested please 'comment' on any companies you come across that offer such online services and, once we've compiled a few, we'll post them here. Thank you, Carpal Fonil