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After watching this movie with classmates are several things that stand out it’s funny that a movie as old as this one could have so many themes that are relevant today. One issue that i really thought about after this movie was;

Standing up for your ideals and beliefs?

It seems that nowadays the client is always right. We create work that is custom designed to cater to clients needs. Often if the client wishes to change or modify any aspect of our design we simply do it or in the best case scenario try to educate our clients on the consequences this change may make.

As a designer line between artistic creativity and managing what the client wants and is willing to pay for his constant balancing act.

In The Fountainhead we see our hero taking very hard stance defending his designs and beliefs when confronted with clients that want to make changes and modifications to his design. We also see him paying for these consequences. Others choose not to work with them, clients would not hire him, and the professional community blacklisted him. In his mind these were necessary sacrifices in order to maintain his integrity and creative freedom.

These characteristics ultimately lead to our heroes success. By sticking to his guns and only working with people who are willing to allow him the freedom than he desired he finallybroke through and became very successful.

What I think the protagonists of the movie found, was a niche in the marketplace. He was able to identify clients that were willing to pay a premium for his services. These where also clients that would be easy for him to maintain a relationship with because they respected his work and his process.

While good design and a good designer will always be subject of debate. Understanding how you work and am having clients that respect this process is always a plus.

We all have our own way of doing things, and our own set of beliefs and ideas about what we feel are appropriate. Learning to stand up for your own beliefs and being willing to take the consequences that may come with them is a valuable lesson for all of us.

At the end of the day all we are really looking for is a way to be respected for what it is we do.

Cover art from Ayn Rand’s The Fountainhead