The following is an excerpt from a letter written by honorees who had been nominated for
The Cooper Hewett 2006 National Design Awards. The award is perhaps the most prestigious honor to be given to a person or group in the Visual Communication/Design field. So prestigious is this award that the first lady herself is the honorary chair of the proceedings.
No one in his/her right mind would turn this honor down without a DAMN GOOD REASON. But, alas, the heroes who drafted the letter had found perhaps the best reason, which makes me feel all squishy about being a Graphic Designer (something I haven't felt for a long time~!)
Enjoy:
Here is the letter that Michael Rock, Susan Sellers and Georgie Stout, from this year's winning firm, 2x4, and Paula Scher and Stefan Sagmeister, respectively finalist and winner for 2005, sent to the White House:
Dear Mrs. Bush:
As American designers, we strongly believe our government should support the design profession and applaud the White House sponsorship of the Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum. And as finalists and recipients of the National Design Award in Communication Design we are deeply honored to be selected for this recognition. However, we find ourselves compelled to respectfully decline your invitation to visit the White House on July 10th.
Please read the rest here.