Rimmel Edits the Face Off Zooey Deschanel

Bow down to the power of Photoshop in a photo editor's mighty mouse grip!  They'll make fembots of us all!  Resistance is futile!  Assimilate now!

Really, Rimmel?  I mean, if you wanted the vapid "I'm-so-bored-I-can't-even-care-enough-to-have-an-expression" generic model look, you could have saved  yourself a ton of cash and hired any one of those bazillion girls milling around the Ford Modeling Agency. Or just take a drive around any suburban mall.  I'm sure any one of those girls would have done it, for like, a Hollister shirt.

But isn't the point of hiring someone like Zooey Deschanel as the face of your cosmetics line the fact that she is uniquely beautiful?  So why in the hell-o would you photoshop all of that uniqueness right off her gorgeous face?  Even her stunning eyes have been messed with.  Why why why???

I'm always fascinated by "photoshop disasters" - those hilarious-yet-sad horrendously bad photoshop photo manipulations that inexplicably make it to print. Models missing an arm, a hand appearing out of thin air, obvious use of the liquify tool all make me feel more confident about being able to find a job. I mean, if these morons are gainfully employed, then there is hope for me, right?!

But I am also fascinated by photoshop disasters that go beyond the humorous mishap. Like this one:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1343026/Bollywood-star-Aishwarya-Rai-Bachchan-left-furious-alleged-skin-whitening-Elle-magazine-cover.html

Basically, the Indian actress is rightfully upset that her skin has been lightened on the cover of Elle magazine. It is amazing to me that the editors of Elle find it acceptable to alter reality in this way, and expect their consumers to buy into it like spoon-fed sheep. I personally had never heard of this actress before, but she obviously has many fans who did recognize her and instantly noticed what had been done. It would be like someone taking a picture of Beyonce and lightening her complexion.....oh wait...that has been done.

This goes beyond the casual over-zealous photo edit. The greater implication of this is who decides what is acceptable? Who decides what is beautiful? Someone had to approve the final edit and decide that this actress looked better on their cover as a lighter version. What kind of message is this sending to the public? Beauty is not generic. Beauty is not only found in a size negative three pasty white girl. Beauty is diverse.

These lessons can be applied in design as well. Don't just design for the generic. Don't allow misconceptions of what is beautiful or accepted to drive your design. Stay true to yourself and your convictions and the beauty will shine through.