Lars Pind

internet software, coaching, and entrepreneurship

Lars Pind - internet software, coaching, and entrepreneurship
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It's a craft, not an art form

November 07, 2004 · 4 comments

Reading Anothony Bourdain’s amazing book Kitchen Confidential, and this quote caught my eye:

Cooking is a craft, I like to think, and a good cook is a craftsman—not an artist. There’s nothing wrong with that: the great cathedrals of Europe were built by craftsmen—though not desigend by them. Practicing your craft in expert fashion is noble, honorable and satisfying. And I’ll generally take a stand-up mercenary who takes pride in his professionalism over an artist any day. When I hear "artist," I think of someone who doesn’t think it necessary to show up at work on time. More often than not artists’ efforts, convinced as they are of their own genius, are geared more to giving themselves a hard-on than satisfying the great majority of dinner customers.
The same clearly goes for people in the software business. We’re here to serve a purpose for our customers, not to engage in self-expression.

I’ve met particularly many graphic designers prone to artistry, which makes me even happier that I’ve found Sille, a true craftswoman.

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4 responses so far ↓

  • 1 Simon Carstensen // Nov 07, 2004 at 07:09 PM

    Paul Graham will not be happy Paul Graham will not be happy :)

  • 2 Lars Pind // Nov 08, 2004 at 10:42 AM

    Are you sure? I'm saying craft, which is opposed to both artist and engineer. When you need an artist, by all means, get one. But when you need to get a job done, when you need your web application designed so it works well for whomever it's designed for, get a craftsman or woman. What would Paul not like about that?

  • 3 Rasmus Jensen // Nov 12, 2004 at 08:45 PM

    Well... Certainly agree - but I guess the trick is to know WHEN to get the artist....or the craftsman ;)

  • 4 Christina Wodtke // Nov 30, 2004 at 09:03 PM

    read the soul of a chef (I'm reading the first book, the making of a chef.. somehow I got them out of order) where the chef who passionately believes in craft, not art, has his mind changed by french laundry... then read anthony's second book where the same thing happenes with him at the French Laundry, then get on open table.com around midnight PST... and get yourself a table!