Quote:
Originally Posted by
Kunlun 
This is nice but I want to post the following in these sort of threads:
For an adult and in the eyes of other adults, a clear acrylic custom looks by far the best.
That is straight-up, objective truth. Darker solid colors and translucents can look quite nice as well.
99% of custom iem art looks terrible and juvenile in people's ears.
If you have a grown-up job, don't get batman logos or you'll look like a twit at the law firm.
It seems obvious, but sometimes I wonder...
Austerity and utilitarianism have their place, I don't dispute that. As a cabinetmaker in a former life, I have long appreciated the relative merits of both flamboyant modern design (e.g. Fred Baier) and of minimalist utilitarianism (e.g. traditional Shaker furniture). I get it.
There is a place in the world for both.
With specific regard to IEMs, my viewpoint accommodates yours, but it also accommodates that of custom artwork. This is particularly relevant with IEMs because, to a far greater degree than almost any other piece of functional design, an IEM's shape and form are dictated by the natural shape of the human body. Nothing wrong with that, of course, but most would concede that the ear isn't the most aesthetically-alluring shape in the world...
The thing with a transparent IEM is that it really isn't transparent, because it's stuffed to the gills with armatures, and wiring, which can look rather messy (again, I don't have a problem with this; all I'm saying is that it's a valid standpoint). Now if one chooses to mentally-project some kind of arbitrary meaning onto another person's IEM artwork (e.g. "that's juvenile"), then that is but one possible projection out of infinite others and is no more 'right' or 'wrong' than any other. What 'matters' (I use the term relatively) is the reason why the owner chose to have artwork on the IEMs they paid their hard-earned cash for. Sure, it could be because the person really is juvenile, or it could be because they are an egotist who wants to 'stand out from the crowd' and have his or her sense of individuality reinforced and 'admired' by others. ...OR it could simply be that the owner doesn't take life too seriously and simply wanted to have some fun (for themselves) by making a rather unglamourous piece of functional design that little bit less dull.
I'm currently awaiting delivery of my first custom IEM and I had decided to go with translucent smoked-black (because I, too, appreciate minimalist, functional design, and I don't consider myself a particularly juvenile person), and then, literally at the last moment (after I'd placed the initial order, but before my impressions had been sent to the manufacturer by the dealer), I decided "heck, life's too serious, why not have some fun?"
I wouldn't necessarily pay for all of the designs I've attached to this thread, to be put into production, but some I would. Mostly this thread (for me) is about having fun with a few ideas, and no harm done.
If somebody wishes to come along and mentally-project all sorts of arbitrary attributions onto, and judgments about, IEM artwork, that's their prerogative, but it'd behoove anyone doing so to understand that that's what is occurring.
Therefore, whilst my outlook on custom artwork does accommodate the perspective that there is much merit in keeping things simple, understated, and functionalist, please don't 'presume' to speak for the majority of the 'adult' human population - they each have their own opinions, just as you have yours. Opinions and mentally-projected, entirely-arbitrary, attributions onto objects of perception could scarcely be any further from "straight-up, 'objective' 'truth' ". Any form of fundamentalist viewpoint that one holds the 'true' answer, and that this supposed 'truth' is shared by the majority of 'non-juvenile' 'adults' and is 'objective' is, dare I say it, heading somewhat in the general direction of delusion.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Kunlun
For an adult and in the eyes of other adults, a clear acrylic custom looks by far the best.
That is straight-up, objective truth.
Each to their own, friend; I'm sure your transparent IEMs look very nice and I hope you enjoy them. For my part, I shall enjoy mine with artwork on them. Should we pass each other in the street, it will be your prerogative to project an arbitrary attribution onto me, as to my motives for having artwork, should you so wish, and it will also be your right to feel very superior to me, should you so wish. You may even choose to think I must be a virgin... For my part, I'll look and silently think "oh, that person's got customs, too; they sound fantastic, don't they? The transparent looks nice, I hope they are as happy with theirs as I am with mine", and walk on.
Edited by Mython - 11/30/11 at 6:25am
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