Australia is proposing a ban on branded packaging for tobacco products, which may be the first time a government has ever attempted to legislate bad design.

Now, cigarette boxes Down Under already carry these incredibly ghastly images of diseased organs. But under the proposed law, according to the WSJ, "...the tobacco industry would be prohibited from using logos, colors, brand imagery or promotional text on tobacco product packaging. The brand name would be reduced to small, uniform letters at the bottom of each pack."

Boy, I've worked with tough design guidelines before, but this is ridiculous. Can you imagine the creative presentation to the client when you show the new packaging? "Yes, the product name goes here, in 8 point Helvetica Light, at the very bottom. We intentionally went with all caps to divert your eye away from the lymphoid tumors."

So I ask, is this an appropriate and necessary government response to a legitimate public health issue or a nanny-state autocratic overreach for political points?

Or, perhaps more importantly, will it work? Will taking away the brand keep people from buying a product that can kill them? And if so, what does that mean, brand-wise, for the plethora of dangerous and addictive products we consume everyday?

Good questions.

Me? I'd rather help find a way for our industry to make a positive impact on the world and keep the FTC out of my creative presentations.