Sometimes I’d like graphic design to be governed by absolute truths, but in reality it just doesn’t shake out that way. The same things that make graphic design attractive are the things that drive designers nuts. Your blank page can mean incredible freedom or become a frustrating white box governed by project-specific limitations. Like it or not, designs are made to be viewed and sized-up by an audience.
The Dance
Too often designers either arrogantly ignore the direction/feedback of clients or they flounder under pressure and miss opportunities to defend their decisions. It’s a delicate dance, but one that requires mutual respect.
The creative process itself builds a connection between the designer and design forged in time, problem-solving and revisions all in the pursuit of perfection. In design, as in marriage, you have to view each situation in the context of the big picture. A healthy dose of “treat others as you’d like to be treated” goes a long way in making a project go smoothly. Again, mutual respect and focus on the goal keep discussions productive and (mostly) drama free.
Pipes of our Profession: a laundry analogy
One challenge of being a designer today is the increased popularity of crowdsourced design work and hobbyist designers doing speculative work to get projects. Just because someone can take a stab at something doesn’t mean they know what they’re doing. For example, my family recently purchased a new washing machine and I did a little handiwork. I installed a new drain pipe from the washer to the floor drain and did my best to make it look professional (hold your applause while I make my point). Now, I’m not a plumber just because I can glue some PVC pipe together. Sure it got the job done, but will it last? Will I ruin our new washer because I don’t know what I’m doing? Possibly. Can it handle weekly abuse from our growing family? I hope so. While not every project requires a professional, it’s good to know where to turn when that moment arrives.
The same principle widely applies to many careers, including design. Professional designers are professionals, not hobbyists. There is a difference between your cousin who makes websites and someone who has training and experience under their belt.
Unfortunately basic design foundations like gestalt, typographic readability, color theory, and others are often unknown to the DIY weekend warrior. Training and experience don’t always trump, but when you’ve designed over 400 websites, you learn a few things. I want clients to feel valued, included and understood. In-turn, I get to learn about their cause and what makes them tick. Learning to harness the endless possibilities in a blank canvas can be rewarding with a daily goal check. It is incredibly satisfying to earn the trust of a client through results and watch their business flourish around an identity that will grow with them. It’s not just satisfying, it’s my job.
