I am uncoachable! 4040 Responses

Last post: 1 month, 3 weeks ago | Thread started: May 9, 08, 1:14 p.m.

RespondNew TopicDisable Images

• epigraph

  I have been told by my AD that I am "difficult to coach" i.e. I can't take direction or criticism.

  To me, if I think think my design choice is better than yours, I am going to explain why, and ask you to do the same.

  I know I need to learn to get along, so how does everyone else do it? Is it just a swallow your pride thing?

  May 9, 08, 1:14 p.m. – Permalink

• imnotadesigner

  What the hell are you talking about? Im never wrong!

  

  You must be logged in to add a note. Login now or register for an account.

  Cancel

  Dog-earMay 9, 08, 1:16 p.m. – Permalink

• capsize

  take the money and run

  • grab the girl, too.– dskz

  

  You must be logged in to add a note. Login now or register for an account.

  Cancel

  Dog-earMay 9, 08, 1:16 p.m. – Permalink

• gramme

  Yes. Didn't come naturally to me either. It's not about being right all the time. There are ways to humbly make other suggestions to your AD.

  Chances are, your AD is a better designer than you. If you can honestly say this is not the case, then quit, post haste.

  • yup. it's nice to play devils advocate but you gotta pick and chose your battles. sometimes you just gotta accept you're wrong.– kona1/2

    accept you're wrong.– kona2/2

  

  You must be logged in to add a note. Login now or register for an account.

  Cancel

  Dog-earMay 9, 08, 1:16 p.m. – Permalink

• flavorful

  It's called not being a whiny bitch when things don't go the way you planned or envisioned.

  • thats right– imnotadesigner1/2

    YES! Thank you Flavorful!!!!– SoupCan2/2

  

  You must be logged in to add a note. Login now or register for an account.

  Cancel

  Dog-earMay 9, 08, 1:17 p.m. – Permalink

• CALLES

  freelance

  

  You must be logged in to add a note. Login now or register for an account.

  Cancel

  Dog-earMay 9, 08, 1:17 p.m. – Permalink

• flashbender

  if it makes you feel better I have been described as an arrogant perfectionist.

  Depending on where the criticism is coming from, yeah, sometimes you just have to swallow your pride and say "Sure thing."

  Also I was told by a director that sometimes the difference between "good" and "good enough" isn't enough to worry about

  • I hear you on that...pick your battles– epigraph1/2

    for the record I am neither arrogant or a perfectionist - I am confident with an attention to detail.– flashbender2/2

  

  You must be logged in to add a note. Login now or register for an account.

  Cancel

  Dog-earMay 9, 08, 1:17 p.m. – Permalink

• CALLES

  not all designers can work under someone

  

  You must be logged in to add a note. Login now or register for an account.

  Cancel

  Dog-earMay 9, 08, 1:17 p.m. – Permalink

• epigraph

  I am working freelance(inhouse) right now mostly forthe money and experience....I honestly feel that the changes she makes will look horrible in my portfolio

  • don't put it in your portfolio– kupia1/9

    she is obviously working with the client in mind and you're thinking of your folio– josimar2/9

    yep what you said josimar– epigraph3/9

    haha, and you see nothing WRONG with that?!?!?!? erm, the CLIENT COMES FIRST!!!!!!– josimar4/9

    if your design decisions are based upon what will look good in your folio maybe you could learn something from the AD...put your ego aside.– monkeyshine5/9

    no I was agreeing with you. you changed my viewpoint...– epigraph6/9

    AD. Put your ego aside and perhaps you'll surprise yourself by what you learn.– monkeyshine7/9

    fair enough! :)– josimar8/9

    save a copy before you make the changes and put that in your port. and yes, client comes before portfolio, every time.– sintaxera9/9

  

  You must be logged in to add a note. Login now or register for an account.

  Cancel

  Dog-earMay 9, 08, 1:18 p.m. – Permalink

• kupia

  your AD is giving you direction because he/she is telling you what they want from you. if you don't want to take the direction then that will make them think negatively about you. when they criticize they're saying what they want changed to make them happy.

  make AD happy=raise and/or career advancement

  make AD unhappy=...unemployment?

  it's the same in every job that you have to work for someone else and you're not the boss. no matter what you do.

  it's ok to say 'I think there might be a better way" once in a while but pick your battles.

  • or what Calles said!
    FREELANCE! AYE =)– kupia

  

  You must be logged in to add a note. Login now or register for an account.

  Cancel

  Dog-earMay 9, 08, 1:19 p.m. – Permalink

• spendogg

  I had a difficult designer once who would only take direction well if she could execute. If she couldn't she would come up with every excuse in the book not to do it.

  There are many was to do things, just make sure you are not being an A-hole about it.

  

  You must be logged in to add a note. Login now or register for an account.

  Cancel

  Dog-earMay 9, 08, 1:19 p.m. – Permalink

• flavorful

  If you're uncoachable you're basically worthless.

  • is this a serious comment?– epigraph1/10

    aye.... Mon, then– 7point342/10

    Yes. That was me being serious. I'd fire you on the spot if I thought you weren't coachable, or didn't want to be coached.– flavorful3/10

    coached. I'm here to tell you ... yes your shit does stink.– flavorful4/10

    shouldn't you be taking out the trash Jerome?– spendogg5/10

    I like you too Flavorful.
    I likes the way you think =)– kupia6/10

    man flavorful, I bet you take criticism worse than anyone here...talk about shit not stinking!– epigraph7/10

    I am the most succesful garbageman in the history of garbagemen MY VOICE WILL BE HEARD!!!– flavorful8/10

    Wow ... way to spin that one, haha. You really got me!– flavorful9/10

    Jerome = hockey fan ;)– Jaline10/10

  

  You must be logged in to add a note. Login now or register for an account.

  Cancel

  Dog-earMay 9, 08, 1:20 p.m. – Permalink

• dskz

  BAH your like JR Rider.

  

  You must be logged in to add a note. Login now or register for an account.

  Cancel

  Dog-earMay 9, 08, 1:20 p.m. – Permalink

• CALLES

  are you one of those Moby cocky arrogant full of the latest gadget that walk around like your shit dont stink

  *punches epigraph in the eye glasses

  • yeah, just cuz you have emo glasses doesn't mean you are good at stuff– spendogg1/7

    no... my cell phone is 6 years old and can't take pictures =)– epigraph2/7

    RIGHT IN THE FUCKING EYE GLASSES!!!– flavorful3/7

    hahaha damn it, I wanted that to be the first note.– flavorful4/7

    excellent question.
    I like you, CALLES.
    – kupia5/7

    thanks!– CALLES6/7

    A whole new found respect for calles.– SoupCan7/7

  

  You must be logged in to add a note. Login now or register for an account.

  Cancel

  Dog-earMay 9, 08, 1:21 p.m. – Permalink

• imnotadesigner

  Ive been doing this for 8 years now, some of you have more of experience others have less but all I have to say is you have to choose your battles. If you dont, no one will take you serious.

  Also, take what your AD is saying, absorb it, and think before you speak.

  

  You must be logged in to add a note. Login now or register for an account.

  Cancel

  Dog-earMay 9, 08, 1:23 p.m. – Permalink

• dskz

  When Jordan hogged the ball, they didnt win championships.

  

  You must be logged in to add a note. Login now or register for an account.

  Cancel

  Dog-earMay 9, 08, 1:24 p.m. – Permalink

• epigraph

  Well thanks for all of your advice, but I think mine is better!

  • your probably right– dskz1/4

    so why'd you post? If I was your AD I'd cuff you on the back of the neck… Kid now adays…– imnotadesigner2/4

    nice, wanna be my art director?– epigraph3/4

    Nah… I have enough whiners to babysit ;)– imnotadesigner4/4

  

  You must be logged in to add a note. Login now or register for an account.

  Cancel

  Dog-earMay 9, 08, 1:29 p.m. – Permalink

• mrdobolina

  remember the chain of command and who signs your checks in these situations. yours may very well be better but is it worth it?

  

  You must be logged in to add a note. Login now or register for an account.

  Cancel

  Dog-earMay 9, 08, 1:31 p.m. – Permalink

• SoupCan

  Your not coachable means your not listening... part of being a good designer is listening. You need to learn to be a "there you are" person for a while instead of a "here I am" person. get the facts (you don't have to agree) however they will help you to solve the design problem. You have to be able to bend. and when you do, do it gracefully and come back with what they are asking for but better.

  • oooh they so sensitive!– SoupCan1/3

    thank you that is actually helpful– epigraph2/3

    you're still a punk.– SoupCan3/3

  

  You must be logged in to add a note. Login now or register for an account.

  Cancel

  Dog-earMay 9, 08, 1:32 p.m. – Permalink

• flavorful

  How To Take Criticism 101:
  - Act like you care what the other person is saying.
  - Take one of their points and simply repeat aloud to yourself in kind of a introspective manner.
  - All the while in your head thinking how fucking stupid the person is and how you haven't yet reached a level in your career that constitutes you not being criticized (for the record ... you're never going to get to that level ... ever).

  After awhile it becomes second nature and you're numb to it.

  

  You must be logged in to add a note. Login now or register for an account.

  Cancel

  Dog-earMay 9, 08, 1:33 p.m. – Permalink

• CodenameAM

  kupia that a silly way of looking at working with or for an AD or CD.

  Point 1, you are there to do a good, and the AD wants to get the best out of you, and wants to point you in the right direction for the client and the end result. At the end of the day if you don't agree with the AD, you can make you point heard, but don't act like a child, remember this piece of work is for a client and not your folio!

  If you are always questioning your AD responses then maybe after the project sit down with him/her and go through your views and find out way these were not chosen.

  Design is all about choice and maybe on this case the AD has a better understanding of the client and the projects, hence why he/she is an AD.

  • you're right, she has the client in mind, and I don't...guess I have been seeing it the wrong way– epigraph1/2

    illiterate much?– kupia2/2

  

  You must be logged in to add a note. Login now or register for an account.

  Cancel

  Dog-earMay 9, 08, 1:33 p.m. – Permalink