Am I a bad designer?
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- visual_infection
Whenever I get a project, (I work in the design department for a non-profit) it seems like I sit down, sketch out a few comps and try to plan, as much as possible the look for the peice that I am working on.
However, I would only say maybe 10% of the time, I actually realize what I was trying to accomplish. Some of that may be attributed to my workload, which is quite substantial. (Thankfully, I can say that) So I don't have a lot of time to really play with my designs.
I should establish that my first goal is always accessabliity and readability. I wouldn't turn anything over that doesn't effectively convey the information or message that it was supposed to convey.
I usually end up with something the client or my boss really likes, but it's not what I was going for, my goals were to strive higher than what I acheived.
Do other people have this problem? Is it a problem? I usually just end up with "happy accidents". I know design isn't a step-by-step, cookie-cutter process, but does that make me any less of a designer then?
Are other people left as unsatisfied as I am when they turn a project over? Like they left something on the table?
I just have been grappling with this recently and wondering if other people do as well.
- Jnr_Madison0
At least you still care.
- baseline_shift0
Ive turned to other creative outlets to fulfill my creative needs.
Reality based client interactions have sort of dried the passionate exploration i used to go for in my 9-5 designing. Sucks, i guess.
Doing personal design work, and an increased interest in guitar have helped me redirect my creative needs (and frustrations) outside of the workplace.
- i wouldnt say it makes you a bad designer, though.baseline_shift
- That's a good idea. I have been diggin on flipflopflyin recently.visual_infection
- or finding some sort of blog outlet or something.visual_infection
- ukit0
You will never improve if you aren't unhappy with the current state of things.
- deepbrandelec
- But can I be too unhappy with things but still be effective at my job?visual_infection
- study shows depression produces better designersbrandelec
- designbot0
I hear you. For me it's usually a great concept that starts in my head, then ends up only looking about 60% (if that) on the screen of what my idea was. I do mostly web so there is always the converting to web safe fonts and other downfalls that come along with web work. After all is said and done, alot of times I'm not very stoked about what I produced. Usually I'm thinking the work is "solid" but it's rare I get really stoked about the work I just did. I guess this is normal though.
Like ukit said, you would never improve if you were 100% satisfied with everything you did. I know this thought helps me strive to be better. Keep at it mang! :)
- dan53820
I have actually been thinking about a new version of my contract that states that the client has hired me for a reason and that while I will accomplish there marketing goals the look is up to and approved by me.
Otherwise why hire me? I figure I don't look for them, they come to me. they are competing for my time.
- Lifeinvector0
Design is a process.
- +1
Don't confuse design with personal creative outlet / output.pylon
- +1
- AlexanderDK0
i agree.. Feel the same way.. Especially when the client is myself.. Then it is impossible..
- ninjasavant0
Paid labor is all about compromise. If you always did what you wanted then you would have to pay you. I don't view my design at work as anything but fulfilling the desires of the client with as much professional polish as possible. If the client is happy, then it is good design because it accomplishes the goal. Save your passion for the projects you have complete control over and play the hired gun for the funds to keep them going. My view anyway.
- detritus0
If it were generally possible to just look at a problem or a spec, pseudo-solve it and develop the resultant product wholly in keeping with the outline, there'd be a lot less money in graphic design.
Or a whole lot more, amongst many fewer designers.
As lifeinvector says - design's a process. Dare I shit out of my mouth and call it an 'evolution'?
- "Intelligent mouth shitting"ukit
- which is to say - "No - you're not a bad designer. Well, you may be - but then everyone else is too by that metric".detritus
- So we all suck?visual_infection
- Rand0
I've never designed anything as well as I had hoped
- we both suckRand
- hahabaseline_shift
- so truevisual_infection
- everyone sucksukit
- visual_infection0
Oh, I totally understand about comprimise. But the great/good work you see out there embraces the comprimise and constraints that are placed before them. At least to me that's what it's about.
But I seem to have this disconnect in my brain. Something where I am envisioning doing great work, but what I get on paper or the screen (in my opinion) is average to servicable.
Part of it may be, as I grow older and more confortable as a designer, I don't like to hear "good job" from anyone but either the toughest critics of my work or from myself.
I am by no means saying I am long in the tooth, as far as design is concerned. I only just started doing this full-time for the past two years. But I have been a student of design my whole life.
- identity0
I would say that the mind-set is right to do GREAT things - I would take a look at the majority of the "big name" older designers out there, the majority of which didnt create anything worth a damn until about 5-10 years out of school. The internet has allowed the spread and democratization of design more so - so you're seeing more and more good work from younger and younger people, but take a look at the clients theyre doing this for... In a LOT of cases - THEY are the client - or perhaps, its their buddy's band, etc...
Keep at it - don't lose the fire - stay hungry - and if you feel you've plateued somewhere, look to be somewhere else.
- find a local non-profit... offer your services on the contingency that you have creative freedom... theyll go for itidentity
- All great points.visual_infection
- coming from a guy who, at times, feels like he's not doing enough, not getting recognition, not pushing myself...identity
- it happens to everyone - don't get too hung up on it - direct the energy toward something creative! :-Didentity
- ukit0
Well, a lot of this isn't such a mystery. Take a look at how designers that you think are good have approached a similar project. What's the difference between their work and yours? Some of it is creative ingenuity that can't be easily duplicated, but a lot of it also simply comes from following a few simple basic principles.
Do you have an understanding of good typography? Do you use a grid when you design? Do you use a scale when selecting your type sizes? Do you choose your color scheme based on some kind of basic color theory?
None of these things will necessarily lead to an especially inspired design, but they can at least lead to a certain baseline quality of decent design. If you aren't doing these things, it's time to stop complaining and worrying about your lack of skill in some abstract sense, and start learning and applying these basic principles.
- i sound like a pompous asshole.ukit
- true words don't always come out smelling like roses :-)identity
- I think it's all great stuff. You can't really sugar-coat with design, because everybodyvisual_infection
- Dare I shit out of my mouth and call it evolution?ukit
- thinks they are a designer. Computer + PS = DESIGNER! So no, I don't think you sound pompus.visual_infection
- Let me put it this way, hundreds of years ago people thought of design (or maybe art) as a craft that was supposed to be learnedukit
- to be learned. Nowadays people fall into the trap of thinking it's all individual genius.ukit
- visual_infection0
Keep at it - don't lose the fire - stay hungry - and if you feel you've plateued somewhere, look to be somewhere else.
I think that's great advice. ^
- scrap_paper0
Just use comic sans.
Aside from that, your process leads you where it leads you. I often have the same issues with creating work that is just not "great enough" for what I had imagined. The only thing I figure you can try and do is break old habits but still hold on to foundational principles of design.
And once you do all that you need a damn good salesman to sell your concepts and work to the client. Most people don't comprehend good design even if you slap them in the face with it. You need someone that understands what the client is looking for and is still able to convince them that what you have done is worth their hard stolen dollars.
- gramme0
Being hungry for improvement is always good. I hear what you're saying visual, I experience the same thing at times; but then again, sometimes things come together and the result exceeds my expectations.
Sometimes, I think as designers we fly high during the process, especially when we get an idea that excites us. But then there's the coming-down experience when it's over. I know for myself, even if the final product looks good, I get kinda bummed out when it's all done.
When that happens, I just go play with my son for a bit, hang out with the wife, eat some food, exercise, and tackle the next project. It's not entirely unlike a drug habit, really.
- skwiotsmith0
- beautiful.gramme
- I have probably watched this 20 times. I think I found it on here about 3 months ago.visual_infection
- superblukus_W
- coolsofakingbanned