3. The Design

The time has come for step three — the final design. It is just as gratifying as it is daunting. And there are many challenges at this stage, too.

When I met up with my team leader for a 1-on-1 meeting to assess my work, I heard that one of my best traits is that I don’t complain. They meant it in the sense that I’m flexible and open to feedback/critique, and don’t get offended when someone tries to change My Idea™. First of all, life is learning to work with other people. That means different ideas and worldviews, which may often lead to conflicts. Whatever you design, unless it’s for your own gallery show, you do it for other people. And let’s face it, you may be a pro designer but you can’t know everything in every field. That’s why strong teams have members with different skills.

I’ve always preferred to work alone for many reasons. However now, working for a big company on many projects, I really appreciate working in a team. I simply discovered that not allowing any feedback or changes closes you off from reviewing your idea, looking at it from the point of view of an outsider. It actually really prevents you from learning, and getting better at design.

That being said, there’s also the issue of having your own style vs honoring the client’s needs. I think illustrators might have it worse than other creatives because what we make really has to fit specific brand or medium requirements. And while we are often recruited because of our unique style, we are later asked to abandon it to create things in a style that we don’t feel the most confident in. That’s a huge problem, and it’s very hard to overcome or balance.

Personally, I think when we work for a brand, we promote it, not ourselves. That’s why I usually try to change my mindset and follow the brandbook. However, would we be creatives if we didn’t at least try and add our own twist to the design? If you treat it like a challenge, it actually makes the work more entertaining and no one can say you’ve become dull.

And Another Thing

Also, we live in such a fast world. Everything is ASAP or not at all. Obviously, that doesn’t help to create great designs. What we all need to remember is that being creative rarely means coming up with the perfect design on the spot. It’s a process and an evolution. You have to try a million ideas, and tweak them until they become the best version of themselves. While the brain loves repetition, looking at the same design for hours on end won’t help, either. I can’t tell you how many times I didn’t notice a typo or a silly thing I accidentally created just because I was so tired of looking at it all, and stopped seeing the design as a whole.

What we all need to remember is that being creative rarely means coming up with the perfect design on the spot. It’s a process and an evolution.

That’s why we all need to take breaks. It keeps us less bored, motivated, and helps us see the design in a new light. Just as with important decisions (don’t make them when: a) you are hungry, b) you are angry, c) it’s night) — sleep on it! Or “sleep on them” metaphorically: get up, get some coffee, work on some other project for a while. It really helps.

And another thing! (And it’s not just for designers to remember, but for everyone!) No, you literally can’t sit ten hours in front of your screen. It’s neither good for your body (hello sore eyes and huge headaches) nor your creativity. I understand ASAPs, but if you’re dead tired, you won’t be any good at work. It’s a fact, and it’s not as widely-accepted as it should be. If we respect our bodies a little, our minds will benefit too!

So, that’s all for today, class! The road to balance is long and winding, but I’m sure you’re already one step closer to achieving it.

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