September 5th, 2007
Be A Beautiful Designer
Michael Bierut has written perhaps one of the most insightful pieces I’ve read all year over at Design Observer. He manages to encapsulate all of my insecurities as a designer, points a finger at designer industry at large and provides us with a big, fat ‘Get Out Of Jail Free’ card, all in one concise post.
What got you started?
If you’re a designer, what got you started on this path? I’ll wager, for most of you, it wasn’t anything to do with business, academia, or writing. For most of you it will be because you wanted to create beautiful things for a living. I did. I started out wanting to be an artist, then an illustrator and then found myself interested in type, before working on the web. As time has passed, I’ve been doing less of the very thing I wanted to do. The important thing to consider here though — this has been a choice.
Take Me Seriously
So what has been taking up my time if I’ve not been busy creating stuff? Well, the list is endless from trying to run a startup design studio through to writing specifications etc. All of that stuff is, at the moment, necessary for me to do my job. But, I’d rather just be creating something beautiful you know? Design, especially on the web, is so wrapped up in process (and most of the time, rightfully so) that the very thing we love doing, gets left to the end and is only a minority part of the process. The craft of designing something beautiful.
Personally, the bit of the job that I get a kick out of gets left to the end. I like solving problems, I like producing a solid, well-crafted solution to a client. But the bit I really get a kick out of is when I’m ‘in the zone’ creating something beautiful. That is why I’m a designer.
But that’s not good enough. As designers we’re supposed to be problem solvers — not artists, right? This horrible duality fuels insecurities and Michael has summed this up way better than I ever could:
No, what designers wanted then and want now, more than anything else, is respect. Respect from clients. Respect from the general public. Respect from — let’s go right to the cliché — our moms. We want to be seen as more than mere stylists, we want to set the agenda, to be involved earlier in the strategic process, to be granted a place at the table. In short, just like the Chaste Clarissa, we want to be taken seriously.
Does that ring a bell? It did for me.
Problem Definition Escalation
This is just brilliant. Michael explains the term thusly:
The client asks you to design a business card. You respond that the problem is really the client’s logo. The client asks you to design a logo. You say the problem is the entire identity system. The client asks you to design the identity. You say that the problem is the client’s business plan. And so forth.
As you can see, design is not just about making things pretty, it’s about business plans. Right?
This really made me chuckle. I’m sure a lot of designers have been guilty of this — I know I have. The funny thing is, as Michael points out, it’s a direct result of our insecurities as designers. We want people to think we’re clever problem solvers who can help in every step of their business. Really? I don’t know about you, but I got into design to make beautiful things and I intend to stay that way.
I’ll leave you with a closing quote from Mr. Bierut:
Designers, you don’t have to be dumb. Just don’t be so afraid of being beautiful.
‘Nuff said.
It has been a slow realisation for me that not everyone can do what I do, or see things the way I see them.
I found myself thinking about how I ended up being a designer the other day. When in school I had no idea what a designer was, I just knew I liked drawing and creating pictures. So I went to Art college and thought I’ll find out what I want to do there. I came out of the other end having gravitated towards design.
I like to think of design as translation. A definition that allows me to stumble over my words ocassionally!
Like wise, Kev. I too wanted to just draw when I was a kid. At school, Art was really the only subject that came completely naturally. I tried the academic route, and failed all three A-Levels in Chemistry, Physics and Biology (some really dodgy career advice going on there!).
Off to Art School I went to do what I should’ve done all along.
Beauty — that aim is the layer on top of all the other skills — the icing on fairy cake perhaps, and what seperates different designers. The business stuff, a solid rounded skillset and understanding of your medium is the basis for beauty though and the article is also relevant to the whole “it’s good to have constraints” thing. Is that where the insecurities come from?
I’m not sure, Simon. I think the insecurities derive from the duality Michael is talking about. Designers are always seeking respect — from clients, other designers, the industry at large — and, personally, I think it’s because a lot of designers are under pressure to rationlise what they truly love about graphic design: the craft.
I also don’t think beauty is skin deep. A beautiful solution to a design problem can be many things and I think it’s that personal connection for a designer that’s important here.
This is incredibly perceptive.
I always find myself asking clients ‘why are you doing that?’ or ‘what are you hoping to achieve?’ my problem-solving nature loves to increase its scope!
Think I need to try and stop running other people’s businesses and get on with running my own! It’s also easier to solve other people’s (perceived) problems than to get stuck in and solve your own. I like the thinking as much as the execution — which is what causes procrastination and stops me solving the problem that’s directly before me.
I’m going to chalk it up to having a massive and overactive brain, which I need to wrangle into shape on a regular basis, rather than any actual weakness on my part. :-)
What great articles (both Michael’s and yours, Mark).
It’s interesting that so many designers share a similar background or path to their profession. What strikes me as odd is that — if this is the case — why don’t more designers draw (um, literally) upon their art-based backgrounds and incorporate more illustrative elements into their work? I know it’s something I’m very keen on doing and I think my general ‘style’ reflects this. At least I hope it does!
It’d be great to see some of your drawings, Mark — do you ever find yourself itching to get back into illustration? I know I do, even though the lack of practice has dampened my drawing skills to an extent.
On a sidenote, are you coming to our FOWA Road trip in Cardiff on Monday? It’d be great to meet!
Really good post by Michael Bierut. What got me started? I tried to think back to what led me into web design. I think it was advancing from Geocities when I was 12 years old, and then learning some Photoshop — and from there on, with frames to tables to divs, the ball started rolling.
I’ve finally got respect from my parents and they finally realize that I don’t just “work on computers”. So at least one of my goals as a designer has been met.
I can distinctly remember at 8 years old in first school, sitting down in front of a piece of paper just scribbling different colours onto it with felt tip pens making a mental note of which colours went well with others :-)
I also would draw massive collage-type things on the back of abandoned wallpaper rolls, which would take weeks to complete :-)
I’ve always loved drawing, designing (I especially liked the ‘Draw a fictitious playground in Isometric view’ exercise we got set in school — I handed in an entire exercise book full of ideas :P )
I don’t think you can just “become” a designer, i think you just ARE one, or you’re not :-)
Elliot: I do. I always keep a sketchbook. I doodle, or do the odd sketch, but rarely devote enough time to it.
I’d love to involve more illustrative or artists elements in my work. However, for most of my clients, it’s almost always inappropriate.
Oh, and no, I can’t make it to the FOWA roadshow on Monday — I’m going away on holiday on Friday. Shame really, I was looking forward to seeing everyone. Maybe next time.
I used to be a really active drawer when I was a kid but for some reason didn’t do any art at high school or after. Instead, I ended up studying media and journalism and concentrating mainly on writing.
A few years later I’d gravitated away from the writing side of publishing to the design side and for the past decade and a bit I’ve been working exclusively in design, but without any formal design qualifications, I don’t know if I really qualify to be called a designer. Maybe I’m more of a web decorator as Jens Meiert suggests.
I love that bit on “Problem Definition Escalation”. Priceless and so true!
I feel a lot better after reading both of these articles. I tend to shy away from the business machinations and just put myself down as a “pretty picture person”. Meetings and corporate drivel make my head spin — I’d rather be solving problems with space and colour!
I am not a designer, but I like to create something. I always think that I need a inspiriting to start doing something. But recently I have found out that the appetite comes with eating
I love this article. Definite food for thought!
Nice thought “Designers, you don’t have to be dumb. Just don’t be so afraid of being beautiful”.
<blockquote>As you can see, design is not just about making things pretty, it’s about business plans. Right?<blockquote>
Agreed, and still many designers who are all about beauty won’t yet come out with a perfect Business planned design, Design speaks yes but you have to have business in mind as well.
I also like the artice I think You can publish it on a list apart or something like this! Regards
Nice article. But if it is a little bit at greater length
In my opinion, too much emphasis is placed on making a corporate piece of work rather than design. I really appreciate Michael Bierut for providing a guideline to all creative minds.
Ya i agree and also for making Good design u must trust your intuition.
Thanks for sharing
Great post.
It Makes me think a lot about my current work situation, how i studied Graphic design and my outlook for my professional future. When i was a kid my abilities in art we’re quite good, my attention to detail was my main concern. In a way it was my ability to create beautiful work that pushed me towards a career in creative design etc… Then i went to uni, I was told it wasn’t about beauty but about the ‘idea’. The clever hidden communication behind a visual piece of work. This is the stuff im not too good at. lol. Maybe i should stick to what i know best, the ability to make something look good. Leave the message to the clever people…lol
what can i say… he’s right, althought we all need money, beauty and aesthetics in all things that we do is the key to success.
Thanks for the interesting article. It is very useful for me, because I do my first site, and I need create beautiful design
I agree, well said. Very good web site.