Several weeks ago I was visiting with a friend to discuss some design revisions to her Web site. As with most projects, the design direction was pretty loose – not lacking in direction, just the concrete measurables.
As we talked about textures, colors and possibilities her husband poked his head around the corner and informed me that I was “getting worked over” – meaning “It appears you have very little control of the conversation”.
Those words have been tumbling around in my head for a few weeks now, and he’s right. Getting worked over is part of the design process – or so it would seem to those on the outside looking in.
Maybe a little clarification is needed.
The design process aught to be a partnership – not just a service. When I take my car to the shop I trust the mechanic to diagnose and provide solutions – without my input on what wrench or socket to use in the process. When someone approaches a designer, on the other hand, the process is much more collaborative. Designers are often, if not always, incorporating concepts, elements and ideas that they wouldn’t have naturally been drawn to. Why? Because we’re not creating for ourselves – we’re creating on behalf of someone else – in partnership with someone else.
Now don’t get me wrong – I don’t think designers aught to be doormats for bad ideas – I’m just saying it is a collaborative field of work – collaborative on a thought process level – more so than many others. As a designer, it’s my responsibility to bring my professional experience to the table and help guide the process in an insightful way – but how much of the design process is subjective and how much is it user experience best practice?
In my opinion, “getting worked over” – essentially meaning I’m not in complete control – is what separates a good creative professional from a creative showboat. A showboat has no regard for collaboration because they are only interested in promoting their own ideas and expressing their own interest. A professional on the other hand melts the clients ideas with their own experience and training into something full of integrity and beauty.
I would assume it’s because I’ve been a designer for all of my professional life, but I get incredibly annoyed with those who approach work and problem solving in anything less than a collaborative way. From what I can tell, the larger the company the less collaborative the culture (generalizing of course).
Much more could, and has been said about the subject. I would only add to the conversation that “getting worked over” can lead to some beautiful outcomes.
Getting Worked Over
Several weeks ago I was visiting with a friend to discuss some design revisions to her Web site. As with most projects, the design direction was pretty loose – not lacking in direction, just the concrete measurables.
As we talked about textures, colors and possibilities her husband poked his head around the corner and informed me that I was “getting worked over” – meaning “It appears you have very little control of the conversation”.
Those words have been tumbling around in my head for a few weeks now, and he’s right. Getting worked over is part of the design process – or so it would seem to those on the outside looking in.
Maybe a little clarification is needed.
The design process aught to be a partnership – not just a service. When I take my car to the shop I trust the mechanic to diagnose and provide solutions – without my input on what wrench or socket to use in the process. When someone approaches a designer, on the other hand, the process is much more collaborative. Designers are often, if not always, incorporating concepts, elements and ideas that they wouldn’t have naturally been drawn to. Why? Because we’re not creating for ourselves – we’re creating on behalf of someone else – in partnership with someone else.
Now don’t get me wrong – I don’t think designers aught to be doormats for bad ideas – I’m just saying it is a collaborative field of work – collaborative on a thought process level – more so than many others. As a designer, it’s my responsibility to bring my professional experience to the table and help guide the process in an insightful way – but how much of the design process is subjective and how much is it user experience best practice?
In my opinion, “getting worked over” – essentially meaning I’m not in complete control – is what separates a good creative professional from a creative showboat. A showboat has no regard for collaboration because they are only interested in promoting their own ideas and expressing their own interest. A professional on the other hand melts the clients ideas with their own experience and training into something full of integrity and beauty.
I would assume it’s because I’ve been a designer for all of my professional life, but I get incredibly annoyed with those who approach work and problem solving in anything less than a collaborative way. From what I can tell, the larger the company the less collaborative the culture (generalizing of course).
Much more could, and has been said about the subject. I would only add to the conversation that “getting worked over” can lead to some beautiful outcomes.