Settle Down Class...Time to Learn You Something.

Today's rant isn't about a specific instance, but a behavior that I have found throughout my career. Carl here is guilty of it on almost a daily basis. The behavior is that of someone that wants to express an opinion, based on little more than wanting to be perceived as "creative". Let me explain.

In any given design meeting, prints of the work will be laid out in front of the group. A designer should present the options giving reason for the choices made in each of those designs. The reasons will be based on years of study in design. research of a specific market, client, competitors, consumers and buying psychology. If you're any good, you will have displayed a range of design options varying from something safe and familiar to the client to something that is new and further outside their normal practices (not ridiculously out there, but something a little different).

In these meetings everyone wants to feel like they're involved...even if they shouldn't be. I've had design meetings where the HR person sat in, someone's kid, a receptionist, etc. In my current situation, it's Carl. Inevitably, they will look at something you have designed before them, and them wanting to be creative, just say the opposite of what they see. Like, "Instead of a white background, what if it was red?". Then many of the others in the room will start nodding their head in agreement like lemmings jumping off a cliff. This one statement unravels all of the work, study, research, decisions and effort a designer has done. Below is an example (a made up one to protect me and the innocent) of why this is a horrible experience.

Why don't we make the background red? Why don't I make YOUR background red? Not only did you just make it Christmas in here, but the color combination MAKES YOUR EYES SHAKE LIKE A STRUNG-OUT HOBO COOKING HIS FIRST ROCK IN A WEEK!!!

I'm sorry. I don't mean to yell. But it would be as if you hired a plumber to come in and install a bathroom. Then when he tells you what you should do, you say,"Can we have the pipes outside the walls? Oh, and don't bother with any kind of insulation...I hate the way it looks."

The word design is defined here. It is defined by words like purpose, thought and planned. It's not magic that strikes a random chosen one of the flock. Sorry, it's not talent gifted by some otherworldly being. It has purpose. It's not a middle-aged woman that makes kooky sweaters. People who design weren't special before they were born, and because you want to feel special you can't just whip up some "creativity" by saying something no one else has said. When you say things in a design meeting based on nothing it doesn't make you creative. It makes you an asshole.