Twelve days and no work. It’s been so long since I’ve had that much time off. It was amazing to get to an end point on several big projects, wrap things up, and head out the door. No emails, no deadlines, no conference calls, etc. Now back in office, getting caught up on things, I feel a huge sense of reset. The potential of what’s to come is what I love most about being an independent designer, and there’s a lot of that looking out over the horizon. New clients and collaborations to work with, new issues to take on, and new skills to learn. Rested and refreshed, a big reset makes all the newness that much more exciting. So much new energy, so many possibilities. Let’s get to it.
How do you manifest justice in your community?
What is the most important thing a single individual can do? Understand that the forces of the status quo will fight you at every turn. Do not be deterred. Do not be discouraged. Know that the status quo wants to keep things just the way they are. And for things to change, it will take your resolve, persistence, and an infinite supply of stubbornness in the face of indifference, hatred, and sometimes violence. Be stubborn and stand with those already fighting every day for change.
Oh burnout, there you are!
When I decided to keep a regular blog on design and collaboration about a year ago, I told myself I’d be honest. Honest about the good and honest about the bad. One of those bad things that comes with a job in the creative industry is burnout. It is very real and very cruel. It can take what you love and want to do most and turn it into work you just HAVE to do. You can end up going through the motions pushing buttons or rolling over to get something done. What used to come with passion and drive can even be cringed at. It’s not the work. It’s just that you’ve gone too long without a good, healthy break. It happens. When you love what you do it’s easy to overlook the need for leisure, hobbies, and impulsive day trips. Right now I am approaching burnout. And it’s a beast. But fear not, a long vacation is just about here. Excellent timing for sure. I’m really looking forward to it. And after, I'm really looking forward to getting back to it. Designing good work and having a grand time doing it.
Make Time to Think
Before I set out on my own, I had all this thinking built up. Like an insane amount. I was at a cushy agency job sitting on all these ideas, theories, priorities, etc. Just waiting for the perfect time to unleash them. Almost 5 years later, having spent most of my time doing design work guided by this thinking, and staying current with the design industry, responsive web design, infographics, type, software, and on and on, I’d say I’m philosophically low. When you are focused on the doing, purely thinking unrelated to a specific project or task can take a back seat. I have a vacation coming up and a big priority when I get back in office is to make time to just think. In my experience, doing so makes you less reactive, more thoughtful, more patient, and better equipped to deal with the bumps in the road. There’s power in thinking. Just like standing on a street corner with nowhere specific to go.
When Projects Are Disappointments
It happens. For whatever reason, things fall short. Maybe a design direction you initially thought would turn out just didn’t. Or the process went astray and cobbled together a mishmash design that in the end shows lack of vision. Most times, you’re stubborn enough to apply extra force when needed and get a project to a point everyone can feel good about. But sometimes you can’t. Because everybody has a limit. The “Fuck It” moments, if you will. And when those happen, it’s a good time to acknowledge your defeat. And it’s a good time to share. Everything is not awesome all the time. Being honest about that will make you a better designer, a better communicator, and an important member of any team where creating something new, exciting, and inspirational is the goal.
Learning The Work
I think this is potentially a lot longer post. I’m not entirely sure when it would be written or how long it should be. Maybe a book? Maybe just Medium. For now, I want to lay out the broad strokes of a career. How I look at mine, its progress, and in general, how I think most careers go. So it may not be all that interesting, just obvious. At which point, it doesn’t need to be any longer. The only question then left to answer is how much time it takes each point to play out:
- First, learn how to do the work.
- Then, what to do the work for.
- Next, who to do the work with.
- Then, why to do the work in the first place.
I am currently moving into and most concerned with the third point. That’s not to say the first two are completely resolved, #3 is just the leading one as of now. As a set, let’s say it takes 40 years. In the end you want to have all four locked in. And maybe that’s how you measure the success of a career. No awards, no fame. Just that you, in your own unique, individual capacity, figured out the thing people spend a good amount of their time doing—the Work.
The Corrections
Getting through a demanding stretch of projects can come with quite the sense of accomplishment. When things end, it can really feel awesome. But rather than jump into the next project, it’s helpful, in the long run, to take an honest assessment of the demanding stretch and what course corrections may need to be taken. Maybe future projects need a better brief. Perhaps the process needs to be reviewed more in advance. The rationale could be explained better. The presentation could be more compelling. Or the work needs to be better, more refined, or not settled on. And it probably wouldn’t hurt to be extra clear about what it is you do, why you do it, how you go about it, and what the outcome looks like. Make a habit of correcting when needed and you will continue to get better at what you do.
