I will advocate for it. I will stand up for it. I will show you why it’s amazing and why it’s the foundation for anything worth anything in this world. I will root for it, I will cheerlead for it, I will defer to it. But I will not argue about it. If someone does not think these things after I have done the previous items on this list, I will move on. There is just no sense in trying to convince someone without taste that design is worth all it brings to the table in business, politics, community, etcetera and so on.
When saying no is the way to go
One of the best decisions made last year was firmly deciding to say “no” to a project. It was a big digital project for a really great documentary film. There were lots of positives. A great mission with a wide audience that could potentially make an impact on some important environmental issues. But in the end, the vibe around the work that needed to be done just felt off.
Before the project potential came in, current workloads were already close to full with time and energy stretched thin. But it was still doable. What made it not doable was being asked if it was possible by email, replying yes it was but we’d really need to get moving, and hearing nothing for weeks. The deadline was aggressive, and when the conversation was picked up weeks later it hadn’t changed at all. The client was just now ready to move.
The requirements were also big, and too ambiguous. Lots of “what if this and that” and “can you do this?” Which can be great starting points, but unfortunately, there seemed to be an alarming lack of clarity of what this urgent thing was needing to be.
Finally, the opportunity cost was too high. When it came down to it, the decision was made to not risk the quality or timeliness of the projects that were currently in design and development.
At the time, I felt terrible about saying no because I knew the project could be great. But in the end, declining was the right decision. It’s very important to know how long a project takes to do well and how you want to feel about the clients on the other side you’re going to be working with. And when things don’t add up, don’t be afraid to gracefully bow out. Usually that also means you’ll be ready for the next project that is the right fit.
The Business Side
It’s something I’ve had to get better at. And I have. But it’s also made me more of a jerk. And has, at times, caused me to lose sight of why I’m doing this in the first place. Administration. Project Management. Account Service. Jargon. Selling it. All that shit can be a drag. Sure, it does satisfy my organizational side, which I like. But too much of it, and too little of actually designing, can be a bummer. It’s a tug of war I suppose. Some sort of epic back and forth where you try to make sure the state of the business is solid and the creativity of the business continues to expand. Because at the end of the day, you put a stake in the ground on your thinking, your design, and your problem-solving. Not how efficient and organized you can be. Those are nice, but they aren’t why clients come to you to help them inspire people.
YOU are my favorite client
I’ve had many of these, which is one reason this whole Independent Design thing still seems worth it. The client who respects what I do. They expect me to do what I do at a very high level. They push me, they challenge me. They want something beautiful, delightful, and inspiring. And they know I’ve been doing this for a long time. They know I’m an expert in this field. They let me make the decisions, expand the idea of what’s possible, and most importantly, they let me think and design, design and think. They don’t want cheap, fast, or mediocre. And they are always sensitive to over stepping the generous nature of some of the scopes I work within.
Needless to say, when all this really great stuff isn’t happening on a project, it can really be a drag. When a client brings with them a lot of opposites to the above benefits, you just have to keep plugging away. Keep getting after it, keep grinding out mockups and ideas, keep trying to be open minded, keep trying to empathize.
In the end, hopefully both sides arrive at the end of the process satisfied with mutual respect in tact. And hopefully you’ve grown as a designer and as a person.
Can we have it cheaper? Can we have it faster?
Oh, and more of it too? These and other questions you will need to know how to answer in this independent life. I’ve found it’s never easy enough to always have the same answer. Yes or no or something in between. It always varies. And it just comes with this territory of being out there all by yourself.
I need to get better at...
...asking for help, asking for more time, and asking deeper questions about the why. Being less nose to the grindstone and more face into the wind. Standing firm on what all this costs. Traveling more. Creating more. Thinking about work less. Embracing uncertainty. Blocking out time to make something for no reason in particular. Being even more selective about the projects I take on.* Understanding the divide between talk and action. Experimenting. Getting all philosophical. Acting intentionally. Having conversations at a deeper, more profound level. Not feeling bad for being pissed. Not just going with the flow. Not accepting of the way things are. Letting things go. Showing more of the love. Enjoying more of this life as it continues, at an increasing clip, to move on by.
* As of now, I feel like this will be a big theme for this year.
Do the projects you’ll be proud of
And here we go. 2016 off and running. New projects, new clients, and new energy. But before getting too far along, let’s make a special note about 2015 and what made it great. Sure, there we low points, but this is about the highs. It’s about those projects that make a designer feel he or she is worthy of taking up space on planet Earth:
- All power to the people! Design + Social Justice Symposium
- In small-town America: Schuyler Media Network
- Let’s give together: Omaha Gives! Raises $8,867,886
- ORGANIZE! Manifest Justice Exhibition
- Actions do speak louder: The 5th Appleseed Poster Show
- Thanks Obama: Keystone XL Rejected
- Let’s get loud: Round and Round Coworking
Why mention these now? Because it’s important to be able to go back, when needed, for extra guidance when it comes to what to take on next and how to make sure it’s as good as it can be. It should always be about doing the projects you’ll be proud of. Because without that, on the working side of life, what else is there?
