What are you thinking about these days?

I like this question as an opener for fellow creatives. They’re certainly working on something, but I’m also curious what they’re thinking about. I used to think a lot about design as activism, community engagement, and “good design” projects. These days I’m thinking a lot about process, building teams, and getting new progressive clients who are working on interesting ideas. Regardless of where you’re at, I’m curious. 

I had lunch last Friday with Craig Hughes (Studio Polymath). He’s thinking about lots of interesting stuff — design anthropology, running a business, what to do with his new master’s degree, etc. All of which made for a really excellent way to the end the week. 

So with that, what are you thinking about these days?

Remember to be kind, please close the loop

I try to make it a priority to always close the loop on a potential project or collaboration. If we’ve spent time working out some initial details together, it seems obvious that if we decide to not move forward for whatever reason, we should at least conclude officially. No just letting it hang out there in the abyss. If we exchange emails, talk on the phone, or meet in person, that definitely means I should let you know, the potential client or team member, that things are a no-go. Call it good business practice or common courtesy, let’s all try to make this a priority in our busy lives.

The Future Belongs to the Storytellers

If you want someone to get behind your idea (startup, cause, project), to follow you into the great unknown, to believe in you as a collaborator, to relive an experience with you, or to simply enjoy hanging out with you, know this: The future belongs to the storytellers. And the future belongs to those who share. Share what your ideas are, share what you’re doing, share what you’re all about. Do not huddle alone in the corner. Do not be afraid to put yourself out there in an interesting way. Tell your story, share your story, and then keep living your story.

When the control breaks down

Every creative, to some degree, is a control freak. It’s gotta be his or her way, or no way at all. But there does come a time when high levels of control start to crack. Small slivers at first, giving way to big gaps, finally, the control breaks down completely. I think this is good. Maybe that makes me a weak creative. But giving way to other factors than my own has been more productive and ultimately, a healthier way to approach projects. Timeline, budget, boundaries, randomness. Just embrace and move forward. Ask yourself if you feel the need for control rising to a fever pitch, “am I being overbearing and irrationally controlling?” Probably. Now, just let it go.

Homeowner home improvements cost money

I’ve never said to a contractor I’m trying to hire for a project on my house, “I don’t really have the money to do this, can you do it anyway?” Or, “your prices seems very reasonable, can you come down 30%?” And certainly not, “well if you do this project for free, I’ll for sure make it worth your while down the road.” 

One of the best deterrents for me in offering to do projects at painfully low budgets has been owning a home. An older, 1940s home at that. When working with housing contractors you learn real quick that everything costs money. And more times than not, a lot of money. There’s labor, materials, removal, etc. And sometimes there are those “oh wait, we discovered this and it’s bad and it will cost you this quite a bit larger fee” moments.

I design for a living. I have the materials I use (computer, monitor, software printer, Internet, etc). I have opportunity costs (if I’m working on your project, I’m not working on someone else’s). There’s labor (my time, the developer’s time, the photographer’s time, etc). And there’s all I’ve learned in my career that I will apply to the next design project I take on.

I do agree, that what I do, it’s true, I love it. Making something new, solving a problem, finding opportunities. Even amidst the uncertainty, the stress, the overwhelming feelings, I still love it. But it is work. A professional career with skill, talent, hard work, education, and so on, all built into the path of where I’ve arrived at. But I didn’t arrive here to do work on the cheap. Certainly not for free. And not with people who do not value design and what it can do.

If I really want a contractor to work on a project I have, I’ve never said, “well I need it done this week.” And I’ve never said halfway through the project, “I’d also like this, this, and that for the same price.” Now, unlike my contractor experiences, I tend to respond to clients when I say I will and complete projects on deadline, which is another post altogether. Anyway, I digress.

Whether working on houses or designing brands, there are some similarities and there are differences. One difference I’ve noticed over the years is that there’s no weird, hidden expectation that people who work on houses should be okay with doing work faster or cheaper. I’ve experienced quite a bit of the view that design can always be faster or cheaper. I don’t really know why, but I know I’m partly to blame. And it’s something I fully intend to get better at moving forward in 2016. Design is important, it’s done by experts for a reason, it costs this much, and will take this long. I know that there are people out there who value this view. I’ve worked with many of them. And I plan to work with many more.

Get used to the chase

Young designer! To you, I say, get used to the chase. That’s the state you will mostly, usually, typically, be in. It can drive you crazy, or make you great. Which of those usually takes years to figure out. But that’s not really the point. Na, it’s the chase. And it’s here for you.

I’ve decided I’m not going to worry about that anymore

I got worry. It’s a thing that’s always there in my mind. Worry about doing great work, hitting the deadline, and getting more work. Worry about the budget, the workload, the team, and the outcomes. Worry about expectations, about falling short, and about not providing value. Sometimes it feels like a real bear of an outlook. Then other times it feels like it’s the thing that keeps this train humming along. But there does come a point when you no longer should be worrying about what you used to worry about. You need to move on. You need to let it go. You need to evolve. Whatever that is, you must be aware enough to recognize and act accordingly.