Here’s a soundtrack example for creativity. Remember that film CRASH with Don Cheadle? It’s one of my favorites of the 2000s. Powerful, emotional, unresolved and so on. There’s a moment towards the end where a beautiful sounding song is played. In the Deep by Bird York. It’s a perfect metaphor to the central idea behind the film; people out there in the chaos, isolated, occasionally crashing into each other. As the song goes, “now you’re out there swimmin,’ in the deep.” On the other side of that, CSI: Miami. Which my wife was way into for awhile on NETFLIX. I suppose I can appreciate those David Caruso intros. But in one episode, they use the same song. Because they found a murder victim in a body of water. Towards the bottom. Deep. And sadly, the idea of using that song just sort of sat there flat, part of a weak see/say/hear. So in the Cage Match of Creativity, “H” loses. This time.
You just gotta put in the time.
Simple solutions, those are easy to get to, right? Clarity and focus magically present themselves after a quick brainstorm, yes? It doesn’t look complicated so it probably isn’t, yeah? The correct answer to these and similar questions is no, no and no. I’m on a big kick these days of reciting this: the act of making is difficult and should be treated as such. I wish the answer to the previous questions was yes. If a potential client needs it to be, I’m not the designer for the job. Making something beautiful, a solution perfectly appropriate for the problem, while inspiring people to take action, that is fucking hard to do. And to get to that point, you MUST put in the time. Concepting, exploring, doodling, browsing, daydreaming, mindmapping, walking, computering, more computering, refining, deleting, redoing, and on and on. Along the way, things happen. It’s remarkable when they do. Why do they happen? Because you put in the hard work of time dedication. And when you come up for air, you have something you can run with.
Economist, Teacher, Researcher, Author
Gernot Wagner is a lead senior economist at the Environmental Defense Fund, adjunct faculty at Columbia, research associate at Harvard’s Kennedy School and author of But Will the Planet Notice? We designed and developed the new website for his writing in anticipation of his next book Climate Shock, which he co-authored with Martin Weitzman, Professor of Economics at Harvard University.
Hugs and High Fives
My second contribution to Flywheel. A “work in progress” framework for client relationships.
In my independent practice, I’ve had clients that run the spectrum from inspiring and wonderful to kind of soul-crushing. I’ve had relationships with kindred spirits working together to make a project the best it could be. Those I hold on to. Then there have been those clients akin to after-school detention. You know the ones. They come with the expectation of silence on your part and a process that reminds me of chalk sentences on the board with little chance of making something valuable. Those relationships don’t last, thankfully.
Hey, is that an email signup?
Why yes, yes it is. Embedded right here. A little business strategy I’ll be trying out for the rest of the year. If you sign up above (or at the bottom of the Connect page) you will most likely get the JKDC Newsletter once a month. Straight from Mail Chimp to your inbox. Interesting happenings, work updates and what’s next in the works. And there you have it. Thank you for your interest.
I want you to see it all, for the most part.
The fine folks at Flywheel asked me to write some posts for their blog. The first was just published. It’s about portfolios and such.
A designer, especially an independent one, has to stay current: in your knowledge of the latest design trends, being up-to-date on software, and with the type of projects being done, from responsive websites to compelling infographics. And also, making sure your portfolio and the work shared on it aren’t flying on 2011 coattails.
Celebrating Four Years of Independence
Back on July 1st, 2010, I said good-bye to a cushy ad job. I was looking to go it alone with the type of design and activism work that I was most excited about. After four years with a host of nonprofits, community organizations and startups, the independent work continues. Looking forward, there are lots of good things on the horizon. New clients, new collaborators and new self-initiated projects that will be announced soon. To everyone who has played a role in the journey, especially the truly wonderful clients, my kickass collaborators, the Nebraska design community and Chief Creative Officer and amazing wife Katie, I could NOT have done it without you. Here’s to another year. Cheers!
