Is “good design” the new villian arc for a designer?
Boss : Create a product catalog, the boss needs a “great design” in 2 days STAT!
Me: “Another day, Another deadline.”
Welcome to the corporate reality of a designer where creative process is not understood by many but can still be killed with a pinch of “Change the font color to red.” As much as being an avid lover of “what font is this?” and going to the liquor store just to check the packaging, I have understood that the design industry is processed on 4 cups of cold brew and complacency.
I don’t entirely mean that a great design is the worse that could happen to you but think of it as a necessary evil where you’re choosing Helvetica or Roboto Sans over a font you consider revolution for the brand. No, a great design does not necessarily kill your creativity. In fact, a great design can be a source of inspiration and motivation for further creativity. When you create a great design, it can be a validation of your skills and abilities, giving you the confidence to continue exploring new ideas and pushing boundaries.
The evermore, design industry is a complex and ever-changing field, and creating a great design is not always an easy task. Designers face numerous challenges, including tight deadlines, restrictive budgets, and clients who may not understand the creative process, so we end up and stick to a “good design”
However, the creation of a great design does not necessarily mean that creativity must be stifled. On the contrary, a great design can be a source of inspiration and motivation for designers to explore new ideas and push boundaries. It can validate their skills and abilities, giving them the confidence to continue to experiment and innovate.
At the same time, it is important for designers to avoid becoming too attached to a design and relying too heavily on its success. This can lead to complacency and stagnation, where designers focus solely on reproducing the same design over and over again without trying new things. The key to creating a truly great design is to incorporate elements that resonate with your personal identity and separate you from the typical “great design” loop. This could be as simple as a unique font set or a subtle curve, but it can make all the difference in transitioning from a good design to a truly great one.
