Designers’ Egos
Do you ever come to the point sometimes when you are designing and the design is just simply not working so you begin to wonder why you are even a designer or could even claim to be one? This used to happen to me, but then I just surf the web and see somebody else’s ugly site and am instantly reinspired to push forward :). Now I am wise enough to have Rundle on my team.
I can see the reason for many people entering the field of web design is that they believe that designing a website is easy. Wrong. Building a website is easy, designing one takes skill. This is where the ego kicks in. There are two key elements (I am sure there are many more) that designers should possess.
The first one is that you need to be your own harshest critic. And believe me this is extremely hard to do on the web since there are many people out there who are quick to point out how wrong your design is. When you think you are done with a design, take a step back and look at it. Could you do better? If you think you could, but can’t figure out how then just step away for a bit. If you don’t think you could do better then either you are right, or you just don’t want to push yourself further.
Hopefully you don’t think your design is done because it looks like another popular site. You cannot call yourself a designer when all you do is steal other people’s designs. Sort of like thinking you can draw and placing a paper over a picture so you can trace the lines. Don’t get me wrong because it is okay to take the design elements of others to help with your own designs, but your ego cannot develop until you have your own style. Sure your style may be similar to someone else’s, but at least when you design something you know that you designed it.
The second important aspect of being a designer is knowing how to take criticism. I am fortunate to have an audience that gives excellent criticism without being too harsh or demeaning. Sure, many times I do not agree with what people say, but I have learned to listen to them because maybe in another design their ideas could work. Every once in a while you may get some jackass telling you how horrible everything looks. Why is he saying this? Who knows and who cares. When taking criticism there is always going to be signal and noise. Filter out the noise. Listen to others. Grow as a designer.
Even when your ego is too big to fit on screen and you think you are the best around or people tell you there is no one better, there is always a way to learn and get better. Every website on the web has something to teach you. Be it something good or something bad, but from every design it is possible to take some knowledge away with you. If you want to be a designer then be one. You must have an ego or else you wouldn’t be doing it (unless you just do it for fun). Just make sure to keep it in check.
In many instances I feel I suffer from being too harsh a critic, in terms of my own work. I love to take “constructive” criticism, but I never seem to get that far, as the design will never make it out the door before I pull it back in to be reworked. I hate the feeling of perfectionism, as I know I’ll never get it to what I envisioned.
Do you ever deal with this? Or is it just me?
By Steven Teskey on June 9, 2006 9:34 pm
Let’s start by saying that I am a designer and I definitely have an ego. I worked hard for that ego and deserve it.
I think you do have to be you’re own harshest critic, but also keep that in check. I don’t think I’ve ever met a designer who didn’t think they can always do it better. It’s the nature of the beast. I know that every site I’ve done - for a client, in a corporation, or as a freelancer - has at least one thing that will jump out at me if I look at it again. No one else will probably even notice it, but I will.
One big lesson you learn from experience is knowing when to let go. Does it meet/exceed the needs and goals of the user, business, and market? If so, let it go. You wouldn’t have gotten this far in your career if you weren’t a quality designer, so learn to let it go.
Do I question my career choice when a design doesn’t work? No. Do I question the project and/or client? Sometimes. Do I question the current music selection and my empty coffee cup? Absolutely. And this is the time, as you said, I “just step away”.
Great post. Thanks.
By Spectorbrain on June 9, 2006 9:44 pm
Steven, I don’t think it’s just you. I’ve certainly felt it and know it is one of the hardest parts of the job. Regardless who the client is (even yourself), you always put a part of your creativity and personality into each project you do. Call it ego or truly enjoying what you do.
Like this article says, you will learn more and grow as a designer with each project you work on and complete. The experience you gain is invaluable. So finish your work or put it aside and move on.
And because these are your personal projects, no one says you can’t put it aside for a week, month, or year and pick it up again. You might have the solution you couldn’t even dream of when you originally began.
By Spectorbrain on June 9, 2006 10:21 pm
Amen to this article. It’s so true. For Steven: we all are too harsh on ourselves sometimes. My ‘other’ job is as a ballet dancer and it’s even worse over there ;)
So, here’s to being your own harshest critic, but listening to those praising voices out there sometimes to keep yourself out of the bottle, or whatever.
By John Beales on June 9, 2006 11:28 pm
Finding the people that will give you constructive cricitism is the key also. I am lucky to have a few people I know will always be honest (sometimes to a fault) about my work and this stretches me everytime.
By karmatosed on June 10, 2006 5:18 am
I’m not sure you design or build websites anymore, so I’m not sure where you get off saying that those of us that build websites have it easy. Care to elaborate (or do you not want to put your foot in your mouth any further?)
By Jeff L on June 10, 2006 8:10 am
Amen. In 2000, I thought I wanted to be a web designer. In no time, I discover that design is so not my area. I don’t have an eye for colors or design at all. So instead I started writing about it.
Designers also have to remember it’s about the user, not about the designer. What might be cool and tredny to the designer could be a usability issue for the user.
By meryl on June 10, 2006 9:45 am
In reply to Mr Jeff L above me, what he’s saying is that it’s remarkably easy to build a website - anyone computer literate can fire up Frontpage or learn a little HTML - but to do it well is a skill in itself. I sense you’re taking offense at the words used rather than what he meant to say.
With regard to the topic, yeah, I find it very hard to be happy with something I’ve designed. I’ll make it, then decide it’s too minimalist, or too busy, or decide it just doesn’t sit right. When I get something I like I’ll tire of it in a year and have to change it again.
By Jonathan Drain on June 10, 2006 11:29 am
It’d be nice if you included the next sentence Jeff when you wish to challenge what I say.
As Jonathan has already said I can open up any WYSIWYG editor and insert some words and I have myself a website. Easy.
By Scrivs on June 10, 2006 1:40 pm
In NLP there’s a type of mental process that’s 1) sort by self (validates by self) 2) sort by others (validates from others’ opinions).
I think a lot of artists are the former; no matter how much other people like your work, if you don’t dig it, you don’t dig it.
As a 3d artist, I find the hardest part of the work is at the beginning, getting past the ‘this sucks’ phase cus everything looks so simple and rough, and the end phase, when you just have to let it go, even though you know that it can always be better.
By Alvin on June 11, 2006 2:06 am
The day I do an excellent design, and I had no more to learn, and everyone considers me a guru on the subject, I will quit and get a job making pizzas.
Until I become the master of pizzas, then if that unfortunate accident happens, I will quit my pizza job and I will move into teaching dolphins how to communicate with humans.
Once dolphins… well, you get the point.
Ego can make you king, or blind. Whatever you choose. Designers, be ware… you could be the next “guru” on the Internet. The next “cool kid in the block”.
Keep an eye open.
By Javier Cabrera (15tags) on June 11, 2006 4:16 pm
I have no idea why, but Javier, your comment just scared the bejesus out of me. Maybe it’s the notion of talking dolphins.
By Steven Teskey on June 12, 2006 4:40 am
Couldn’t agree more. Never satisfied, constantly wanting to tweak. Moreso with personal projects because there’s no timeframe to finish them, they’re always works in progress.
Like others have said, it’s a constant learning experience. You see what other people are doing and want to do better yourself. We kind of feed off each other in that way.
It’s unfortunate how many people out there build ugly websites and call themselves designers… and charge for it. But I guess that just goes to show what people are willing to pay for when they don’t know any better.
By Greg on June 12, 2006 3:03 pm
Amen to this article. It’s so true. For Steven: we all are too harsh on ourselves sometimes.
Finding the people that will give you constructive cricitism is the key also!!
By Peter on June 16, 2006 8:05 am
[...] By Scrivs,Syndicated by usmediaweb Jump to comment form Published: 6.9.06 @ 5pm Design [...]
By usmediaweb» Blog Archive » Designers’ Egos on June 17, 2006 11:10 pm
I’m highly surprised to see that getting an education and background in design is not in this list. Having a background in what the great designers have done in the past is highly important in knowing what works in design as well as creating a launching pad to start from. At the very least, I would suggest getting some design books on work done in the 1930’s to 1960’s which is considered by many the golden age of design.
By P.J. Onori on June 19, 2006 12:38 am
Very well written article. I have been taking classes online to finish up my degree and the amount of web designers, who think they have the knack is frightening.
I guess its kind of like dating, there is something for everyone. Someone has to make the ugly websites, that way our nice sites will look much more beautiful in comparison.
By Jake Rutter on June 19, 2006 8:38 am
“As Jonathan has already said I can open up any WYSIWYG editor and insert some words and I have myself a website. Easy.”
That’s not a website. If one opens up Paint, draws a few lines and drops in some colors, you certainly wouldn’t call that a design, would you?
By Emma on June 19, 2006 12:30 pm
It’s pretty easy to open up photoshop, draw two columns, add a logo and say you’ve “designed” a website.
I think website’s haven’t really been designed for about 2+ years now. As horrible as they were, the death of flash-only and table based layout has effectively killed the design of the web and the freedom anyone had with it. imagine when we actually designed entire interfaces? now we just make lists, put them sideways, turn them into tabs, style the tabs…… header here, logo there……
we’re just rehashing the same template that pleases a) the “designers” and b) the standardistas.
By jlactose on June 19, 2006 5:07 pm
[...] En Stylegla han dejado el enlace a un interesante artÃculo titulado Designer’s egos. No hace falta traducir mucho, se supone de lo que va a hablar. [...]
By Criterion :: Diseño gráfico y editorial, recursos y enlaces de utilidad :: on June 20, 2006 8:05 am
[...] Original post by Scrivs and software by Elliott Back Share and Enjoy:These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages. [...]
By Cape Tech Herald » Blog Archive » Designers’ Egos on July 8, 2006 9:50 am
[...] I love being asked that question. Designer’s ego aside, it’s a great opportunity to help others avoid the mistakes I made or at least recognize them when they happen. [...]
By spectorbrain.com » Blog Archive » Design Advice from my Deathbed on July 19, 2006 12:28 pm
[...] Like many other blog, you may not be impressed and wondered what makes this blog worth your time to stay and read. But look, there are phrases down in this article “Designer’s Ego” that stunned me, [...]
By Design Enterprise » Blog Archive » Live as a designer on October 15, 2006 9:22 pm