Over the course of this semester we, as a class have had the privilege of taking an in-depth look at four of today’s most influential contemporary designers; Marion Bantjes, Bruce Mau, Stefan Bucher, and Stefan Sagmeister. We have been able to critique and discuss not only their works but also their philosophies about design, and the business of being a designer itself. From observing different talks they have given about themselves and their work I have been able to analytically compare not only their design processes but also their thoughts on what’s important as a designer, and how to succeed in the industry.
During this analysis I have discovered that their have been numerous similarities that the designers all share in comparison, the foremost and most important being that they truly value the happiness in doing what they do which I myself have always thought as the most important aspect when choosing a career. If you are doing a job that you love then in a way you will never feel as though you are really working in a sense, which I think is a nice notion and ideal to have in a career. These designers strive to put themselves into their work, which in turn showcases their exclusive styles and talents setting them apart from each other, as well as other designers in the field. Incorporating yourself and your art into a design creates a connection to the work and therefore gives it a unique quality in itself, something I hope to be able to strive to attain as I venture into a career in design. These exceptional styles are attention grabbers for many of the clients and employers you will work with over your career, so understanding your strengths and finding your own niche is important for it helps you to make a name for yourself and like these designers have done, propel you into the realm of celebrity design status so to speak.
While your work may take you to great heights within the industry another important lesson I have learned from these designers is to know when to step back, take a break and indulge in the art of self-reflection. Keeping a journal or scrap book of thoughts and inspirational pieces is a must and not being afraid to take time to just observe and draw inspiration from all around you to bring to your designs is crucial. This will help you to stay current, fresh and not exhaust the same ideas over and over again. Taking time to write and draw allows you the traditional pen to paper aspect of design that many of us stray from and forget due to the many technological devices at our disposals as designers today. Revisiting these simple activities can help us all to become the best designers we can be, and it is something I want to incorporate more into my own process, for I feel that I myself need more time devoted to self-reflection and indulgence.
The final concept that I have learnt through this experience is that you really need to know yourself and the industry. While your young you may find yourself basing most of your design projects on the amount of money it will pay, for lets face it we all need to make a living and pay the bills, it is important to note that money should not always be first and foremost when considering a job. Understanding your values and knowing where you stand on certain issues whether they be political, or environmental for example is important for this may have a greater impact on your decision to accept or decline. Also educating yourself on how our industry functions is important for it will help you to tailor your own personal business model, allowing you to understand and know when you may need help or require a partner, whether it be another designer for a project or perhaps a more business oriented individual to help monitor your financial and client relations. Knowing how all of these elements intertwine and function can actually increase your own potential and ability to be a successful designer, just like the four inspirational practitioners above have done.
