Designer Fuel

There are many people out there who design. Some design successfully and some who design, well, not so successfully.  Some designers are recognised for the hard work behind their designs and some are not. But behind all the designers there has to be a fuel that keeps them going.

For someone who isn’t a designer, who has never been through the motions of starting from scratch and producing something successful, or endured the numerous hurdles that present themselves in the design process may find it difficult to understand what can fuel this enjoyable yet at times tedious process. Why, if it is so difficult do we keep wanting to do it again, or carry on, or make something better? What fuels this? I imagine this is unique for everyone, though the one constant element between all of us is the ideas behind the process. We all have ideas. I believe this is a fundamental part of the design process.   I believe this may raise the eyebrows and roll the eyes of the cynics among us, followed by the thoughts of ‘of course there cannot be a design process without the ideas’, and yes I realise that. I’m more referring to what makes one idea stand out more than others.

In an individual mind, what fuels one idea over the other? What makes you carry one idea forward and leaving the others behind? Is it the visions of a beautifully athestic outcome or possibly that the idea is a solution to one of life’s unsolved problems? I’d like to think that people design simply for the sheer enjoyment but anyone who makes this claim will have an underlying reason for the simple fact that design requires passion.  Designing for the sake of designing does not involve passion and therefore would be unsuccessful and unrewarding. And somewhat pointless. (Thinking practically of course)  For the designers out there, what fuels your creativity? What elements are behind the success of your fuel?

When is your 'sell by' date?

The art and design world is constantly changing, up-dating and moving forward, so one would agree as designers we have to be one step ahead of the game and constantly providing something fresh, innovated and un-seen. What is popular now will most definitely not be popular in 12 months time. Something I’d dread as a designer would be to be called old fashioned or out dated!  Though being current is something that is much easier said than done.

As being rather new at this ‘real world’ thing, I am beginning to realise just how important it is to be current. Being out the studios, living on very little money, and having to work full time to keep a roof over my head means there is very little time to stay current as a maker. Time, a lot of effort and even money is so important to staying current. I’ve never said I wanted to be a maker. I never want to own my own store and sell ‘stuff’. I appreciate that, and if that is what my friends want to do then I support them fully. I also appreciate the people who graduated with me and want nothing to do with design. Being someone who wants everything, I have found myself in the middle of the situation.

I want a creative job. So I have to show potential employers that I have that in me. My concerns lie in being able to prove I am creative in a month, or a year’s time. My degree suggests I was regularly applying my creativity, but since I have graduated on a paper my creative application becomes extremely...muddy. Being my stubborn self, as usual, I take matters in to my own hands. I’m still drawing, I’m still writing my ideas down, I’m still tearing pages out news papers and keeping record of things that inspire me. Is this enough? (Anyone who looks to employ creative people and has any thoughts on the matter I’d love to hear from you). The trouble with having a sell by date, is the simple matter of not knowing when it is. I simply have to be consistent in the application of my drawings, my ideas and my interests to avoid expiration.

Sacrifices for Design

Although slightly biased, I feel it safe to say that the design and creative world is one of the toughest career ladders climb.  Although I am very much at the bottom looking up, I feel this is still a very justified fact.  People in my graduating class, as far as I am aware are working harder than anyone else I know to find a job. Between us we’ve had to do internships, work for free, and take up a job that keeps the pennies coming in whilst designing on the side or in some cases move to a completely different country simply to get a foot on the ladder that takes us towards the dream.

I’m not even going to delve into the discussion of why this is, I’m more intrigued as to how much people are willing to give up to reach the dream. How far can you plan in advance in order to determine what you have to prepare yourself to give up? Or put up with? How does one decide what sacrifices to make in order to reach your goals? I started this summer in debt with myself, my parents and the student loans company. You’d imagine that one of my first priorities would be to start earning some money. But no, I found myself working 9-5 for free. At the beginning I did question why I was doing it. Now, 2 months on it not earning money was a very small sacrifice for what I have got out of it in return.

I wonder how much one person would give up for their dream? Relationships? Friendships? Can dreams have a value from which you determine how much they are worth? I know my friends and family would never want to think they have held me back. I’d like to think no matter how close the relationship I’d be supported no matter how far I'd have to travel. I think at this very transitional point in our lives we have to be selfish. I know I would never want to look back when I’m 40 and think the reason I wasn’t CEO was because I’d held back.

How much will have to be sacrificed? A lot I’m sure. It’s going to be full of hard work, difficult decisions and tough times. But I would like to think there are people there who have my back and I know the people out there who are working hard and sacrificing things to reach their dreams will most definitely get there in the end.

Creativity: Something we need, not something we want.

More recently than ever before I have realised how all aspects of life need creativity and the fact that creativity comes in all forms. Even those who say they have not got a creative bone in their body will still find themselves using it. Creativity comes in all forms – visually, atheistic, and design are the obvious forms, but it is still used in negotiation, organisation and communication. When we are given a task to solve, we will all approach it in a slightly different way. This is creativity. In debate and discussion we have to be creative. Creativity comes hand in hand with arguing and convincing. There are hundreds of ways to apply creativity.

This point has not come completely out the blue. It somewhat stems from the train of thought of what I am going to do for the rest of my life. I was asked the other day what type of creative I am. Honestly, at first I was lost for words (believe it or not) but it certainly gave me something to think about.

What type of creative am I? This is never going to be a straight forward answer or a complete answer as I feel I will constantly be developing my creative style. For now though I feel I can say I will never be designing something for its beauty alone. I know a few people, who design for simply the beauty and also friends who design for the sheer practicality. I feel I lie somewhere in between. My creativity has to have a purpose. A brief and a conclusion. Though I still want enjoyment and excitement to come out of my creativity. It needs to have a practical purpose. My thoughts for the future definitely lie in providing my creativity as a service...possibly...creating for someone who feels they have no creativity yet wants to produce an exciting outcome... creativity as a service...definitely food for thought.