design with a side of dialogue
what I think about what I make
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2/19/03
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Mood:
or "I want you to hit me as hard as you can"
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Project: Code of Ethical Business Conduct
Patron: uss
Medium: Pagemaker 7.0, Illustrator 10
Status: Um...Draft 2?
Deadline: Friday
This just ended strangely. My boss shanghied the cover out from under me -- its not that he gave it to someone else -- he "panicked" and "stayed late to create another version." I was floored. I wasn't really upset -- I just assume that this is not how you handle projects. Even more ironic since I was working on the "Code for Ethical Business Conduct." He then followed it up with a "your still a good designer." I'm curious what he thought i was going to throw at him. Apparently this was not the first shanghi.
So - both my draft and his draft were put together into mock-ups to be presented to the big-wiggy who decided he needed to micromanage. Being quasi-passive-agressive, I didn't help.
Strange days.
So, what have we learned?
1. Know Thyself (and thy audience) - if they want pictures, you damn well better give them pictures. I knew the designs were not sitting well with them. Next time follow your instinct.
2. Don't be afraid to start over. - If the design isn't working - throw it out and start over. Don't keep over-working it to the point that it desintagrates. It means more work, but you will be happier to not be in a dead end.
3. Compromise is for the untalented. - DO NOT LET THE COMMITTEE MAKE DESIGN DECISIONS. I offically retract any statement I've made on this journal that insisted on other people's input. In the end, you are in design to communicate. If your design is not communicating to your audience, get a new design. There is nothing you can do about the audience. You are not here to make it a "harmonious design experience."
4. Figure out your message ahead of time - *Note: this is not a license to go whole hog analytical. Just be aware of what you are saying. Try and get other people to tell you what they want to communicate. Don't guess. Know.
So - now I find I'm back to the drawing board when it comes to my personal philosophy of design. I thought we were all suppose to get along. This type of thinking is how mediocrity is propagated.
G's design was actually pretty good. I suggested that uss generate a style guide that goes beyond just letterhead and business cards. They should really have a design template for official internal documents like this code of ethics booklet. To some extent they already have this, but it is locked up in one person's head. It doesn't have to be set in stone - it could even change based on the Annual Report. It could be so cool and no one would have to go through the crap I had to put up with today.
*sigh*
Patron: uss
Medium: Pagemaker 7.0, Illustrator 10
Status: Um...Draft 2?
Deadline: Friday
This just ended strangely. My boss shanghied the cover out from under me -- its not that he gave it to someone else -- he "panicked" and "stayed late to create another version." I was floored. I wasn't really upset -- I just assume that this is not how you handle projects. Even more ironic since I was working on the "Code for Ethical Business Conduct." He then followed it up with a "your still a good designer." I'm curious what he thought i was going to throw at him. Apparently this was not the first shanghi.
So - both my draft and his draft were put together into mock-ups to be presented to the big-wiggy who decided he needed to micromanage. Being quasi-passive-agressive, I didn't help.
Strange days.
So, what have we learned?
1. Know Thyself (and thy audience) - if they want pictures, you damn well better give them pictures. I knew the designs were not sitting well with them. Next time follow your instinct.
2. Don't be afraid to start over. - If the design isn't working - throw it out and start over. Don't keep over-working it to the point that it desintagrates. It means more work, but you will be happier to not be in a dead end.
3. Compromise is for the untalented. - DO NOT LET THE COMMITTEE MAKE DESIGN DECISIONS. I offically retract any statement I've made on this journal that insisted on other people's input. In the end, you are in design to communicate. If your design is not communicating to your audience, get a new design. There is nothing you can do about the audience. You are not here to make it a "harmonious design experience."
4. Figure out your message ahead of time - *Note: this is not a license to go whole hog analytical. Just be aware of what you are saying. Try and get other people to tell you what they want to communicate. Don't guess. Know.
So - now I find I'm back to the drawing board when it comes to my personal philosophy of design. I thought we were all suppose to get along. This type of thinking is how mediocrity is propagated.
G's design was actually pretty good. I suggested that uss generate a style guide that goes beyond just letterhead and business cards. They should really have a design template for official internal documents like this code of ethics booklet. To some extent they already have this, but it is locked up in one person's head. It doesn't have to be set in stone - it could even change based on the Annual Report. It could be so cool and no one would have to go through the crap I had to put up with today.
*sigh*
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