In our current age of social media, I find myself becoming increasingly annoyed at not only its ubiquity but also its constant, ever-changing rules of play. But then I remember that 20 year old kid trying to get his vision of this world out there. Back in the early 2000s that was really hard. Now a 40 year old kid who still wants to get his vision of this world out there, using social media is a pretty good way to do that. So that’s what I’ll do. Sure, there will be bitching and moaning at all the negatives, but at the end of the day, I’m going to use the tools at my disposal.
Options are good, options are not needed
I like options. Who doesn’t. They can be super helpful when working through the design process. But there also comes a time in that same design process when options are a complete waste of time. Designers do like to consider different approaches, but designers also like to execute. Work the craft, complete the task, do the job. At that point in the process, options get in the way, slow momentum, and prolong the inevitable. Do this design job long enough, and you know when options are good, and when options aren’t.
Not Impressive
Right, there’s the shtick. The elevated confidence. The big sell. The impressive vision. The talking of the game. And then, there’s nothing. All the stuff of myth just sits there on a shelf collecting dust because the person saying all the words can’t actually do anything. It’s a bummer how unimpressive it all went down, yet completely predictable. The talkers talk. The doers do. Ideas come and go and then come around again. And when the ideas show themselves once more, unfortunately, so will the peddlers.
When what you do just isn’t better than what already exists
It happens. It’s a bummer, but it’s fine. Sometimes that’s just how the knife edge falls. You’re asked to design a new something for something that’s already pretty good and what you do just isn’t as good. Don’t force it, don’t lie to yourself, and just allow what already exists to keep existing.
All this AI stuff
I don’t know, seems just sort of meh, honestly. Like, it’s kinda cool, and then it’s kinda boring. Also seems like a lot of effort for little return. It’s like realistic looking cats doing things cats can’t do surrounded by typography that looks like donuts. I guess I need to use my imagination more or something.
Creative Release
Working with people on big and small projects, with timelines, budgets, requirements, opinions, etc. I have come to crave projects where I am alone, for the most part, and what gets made is entirely what I want it to be. It’s liberation.
Reminder: You decide your own level of involvement
What you get to do, how you show up, how you do the work, what you deliver, why you do that work, and so on. All of it, it’s up to you. You decide what level you operate on. You decide what you bring to the table. It’s a gift but also carries weight, because at the end of the day, it’s you who decides.
