In the short time that I’ve spent not just in the design world, but spent working with people in the design world, I’ve quickly come to realize that a large percent of non-designers don’t want you to think, they just want you to do. I’ve come to the conclusion this occurs far more if you’re young, and especially a student of design. Once someone finds this out, whether it be a friend or relative, they’re often then inclined to have you do something for them. Notice how I said do something, and not design something, because there is a very large difference.
Even as young designers, we’re taught, or should be taught to think before we do. Anyone can do, but what sets us apart is our ability to think, weigh options, research and eventually come up with what we feel and know is the best possible solution. As a non-designer, most people are accustom to simply doing, and throwing all kinds of thinking aside. They don’t question or ponder, they simply execute and move on, sacrificing quality for quantity and haste.
Thus, when one of these non-designers approach you to do something for them, they’ve already taken a whole five minutes to think through it, and they know what they want. The issue, is that they can’t do what they want in this case. They can conceptualize the idea, but there can be no execution due to lack of knowledge, training or understanding.
There is actually more underneath the surface than that. While it seems they’re able to think, withing doing, there is a good chance that most of the time they can not think either. For the same reasons they can not execute; lack of knowledge, training or understanding. I do not hold this against them, but what I do hold against them is how they often view designers as nothing more than a pawn. Someone to execute their plan that has not been well thought out, someone to act as nothing more than a mercenary.
They see something, and either know they could’ve done that, or that they could’ve thought of that. When in all actuality, neither of those thoughts are true. This is now where you, the young designer or student designer, must stand your ground.
Is it exciting to get work and to do things? Absolutely. But not when your brain has been taken out of the equation. It’s not fun at all to have someone tell you their idea and then do it, without having a say in how it should be done.
I am not saying ignore or dismiss anyone who comes to you with an idea and would like you to make something for them. However, I am saying do not feel afraid or uncomfortable to tell them, this is not going to work, and show them what you think will work. If they dismiss it, push again.
People should never come to you and ask you to do something for them. Instead, they should come to you and ask you to design something for them. When they simply want you to do, you’re no longer special, and you’re no more than a hired gun. None of us want to be that, and we can do something about it. It’s okay to say no, or say you don’t think that is the right thing to do, thus you don’t do it.
Just because someone wants us to do something for them, does not mean you should do it, especially if you feel it does not work and then can cast a negative shadow over what you really can do. The client or customer does not hold the power. The client and designer both need each other equally, and they also must know when to let the other do what they do best. We, the designers, design.
Filed under: Design
