How to live happily with a great designer

Posted by DT
Jul 18, 2006
[ Comments Anyone? ]

Filed Under:
Design Leadership

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I dont really often link to other blogs but this article by Seth Godin is really too good not to share. Espically as we have been talking alot about design as a viable business strategy and how to work with either an in-house or external designers.

I had a good laugh at each and every one of his 13 points as personally I have experienced a situation that almost matches each point.

My favourite must be the first 3 points:

1) If you want average (mediocre) work, ask for it. Be really clear up front that you want something beyond reproach, that’s in the middle of the road, that will cause no controversy and will echo your competition. It’ll save everyone a lot of time.

2) On the other hand, if you want great work, you’ll need to embrace some simple facts:

3) It’s going to offend someone. If it doesn’t offend them, then it will make them nervous. The Vietnam Vets memorial offended a lot of people. The design of Google made plenty of people nervous. Great work from a design team means new work, refreshing and remarkable and bit scary.

Take a look at the rest of the article here.