Michael McDonough | Ten Things You Don't Learn in Design School
1. Talent is 1/3 of the success equation
Success = Talent + Luck + Hard Work
There are many talented designers who simply do not make an effort to sell themselves—or their work. Even if you're the most talented designer, freelance or not, your work won't be seen by the people who matter most.
Hard work will pay off, but only if you stay self-disciplined and make sacrifices. Hard working designers develop better design and communication skills. Designers can increase their "luck" in the field—being involved in your local design community increases your chances of being in the right place at the right time for business opportunities, making social contacts through networking, and gaining power through those social contacts you meet.Â
2. 90% of any creative profession is SHIT work
Design is 90% shit, 10% fun.
Most designers who are unprepared for the real-world learn that the profession is not as fun as it was in college. It can be, however, if you learn to plan for every aspect of the design process.
Work isn't work without paperwork, drafting & other boring stuff, research, selling ideas, trying to collect unpaid debts, etc. Expect these facts of life at an early stage in your design education and you'll find yourself in a very self-fulfilling, enjoyable career.
3. If everything is equally important, nothing is important
There's hierarchy in everything, including the design process. Sure, every step is important—but don't forget to put emphasis and spend adequate time on the initial steps which lay the foundation for the entire project. If you skip a step, or even do a half-assed job on a step, your project will end up being a failure.Â
4. Don't over think a problem
Who hasn't done this? I'm guilty, numerous times over! You've got a deadline so make sure you stick to your schedule or timeline. If you don't have one, MAKE ONE. It is possible to think too much about a single aspect of a project which really doesn't need much thinking at all.Â
Define the problem, brainstorm solutions, move on.
5. Start with what you know—then remove the unknown
Designers are masters at solving problems visually but this is never a one-step process. I love to start every project with a mind-map. Write keywords and use a thesaurus to come up with more words which relate to the original core keywords.
You may think that some of the words that you think of while mind-mapping are useless or meaningless, write them down anyways! You never know where your next creative concept will be born—you're a genius & don't even know it.
6. Don't forget your goal
Looking back at #3, hierarchy is key to accomplishing a goal. Unfortunately many designers tend to veer off their intended path while working through their design process. It is important to review your project goals throughout your entire project so you don't waste valuable time—because everyone knows that time = money.Â
If you don't remember your goals, you'll start creating solutions to problems that weren't initially introduced. Don't confuse yourself and make things more difficult that they have to be.
7. You'll fall off balance if you throw your weight around
Accept that you can learn anything, but you'll never know everything. You're smart, but not that smart. Design school can't teach you what life experience teaches you. Confidence is attractive but over-confidence is foolish.Â
8. The road to hell is paved with good intentions. No good deed goes unpunished
The world is based on averages and predictables, nothing is black and white. For every good there is equal bad, equal resistance, and equal opposition.
Expect to work hard and fail a few times, failure is the ultimate learning experience so don't necessarily look at it as a negative thing.
9. It all comes down to output
Get it done. Work hard. Crank it out and don't stop cranking. Production is key to success. More output means higher chances of getting your work seen, sold, and appreciated.
10. The rest of the world counts
If you don't believe this, your dumb. We don't design for ourselves because if we did, we wouldn't make any money! Remember those people you knew in high school? They're consumers of this world, regardless if they were your friends or not. Let them consume your work, let their friends consume your work.
Respect people. Period. They are your lifeline and will determine whether or not you have a successful career in the future. Without people, you'll have no buyers, no investors, and no understanding of complete career satisfaction.
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