Steps for Success

Every designer, at one point or another, has a day when everything looks the same and nothing seems to click. 

You feel stumped and frustrated. Someone’s asking you to visualize a completely abstract concept (such as Michigan’s failing economy, or the state budget), you’ve made what seems like your ten-thousandth locator map, and no matter what you do you just can’t seem to find any inspiration.

I’ve been there more times than I’d like to remember, and found that my surroundings affect everything I do. Everything from my mood to what I’ve eaten can affect how I look at a project, and sometimes those things can’t be helped. Not everyone has the luxury of working with who they want, whenever they want. You’re not going to be in a good mood every day you have a project due or every time you need to solve a problem.

What you can do is create a design-friendly workspace. It’ll make a world of difference.

Step one: Find examples of good design.

My favorite publication is Redeye Chicago. It’s a free, tabloid-size paper published Monday through Friday and is distributed throughout the city. I’ve always liked the covers of tabloid-sized papers, because they tend to have interesting illustrations and graphic fronts on a more regular basis than a newspaper would. The great thing about Redeye is it’s geared toward young people, so the design is new, fresh and a little off the wall. Magnets secure Redeye covers all around my work space, along with covers from various other publications I enjoy. If I’m feeling discouraged, I only have to glance up to remember why I like my job. 

Step two: Find examples of bad design.

A professor once told me the reason we share our work in front of the class for critique is not to embarrass us in front of our peers. Instead, it’s because we learn so much more from the mistakes of others, which is true. If you make a mistake or a poor design decision, I’m sure you have a good reason for it. But if someone else did something you find laughable, in the back of your mind you’re making a note to never, ever be the guy you’re laughing at.

Step three: Find ways it’s been done before.

The Society for News Design (www.snd.org) puts out an annual “Best of” book, featuring the best news design of the previous year. I own four of these, and they just weren’t getting enough love on the shelf in my bedroom. I brought them into work, and we use them all the time. If we need a new way to place three photos with one main headline on a page, we look for someone who’s already done it successfully. If we want to do an illustration about Michigan’s budget, we look for finance pages that might spark an idea. We don’t copy the pages that already have been done. In most cases, we’ll run across something in the books that will spark a solution to our own problem, and end up with a page that looks completely different. The books provide a nice plank to dive off of.

Step four: Don’t be afraid to give yourself kudos.

If you or your staff have won awards, hang them up. If you have a page you’ve done that you put a lot of work into, or a piece you’re especially proud of, bring it in. Remind yourself that you’ve done this before. Design because you love it. On days when you think you never want to touch a computer again, looking at past successes can be very encouraging. 

Step five: Have fun!

Listen to music. Doodle funny pictures of your co-workers. Play with Legos. (I’m not the only one who has Legos at work, right?) Fill out your calendar in crayon or colored pencil. Just whatever you do, don’t ever stop being the creative little kid who wanted to be an artist. 

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