graphic design, art, typography and architecture

A topic inspired by a comment by Lauren Marie, and melded into a post by Tara over at the Graphic Design Blog, entitled “When Do You Consider Yourself a Successful Designer?”

How did you get started in the business?

I had no idea what I wanted to do when I left school. I was torn between so may disparate career aspirations, that I pretty much flipped a coin to decide. The coin chose a course in “Design–Technical Illustration”, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I then worked freelance as an Architectural Illustrator (before the days of CAD!). After a few years at that, I suddenly realised that I had forgotten about university, so I packed my bags and went off to study Chinese and Economics; the course had been cancelled–they’d sent a misaddressed letter, that I never received–so there I was on the first day of university, having to make a decision about what else I should study. I chose Economics, a subject I was to have a love affair with.

I fear I’m rambling, so to cut a long story short, I worked as an economist, later saw a job ad in a newspaper for a Graphic Designer, and somehow–I’ll never know why–got the job. That is, I guess, pretty much how I got started.

What kept you going during those early years?

This one is a little difficult to answer, as I “took” a rather non-traditional route into the business. However, as a freelance Architectural Illustrator, what kept me going was simply a desire to continue to do something that I enjoyed, and to forget about money. I made very little money, but my days were filled with work that I loved. So long as I had enough money to pay the rent and buy food, I really didn’t care much for anything else.

Did you ever feel like you weren’t good enough or you would never make it in this industry?

No, not really. I’ve never thought about it in those terms. I’ve never had (and still don’t have) any desire to “make it”–I enjoy what I do. If my “peers” like what I do, then that’s all well and good; if they don’t, who cares. Life is too short to worry about being accepted by one’s peers. That being said, it’s great to receive compliments.

How did you work through that?

As I’ve never worried about “being good enough” or “not making it”, I didn’t need to That doesn’t mean that I feel I have made it; it simply means that I just don’t think of work or life in those terms.

Do you look at others today and think, “Wow, I wish I were that good”?

Yes, sometimes. When I look at, say, the web design of Miguel Ripoll, the architecture of Tadao Ando, the typography of Piet Zwart. I think that good designers are brave designers. I like those designers who are not afraid to do–or to at least attempt–something a little (or a lot) different. I think it’s a case of “When in Rome, don’t do as…”.

I think that “wow, I wish I were that good” can have both a positive and negative influence on one’s own work. It can inspire us to aspire; and it can discourage. Ultimately one must concentrate on one’s own design. By all means, take inspiration from those whose work you admire, but never let it be the yardstick by which YOU judge your own work or worth.

How do you measure success?

“Success has always been a great liar.”–Nietzsche. Oh, and don’t forget to ask Sisyphus about “success”.

By your standard, do you think you are successful?

As “success” is so subjective, I have no idea. If “success” is a loose synonym for “happiness”, then, well, I’m happy, so…

Thanks to The Graphic Design Blog for prompting me to answer the above questions. I enjoyed it.

And here are some links to other participants:

Uniquely the Epitome | Graphic Design Edinburgh | Paul Enderson | Vivien | Randa Clay | Milienzo | Design Adaptations | Lisa Sabin-Wilson | Brian Gardner | Small Potato | Nathan Rice | Jonathan Wold | Cory Miller | Essential Keystrokes

I’d like to know what you think, so feel free to comment. I’ll think about who I should “tag” next…