Design is Everything and Everything is Design

The world of technology fled across the desert, and the Designer followed.

This post is about everything and nothing specific. It delves into emotions and philosophy, ideas and disasters, clients and your work. It's about the good and the bad, it's about life... it's about Design.

John Maeda once said: "There are three kinds of design at play. There's classical design (Design), there is design thinking (Business), and there is computational design (Technology)." 

Maeda concluded that design has always been about selling things. But how do we sell through design? How do we make clients happy and achieve high user satisfaction? How do we approach problems objectively?

In today's landscape, focus groups and research dominate. Thinking outside the box filled with rules and ideas has become increasingly challenging. Breaking through these stone walls while maintaining creativity is a Herculean task, testing your nerves, mind, and body – reminiscent of Tantalus' eternal suffering.

Tantalus was punished to stand in a pool of water beneath a fruit tree with low branches. Whenever he reached for the fruit, the branches raised his intended meal from his grasp. Whenever he bent down to drink, the water receded before he could get any.

Before you roll your eyes, understand this: The dramatization of the design process is intentional. It illustrates the designer's inner struggle and the crucial need for nourishment. A designer's mind is always working, prone to quick overload. Balancing creativity with practical execution is no small feat.

Picture this: You're on your usual run, mind brimming with interfaces and interaction patterns. You're grocery shopping, yet hours slip by as you navigate the product labyrinth, lost in design thinking. At home, a shower turns into an extended session as your mind loops through shapes and colors. Creating in your tool might take hours, but they don't see the days of obsession behind it.

Take your time. Let ideas simmer. Design is never truly finished and shouldn't be rushed. A fresh day and some rest can revolutionize your approach to a problem.

Taking risks in a sea of patterns and similar ideas, while explaining that design is everything, often feels like temptation without satisfaction. 

Focus groups present their own challenges. Different groups react uniquely to patterns, colors, and shapes. Blue is likable, red polarizing, green energizing. Some prefer neutral fonts and rounded shapes, others serious tones and sharp edges. Some lack design education, while others are impossible to please. It's a thorny path, but as a designer, you relish the challenge because you love what you do.

Ultimately, a designer's solution is deeply personal. You approach problems through your unique lens, applying knowledge based on shared ideas and information. You and your team embark on a process, an adventure, but the user's reaction remains unpredictable. Success has no clear roadmap.

Don't always rely on data. Take risks. Nourish yourself and your team. Embrace productive arguments, even when they're draining. Be honest and direct, even in the face of client pushback – remember, you're hired for a reason. Don't fear failure; it fuels growth. Work hard, stay humble, and above all, give your mind the rest it needs.

Written in June 2017; revised in August 2024.