Don't get me wrong. I learned a lot in art school. Stuff like design fundamentals, color theory, typography, and creative problem solving. Art school taught me the fundamentals and academics. What it didn't teach me was real world experience.
We've heard the stories...Clients who think they're creative and feel like they know how to design better then you. Requests that break every design rule / style (Comics Sans anyone?). Last minute deadlines. Design changes on a whim. The worst part? Having to satisfy your client...over your own preference. Not the sort of thing you pictured in your design career.
Unfortunately, this is the norm for those of us in this profession. So how do we handle these challenges (other then curling up in the corner of your favorite coffee shop or changing your profession entirely)?
Realize That It Will Happen – Even the Greats in the design professions had to deal with challenging clients. If they had to deal with them, you will too.
Determine to Learn – View these challenges as opportunities to learn and grow in your profession (That's how the greats became great).
Rise to the Occasion – This is what separates the greats from the average designer. Take the limitations and use them to your advantage. Design No-No's? Make them extraordinary. Last Minute deadlines? Make it an exercise in simplicity. Design change mid-project? Use it as a time of exploration.
Now could art schools benefit from exercises that incorporate these challenges? Absolutely. Hopefully, someday they will. Until then, experience will have to do for the things that you didn't learn in art school.
Am I on track or way off? I'd love to hear your real world experiences and how you handled them. Thanks for tuning in.
Next Time: Thou Shalt Not Use Comic Sans - A Book Review
