A Look at Art & Design

Why I love Tmobile - it’s customer service!

I’ve been a Tmobile customer for about 6 years.  While many of us complain about phone providers, I’m pretty satisfied with Tmobile (even more so now) and I thought I should write about what’s good.

As some of you know, I had an extreme dislike of my Blackberry. That device didn’t work for me at all and I hated that I had to hack and alter my routines to suit Blackberry technology. Additionally, my heart was set on a Nokia. The Nokia E75, in fact.   So in preparation for my new purchase I called Tmobile to ensure that the Nokia would be fully functional on their network.  In doing so, I was prompted by their latest promotion for a “Mobile Makeover.”  Goodness, how could I refuse?  I like saving money.

Customer service was exceptional on Tmobile’s part.  My first representative, Kathy, saved me $70/month.  That’s quite a “mobile makeover’, I must say. She offered me a variety of suggestions to help me reduce my bill and she answered the questions I had regarding the new phone despite the fact that Tmobile doesn’t carry the E75.  Kathy was helpful, professional, knowledgeable and fun. I wasn’t quite ready to switch over my plan during that first phone call because I still needed to purchase the phone. I returned a call to them two days later when I received the phone to take care of the details.

I will say the only gripe I have with Tmobile is their selection of phones. I understand that they are promoting their Tmobile Google phone but the alternate selections are poor and in some cases just down right weird and outdated.  Not everyone wants a Google phone. No matter, I can purchase what I desire from Amazon or Nokia, I just don’t quite understand why Tmobile wouldn’t offer richer alternatives that would cause me to spend my money with them instead.  (I was once told that it is because they make very little money off of their product line but does this mean that the product line should suck?)

When I called 2 days later to set up my phone and service the second representative I spoke with, Sheryl, was equally lovely and helpful.  She also provided several good suggestions.  We were able to set up my Nokia E75 in a matter of minutes.  After 6 years, I can say that I’ve always enjoyed excellent customer service.  I speak with actual people when I call for support.  They are always friendly and helpful.  My network is rarely problematic.

I am especially sensitive to good and bad support services and as a business owner it is one of my priorities to provide excellent customer support to my clients.  It is what sets successful businesses apart and in today’s harsh environment, we have to start reaching back to those forgotten details that offer added value and exceptional service to our clients.

The reason I couldn’t get along with my Blackberry was because it was inflexible to the way I needed to do business.  My Nokia E75 works the way I do and it’s a gorgeous sexy phone to boot.  If we apply this metaphor to the design and arts industry... in a market with a thousand talented designers, and a thousand exceptional artists, it is going to be the relationship between client and provider that will determine who and what is most successful.  In an environment where customer respect and honestly went by the wayside it’s now time to rethink the way we get things done, the value of what we are providing and how we nurture our relationships. It’s time to reinvent the problem areas where we fall short and strengthen the assets we have already established.  It’s something I’m working on.  How about you?

The Vender Client Relationship

Made me giggle.  Found via Design Observer:

The nature of your logo and what it means for you

What is a logo? This may seem like a silly question, but I’m finding a good many people don’t really understand the elements which make up a logo or what that unique little graphic can mean to a business. Why is it so important? Some might even ask, “Is it important at all.”

Well yes, it is important. Your logo is like your handshake. It welcomes people to your business and like a handshake a logo can be weak or strong.  This is not to say that a bad company which has a great logo can depend on the design of the logo to lend excellence and reputation to the company. A bad company will be a bad company despite its terrific logo and the logo will often take on the negative elements of that company’s persona. A logo can, however, leave a lasting impression and make or break a first impression. Most importantly a logo is an identifier.  It should always be unique, distinctive and memorable.

Lifeclever shares some thoughts from the great American graphic designer, Paul Rand, on logos from his book Design, Form and Chaos.

• A logo is a flag, a signature, an escutcheon, a street sign.
• A logo does not sell (directly), it identifies.
• A logo is rarely a description of a business.
• A logo derives meaning from the quality of the thing it symbolizes, not the other way around.  A logo is less important than the product it signifies; what it represents is more important than what it looks like.
• The subject matter of a logo can be almost anything.

What a logo is NOT:

• A logo is not a piece of clip art or stock imagery.
• A logo is not a photograph.
• A logo is not your company name simply typed out in Helvetica or Times New Roman (or in Futura, Verdana or Gill Sans either.)
• A logo is not a DIY project nor can it be created by using "special software."
• A logo is not purchased on the cheap for $200.

Rand explains how the quality of a logo is tied to the quality of the company it represents. 

Should a logo be self-explanatory? It is only by association with a product, a service, a business, or a corporation that a logo takes on any real meaning. It derives its meaning and usefulness from the quality of that which it symbolizes. If a company is second rate, the logo will eventually be perceived as second rate. It is foolhardy to believe that a logo will do its job immediately, before an audience has been properly conditioned.

Let’s look at the example of the Swastika.  Originally this symbol was used by many cultures to represent good things such as power, good luck, life, sun, and strength.  The symbol was used for over 3000 years for representing positive connotations.  Once Hitler used it (1921) as his symbol for the Nazi party... the symbol will never again regain it’s positive ideology.  The Enron logo is a similar example.

The definition of a logo:

Wikipedia nicely defines a logo as: A graphical element (ideogram, symbol, emblem, icon, sign) that, together with its logotype (a uniquely set and arranged typeface) form a trademark or commercial brand. Typically, a logo's design is for immediate recognition. The logo is one aspect of a company's commercial brand, or economic or academic entity, and its shapes, colors, fonts, and images usually are different from others in a similar market.

Designing a logo takes a good amount of thoughtful creative energy by the designer and a process is always required.  To be done correctly, logo creation can take anywhere from several weeks to several months.  Remember, your logo is your business' face on your business cards, website, invoices, letterhead and other business collateral.  David Airey, logo designer, has written about “What makes a good logo design” and lists 5 elements that can be seen in every effective iconic logo:

   1. It’s describable
   2. It’s memorable
   3. It’s effective without colour
   4. It’s scalable i.e. works when just an inch in size
   5. It’s appropriate

The Process:

When you decide to invest in your company and hire a graphic designer to create something unique and memorable as your logo, you will be informed of the design process.  In fact, logo designers such as David Airey, Jacob Cass and Jeff Fisher will also offer informative articles and details on their logo solutions and processes.  The process of logo design usually includes the following along with some outstanding customer support, consult and communication:

• The Brief:   The accumulation and organization of materials and information from the client.  Thoughts, ideas, missions, goals, personality of the business all are considered.  This is the most important first step.  From this information the design brief is created. It is information necessary to the creative.
• Research:  Researching the business industry.  In order to create a branding symbol, the designer must understand the business, its competition, its history.  Is the business conservative (banking or corporate) or more cutting edge (music or the arts.)
• Visual Research:  Inspiration.  Researching other logos in that industry to see what is fresh, new, outstanding.  This is not copying other logos!  This is researching the look and feel of the industry.
• Sketching & Conceptualizing:  The fun part.  The creative part.  Sketching and conceptualizing the logo using the information obtained in the brief and via research.  The designer creates several sketches and concepts which could be used as the final logo product.  These sketches are done on anything from sketch books, to napkins, and can take place anywhere from parks to design studios to coffee houses and pubs.  When the designer hits on a great concept... they know it.
• Reflection:  Knowing when to put down the sketch book and back away from the project for awhile.  Fresh eyes and minds can yield wonderous things.
• Putting it all together:  A designer once said to me "my most important creative tool is my trash basket".  This is the stage where the designer culls together all the good stuff and trashes the initial or "less than desirable" attempts.  What works and what doesn't?
• Presentations:  This can be a creative art in and of itself.  The presentation to the client should always be professional and insightful.  Here is when the designer may provide several concepts or perhaps just showcase a few concepts.  The designer may take on the role of consultant (and provide suggestions and guidence) or just provide "the facts."  You will find that most professional designers act as consult and support for their clients as opposed to design contests where a design is provided and no more.
• Celebration:  Yes indeed, after some long hard months at the drawing board and after the job is complete, many designers might take a moment for a bit of celebration. As for myself, I celebrate with a great glass of wine and a clove smoke.  After all, a new logo has been born. 

I hope this article has helped define what a logo is and some best practices. Some may say that in today's economy, the small business owner can't afford to hire a logo designer.  My personal feeling is that you can't afford not to...especially in today's economy.  Save money on using both sides of the paper from your printer, reusing folders, energy efficient lighting or buying second hand office furniture but invest in your business personality ID.  Here are some additional resources:

The logo design process by Jacob Cass
Why a logo does not cost $5
DesignMag - 35 type based logos

The disconnect between what we love and what we do:

I became a graphic designer somewhat by accident.  Back in 1997, my original business plan was to be a writer for art publications and organizations online.  I landed an assignment almost immediately and wrote a piece called “Colors of a Woman’s Palette” for an online art venue.  It was fabulous little essay about Artemisia Gentileschi, Elisabeth Vigee-LeBrun, Käthie Kollwitz, and Berthe Morisot.  The trouble was that I don’t think anyone read it.  I remember being quite disappointed because after having turned in the piece I found the presentation of it poorly laid out and lacking in any visuals that would have complimented the content.  Even back in ’97, I just knew that an online presentation had to be effective. Feeling badly for the little essay, I decided to create a website specifically for that article to see if the reception would fair any better.  Once nicely dressed up Colors did gain a readership as did my newly created website. 

Dragonfly is now celebrating its 10th year in business.  Over the years, I’ve learned a lot about design, running a business, and like any entrepreneur I work very hard.  Most of my clients have been with Dragonfly for years... some have been with me since I first opened my doors.  Much of my work comes to me from word of mouth. I’m proud of this and believe it speaks to the quality of what I do and the sincerity of my customer support.

I spend a good amount of time looking at design. I can’t help it.  I see it everywhere... on the road signs, in the grocery store, magazines, mail flyers, tooth paste tubes and wine bottles.  And because I love design I go and seek it out... I read design magazines, books, and take tutorials and attend lectures to sharpen my skill set.  Design for me is not a job, it’s my lifestyle.

Despite the recession/depression, DFB has been extremely fortunate and busy working for its established base of clientele and has even acquired some new clients.  I worked hard to accomplish the work load but by the beginning of May, I felt like I hit a wall.  A vacation was required... but I didn’t want a vacation from the design work.  What I needed was a vacation from the business end of things.

The graphic design industry has been known as having an unusually high burn out rate.  I’m not sure why that is and I hope to never find out.  I’m pretty certain it has nothing to do with the actual design work.  Almost on a daily basis I’m assaulted with new ideas and visions from my muse but rarely am I able to see these concepts come to fruition... I’m too busy returning emails and phone calls, going to meetings, providing customer support, and doing paperwork. 

Let’s Consider Balance:

Yes, this is a term I’ve heard of before.  Friends, family, associates, and fellow artists have spoken to the importance of balance.  “Lisa, you need to find some balance.”  I would generally respond, “Ummm... you mean balance in the composition right?”  Not!

Ok, I will say to you, I SUCK at balance. I have always endeavored to make every client feel like my only client and sometimes I have been devastatingly successful at this.  If a client emailed me at 7 am., I responded within a matter of minutes.  Phone calls on Saturday evening during dinner... I took the call.  My Blackberry would alert me to communications during my son’s school events, birthday gatherings, grocery shopping, evenings out with friends and during vacations.  I ALWAYS responded to the client.  God, I must be a total drag to hang out with on a personal level.

No doubt there are “red flag” clients.  You can Google a thousand resources on how to best deal with this type of phenomena but I’m starting to wonder if as designers and consultants some of us just handle these folks badly.  Are we not, after all, responsible for our own circumstances?   There is absolutely no reason why a designer or any business person should respond to a client call or email at 7am.  There must be a separation between life and work so that one can enjoy a day at the beach without a tide of emails following along via Blackberry.  And there is no justifiable reason whereby a designer must be a clients “last minute gal” because that client consistently waits until the last day of deadline to call in a project. 

I am always in awe of people who seem to accomplish so much during the course of their life.  There are those professionals who design, teach, lecture, write books and blogs, travel, and are President of several design organizations.  On Saturday you will find them passing out hotdogs at the little league game or planting a tree.  I don’t know how they do it, but I’m thinking it’s because they are not responding to email 6 times a day 7 days a week.  They have found balance and in doing so they are better equipped (mentally and physically) to pursue the things that are important to them and give them joy.  They are also better prepared to meet the work week demands because they have made the time to devote to their own creative pursuits.  Creative people, even those who work for others, need to find expression for their own creative ideas

I love graphic design but these days I’m much less of a designer than I am a business woman.  This makes me sad.  So, in addition to several other new office policies that I’m instituting, I have decided to hire a part-time assistant.  Perhaps an Intern or college student who might help me out with some communications and production work.  I’m thinking this might be the answer (I’m hoping) to enabling me to do more of the thing I love.  Perhaps it will enable Dragonfly, now 10 years old, to develop into something larger.

If you are interested please email me at Dragonfly Blu.  Send your resume and qualifications.

Taxtime for Freelancers

10 Tax Deductions Freelancers Can Make.  Thursday Bram at Freelance Switch points out some ways to save you bucks!  (found via CreativePro)

Lots of good articles at both Freelance Switch and Creative Pro.  Check them out.

Yes, We Can! Victory for the Arts in the Economic Recovery Bill

Good news to update my February 7 post on Arts in the Economic Recovery Post.  Yesterday, February 13, the U.S. House of Representatives approved their final version of the Economic Recovery bill by a vote of 246-183.  Americans for The Arts confirms that the package DOES include $50 million in direct support for arts jobs through National Endowment for the Arts grants. 

In a press release received yesterday from Americans for The Arts:

We are also happy to report that the exclusionary Coburn Amendment language banning certain arts groups from receiving any other economic recovery funds has also been successfully removed.  Tonight the Senate is scheduled to have their final vote, and President Obama plans to sign the bill on Monday - President's Day.

A United Voice
This is an important victory for all of you as arts advocates.  More than 85,000 letters were sent to Congress, thousands of calls were made, and hundreds of op-eds, letters to the editor, news stories, and blog entries were generated in print and online media about the role of the arts in the economy.  Artists, business leaders, mayors, governors, and a full range of national, state, and local arts groups all united together on this advocacy issue.  This outcome marks a stunning turnaround of events and exemplifies the power of grassroots arts advocacy. 

We would like to also thank some key leaders on Capitol Hill who really carried our voices into the conference negotiation room and throughout the halls of Congress: Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), House Appropriations Chairman Dave Obey (D-WI), House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Norm Dicks (D-WA), and Congressional Arts Caucus Co-Chair Louise Slaughter (D-NY).  We also want to publicly thank President Obama for taking the early lead in recognizing the role of the arts in economic development.  These leaders were able to convincingly make the case that protecting jobs in the creative sector is integral to the U.S. economy.

Webinar on Federal Funding Announced, NEA Officials to Join
There is further good news for the arts and arts education in the other sections of this $789 billion economic recovery legislation -- but we're still reading through the 1000+ pages.  Americans for the Arts will give an update on the economic stimulus package as well as other federal sources of arts funding in a webinar on Wednesday, February 18, 2:00-3:30pm EST.  The webinar presentation will include remarks by Acting National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Patrice Walker Powell and newly appointed Director of Government Affairs Anita Decker. The webinar is free to Americans for the Arts professional members.

Economic Gloom and Doom... It doesn't have to be all that.

Amidst all the gloom and doom I thought I'd bring you a little sunshine.

A few weeks ago, I watched Jim Carey on Larry King.  It was an excellent interview and I found Carey to be quite eloquent, thoughtful and genius.  One of the things that really stuck with me was as King and Carey were discussing the economy and current events.  Carey said something along the line of "We're artists and as artists we make something from nothing.  We do this all the time.  We can find creative ways of getting through rough times." YES!

At this time I say to all the artists, galleries, non profits, creatives, designers, business men and woman to start looking at this time as a time for repositioning and creating a more solid future.  This is exactly the time to readdress and rethink what we are doing.  Think not only in terms of your business, your personal life.... but in terms of a greater good as well.  Dare I say it?  Think in terms of opportunity. Fresh starts.

In spite of things, some things will always remain constant.  Painters will still paint.  Sculptors will still sculpt. Designers will still design.  And businesses must still market.  A poor economy doesn't mean you can stop promoting your business... unless you plan on closing your doors.  A poor economy means you have to find more effective and efficient ways of marketing yourself.  Think outside the box people!  Work an extra 2 or 3 hours a day to make your vision come true.

Self promotion and marketing doesn't need to be hard.  In fact, it can be a lot of fun and your marketing tools and agenda can be just as creative as the artistic work you do in the studio or gallery. Betsey Kelso has a great article on Marketing Your Work over at NYFA.  Here are some ideas to get you started:

1. Take a look at your marketing materials.  Do you have business card?. A media kit? Is your portfolio on disk, web and hard copy?  Are these materials fresh and do they express your message accurately and professionally?  Can you do something different (something creative) with your packaging that will make your "stuff" stand out from the rest?
2. Can you use technology in creative and innovative ways to promote your work... or to make new networking associations?  Sure ya can!
3. Learn something new.  For those of you who are finding themselves with some time on their hands... use that time to learn something new to add to your portfolio/resume.  It will pay you back 10 fold.
4. Get involved with a community group, charity organization and support your beliefs.  You will be amazed at how many cool people you'll meet and how many cool places you can set your eyes on.

Positioning yourself now is positioning yourself for the future... and I'm thinking you all want to be a part of the future!

Contacts are Golden:: Creating a workable address book with Apple

I had some time over the Thanksgiving holiday to work on some odds and ends here in the studio.  One of the jobs I really wanted to accomplish was the organization and expansion of my address book.  Sounds terribly exciting, doesn’t it?

But seriously, with the recent purchase of my Macbook Pro and Ipod Touch, I wanted to refine my contact list to sync between these two tools and provide me with the best and most updated information no matter where I was.  (The little Ipod Touch is an invaluable little gadget on so many levels...)

Mailing lists and contact databases are probably more valuable than my beloved Ipod and because of the now dubbed “official recession” it is even more important to maintain marketing and outreach and to do it in the most cost effective manner.  Address books are worth their weight in gold.  Networking and outreach is incredibly important and while I’m not talking about compiling a spam database (don’t just add random names) there are ways to build a valuable and workable list that is legit and will serve you for years.

My project began mainly because the address book on my Blackberry wasn’t the same as the book on my desktop, which differed from the book on my laptop etc etc...  and it was very frustrating to try to obtain consistent information.  I also knew I had emails in my inbox which weren’t included in my book at all.  Some entries only contained email addresses while others were very complete.  My goal here was to create a book that would serve as my “bible.”

Apple makes it very easy and almost fun to organize your address book.  In my book I began by setting up “Group Names” or categories such as artists, galleries and museums, clients, personal, press, advertising/PR.  A bit of manual labor was involved here in organizing names but after awhile a fairly accurate database revealed itself.  I specified where each contact name should be filed in a given group.  Obviously artist contacts were filed under the group “artists”, family and friends went under “personal” and so on.  (You DO NOT need to categorize EVERYONE in your address book.  Apple includes the default group “All” which will contain miscellaneous names or those folks who defy a specific group as well as those who you have already grouped. I find that categorizing EVERYONE just becomes an exercise in frustration and so I keep to the KISS principle and Keep It Simple.  If it becomes necessary to create another group I can do so, but I don’t get caught up with categories and subcategories of subcategories.)

The groups or categories are important to me because if I want to send out an email campaign to only my clients, I simply select that category for a mailing.  I can structure the email and the message of my email specifically for that target group.  If I have a Press Release or campaign that I want to send out to the press, I select the “press” category.  For some years I also had a “birthday list” for my loved ones ... that list had somehow been neglected resulting in forgotten anniversaries and birthdays which got me into a lot of trouble. The personal group now contains much detailed information and my Ipod provides me with a Birthday List... all compiled from my Apple Address Book. I've even set notifications so that I'm alerted when a birthday comes along. Ical provides an option for creating a birthday list from the address book and while I utilize this option I find the Birthday List by Shuji Fukumoto via App store on your ipod or iphone works better for me.

Having entered and organized everyone already established in my various books I went back into my email inbox and reviewed the names of those people and contacts who have written to me whom I hadn’t had a chance to add previously.  If you don’t add to your book as soon as you receive incoming in your mail, you’ll be amazed at how many new contacts come into your life that get lost simply because they haven’t been included in your book.  Most business savvy people include their Vcard or their contact info as a signature in their emails so obtaining phone numbers and street addresses is pretty straight forward.  Apple provides the ability to highlight a name or address in the email then add it directly to your address book.  You can add to “existing contacts” or make a “new contact.”  This exercise also encouraged me to reach out and get back into touch with people whom I haven’t spoken to in some time.  Nice!

With my laptop address book complete (or as complete as it can get today..tomorrow there will be more names to add) I use MobileMe to sync my laptop, my desktop and my Ipod Touch.  Now all information is uniform and up to date across all my computers and tools.  It’s a beautiful thing and I feel pretty confident that when I need to reach out to someone, I’ll find their name at the touch of a button.

What do you want - Rethinking your art or design business in bad times?

Eight years ago I was going through a particularly tumultuous time.  Call it an early midlife crisis.  During those confusing years, my best friend would say to me, “Lisa!  What do you want?”  While this seemed like a fairly straightforward and easy question to answer, I can assure you it was not. The possibilities seemed endless.  There were a lot of options!  What the hell did I want? It took me a year and half to refine the answer but once I did, the path forward was a lot clearer. 

Entertaining the question brought with it all sorts of far out and crazy fantasies.   On more then one occasion, I took out a blank piece of paper and brainstormed about “What I want!”  I wrote down things and drew sketches regardless of how outlandish or simplistic they might have seemed.  I want a lot of money.  I wrote it down on the paper.  I want to travel the world and become an international spy.  I wrote it down on the paper. I want freedom to pursue my goals.  I wrote it down on the paper.

Over time I was able to refine these goals.  I’m not going to have a million dollars (I don’t think) but I can take steps to ensure my financial security.  I’m not going to travel the world, (or become a spy) but I can plan for Prague in 2010.  If I want the freedom to pursue my goals, I have to first define my goals, make them a priority and then go after them with a vengeance.

Our economy is in crisis and times are scary.  But crisis is also an opportunity for change and growth.  This is exactly the time to ask yourself as a business owner “What do I want?”  And I’ll go a step further and add, “How do I get it?”

Think outside the box: What do you, in your heart of hearts, want from your art, or design, clients, collectors and from your business.  Be brave and go crazy with this. Think the unthinkable.  What do you want from your business? Where do you want it to go?  How do you want to grow? Who do you want to align yourself with?  If you want to sell art in London…figure out a way to do that.  Even if you are just taking baby steps, move toward that goal.  If you want to design for a company in Helsinki, make a plan. I guarantee you this… if you take some initiatives now, even small ones; you will be much closer to your goal in 6 months then you are today. These are not tradition times and survival depends are creative thinking and you are going to have to take action!

Get Back to Basics:  Think about your strengths and your weaknesses.  Which   practices are making you money and which are not?  You might have to actually redefine what you are doing.  What are the necessities and what are the niceties?  When asking yourself what you want, it is also important to ask what you don’t want.  Isolate your true niche, and then draw and expand upon it. 

Cut costs:  This is obvious, of course.  Sacrifices are going to have to be made.  This means no more lunches out.  Reusing papers and supplies.  Yup, just like the old days when starving artists drew on cardboard and napkins.  Who knows this may inspire you to work with found objects in a whole new way.  Save money not just because of a bad economy, but because you have a bigger plan for the future.

Get new clients, projects and meet new people:  Just because times are bad doesn’t mean you can forego marketing and outreach.  You just need to re-examine the most cost effective way to do this.  This might mean using email campaigns for outreach instead of direct mail 5x7 postcards. Later this week, I will be posting an article about the advantages of Internet marketing and e-commerce and how it is an essential tool in a tanking economy.

Stay Active:  If things are slow keep your hands in the pie, even if the projects are pro bono or generated by yourself.  Keep your mind active rather than dwelling on doom and gloom and freaking out.  These types of pro bono or self directed projects also allow you freedom to explore your creative longings and perhaps even achieve a break-through in your creative work.   When I first found myself in the position of being a single mom, I sat around for 8 days saying “omg omg omg omg” and eating cookies.  That did absolutely nothing for me.  But then I started to create a website for single women and moms called “Fresh Start You.”  Sadly the site went by the wayside, but that was because my client load picked up and I started getting honest to god higher paying jobs.  Get out of your office or studio and go to a gallery opening or a museum. Search the Internet for opportunities. Call old contacts on the phone and inquire how they are doing. Activity brings activity.

Realize we are in this together:  The economy sucks and people are scared.  Rather than fighting or alienating one another we have to help one another. Together we can do better then we can alone.

Deadlines :: Love 'em or hate 'em, how does it effect your inspiration?

I'm not even sure where to start. Heaven forbid if I'm beating a dead horse here, but this just needs to be addressed. On October 22, Veerle Pieters wrote a follow up piece to her Sept 18 post entitled "Deadlines Kill Inspiration." Veerle's follow up piece, "Deadlines Sometimes Affect Inspiration" was mostly in response to "The Tao of Deadlines" by Andy Rutledge who felt he had to address some issues in Veerle's original article.

Now, I will also tell you that within Veerle's original post she kindly quoted my Tomorrow is not always an option. She quoted my post because I had written to several designers whom I respect greatly requesting their opinions on the subject of unrealistic deadlines.

There are all kinds of deadlines (which Veerle points out.) There are the monthly deadlines, deadlines for copy, deadlines for the printer, client imposed deadlines, self imposed deadlines and.... unrealistic deadlines. "Tomorrow is not always an option" was in response to a particular client here at Dragonfly Blu requesting (dare I say, demanding) unrealistic deadlines. It was quite clear to me that Veerle was addressing not ALL DEADLINES in her original post, but those which are unrealistic. It is a pity that she felt she had to re-visit something so obvious due to Mr. Rutledge's comment and post, however, she does so most eloquently.

I too read Andy Rutledge's Design View. I've tuned in to listen to his new podcast. I've agreed with some of his points but I also know that if I want the most hard-core, opinionated, conservative view on design and how to practice it... Andy's my man. But... life, business and design is not always black and white.

I read "The Tao of Deadlines" and I must make issue with several points regarding Mr. Rutledge's "absolute" statements.

Andy writes, "Deadlines can have absolutely no impact on inspiration or creativity." Ummm... yes they can. But let's make the differentiation between deadlines which are realistic and planned for, and deadlines which come upon us as surprises. Life is full of surprises.

A big part of our job as designers is to anticipate and plan for deadlines. We expect them. We plan for them. And they do not affect inspiration or creativity because we know what's coming down the pike. However, when a surprise comes along, the reshuffling of priorities and duties can impact inspiration and creativity.

Sometimes the impact is positive and sometimes it is not. There have been times when an urgency has occurred and a client has requested a quick and dirty deadline. I've found that by pulling a design out of my head in a matter of hours has resulted in something instinctual and wonderful. It was something created from my gut and no thinking or analysis hampered it.

I've also found that when a deadline is looming and I still haven't received materials from a client, (and the deadline hasn't changed), their lack of preparedness has affected my ability to produce the best possible product. The stress levels in these types of situations increases and stress is not the friend of creative thinking.

So please, Andy... don't say that deadlines have absolutely no impact on inspiration or creativity because whether the result is good or bad, they do. Clearly, my own experience, the experience of Veerle and the many comments she's received on this subject shows that surprise deadlines do indeed impact inspiration and creativity for many people.

"To be clear, problems with deadlines almost always come down to one root problem: poorly managed business. I hope you can agree that professionalism requires a designer must never miss a deadline," so says Mr. Rutledge. Holy cow... whose poorly managed business are we talking about here? The designer? The client? The back end programmer? Many people can collaborate on a project and it's not always the designer who is responsible for missing a deadline. This is not to say that a lackadaisical attitude toward business ethics and responsibility should not be taken seriously by all involved. Hitting a deadline is a trademark of professionalism on everyone's part, but in the real world shit happens. This is why we must also embrace the ideals of communication and trust.

I have also seen and appreciated the "scope creep" situation. This too can affect a deadline. But when I see a client getting excited about the process of a little project which turns into a bigger project, I know I'm doing a good job for that client. I want my clients to feel excited, to start saying "ohhh wouldn't it be great if we could add this or that." It's a team effort and one I embrace. If the deadline needs to be extended then so be it. While I can count on one hand the times I've had to extend a deadline it's been for good reason. I've consulted and communicated with the client about it. And the project has been the better because of it. I am not a slave to a deadline but I do work my butt off for my clients and being that many of them have been with me since the start of my business... well I guess I'm doing a pretty good job of it.

Andy goes on to say "No client ever caused a designer to miss a deadline. If you believe otherwise, you’re laboring under a grave misapprehension (not to mention that you’ve got a victim-mentality)." Ohhh please! I have been fortunate to have great clients and I'm all about communication, but not all clients are great clients. And when asked what is the biggest problem I've faced in my business practice, it is that the client has not provided materials on time. I give my clients deadlines and timelines in what I call a "working description" which lays out the objectives and tasks of each job.... and yes, I've had clients who have missed those deadlines. I don't take them to task for it because guess what? It's a team effort and those clients are pretty busy people who are running their own businesses as well. Instead we talk about the issue. I explain the deadline for design work must now be extended and it all works out. But again with the absolutes here Andy... "No client ever caused a designer to miss a deadline"? Really, Andy... never ever? (And I won't even address the "victim-mentality" statement. Honestly!)

"When it comes to reviewing contracts with clients, be sure to deliberately point out the client responsibilities as described in the contract(s). They must be made to appreciate that the project is not a one-sided affair. They must work as diligently as you in order for the project to be a success. Few clients understand this of their own accord." And please pray tell Andy... What is a designer to do when the client doesn't understand this or when they don't deliver on their responsibilities? Is that the fault and responsibility of the designer as well? We are all working grown ups here and it's not the responsiblity of the designer or design team to beat the client over the head demanding materials, text or cooperation.

Well it's late at night and I've been ranting on for some time now. It's time to call it a night. I can only hope that somehow Mr. Rutledge finds his way to my little blog to read what I've written here. Actually I'm sure he won't even really care. I'd comment on the "Tao" or send a trackback but hey, Andy doesn't allow comments or trackbacks on his blog. I wonder why.