Graphic Design Blender » design essentials

Design Essentials 3: Accepting Criticism

Preston D Lee — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 13:57:06 +0000

In the previous two chapters of Design Essentials, we covered topics that dealt with the quality of your design: Originality, and Attention to Detail. While today’s essential design tip will help your designs look better in the long-run, this chapter deals primarily with the design process and how to openly accept criticism of your designs.

Good criticism vs. Bad criticism

First, it’s important to understand that there is good criticism and bad criticism. Accepting criticism does not mean you have to happily endure personal insults, rudeness, or pointless pin-pricking from anyone. This is bad criticism. A good critic–or one who offers constructive criticism–will build you up as a person, make meaningful suggestions, and

help you reach your full potential. This is why we use the word constructive: it reinforces the importance of building a person up and making them better. When you seek out criticism from others, ensure you are receiving high-quality, edifying, constructive criticism–good criticism.

Seeking out criticism

I know what you’re thinking: “You means I should actively seek out people who can tell me everything I’ve done wrong with my design and how to change it?” Frankly, yes. One of the biggest mistakes a designer can make is to believe that he or she is becoming so talented that they need no help from other people to create a good design.

But be careful. When you seek out criticism, make sure you go to the right sources. Be sure to ask for feedback from clients, other (preferably more skilled) designers, professionals in your field of work, your creative director if you have one, etc.

Offering good criticism

One day, other designers might ask you your opinion or thoughts on their design. It’s important to understand the basics of a good critique. First, focus on the design not on the designer. Do not attack their abilities, their skills, their style, etc. Use design principles and sound judgment to explain to them what they could do better.

Also, focus on both the aesthetics of the piece and the overall purpose. Help them make it the most beautiful and most effective design piece.

When giving a critique, first try to understand the purpose, motivation, and ultimate goal of the design. Likewise, never make a suggestion without backing it with a reasonable purpose.

Tips on accepting criticism

Accepting criticism isn’t always an easy thing to do–especially for new designers. To finish up, here are a few suggestions on how to accept criticism gracefully.

Remember, they are not criticizing you as a person, they are analyzing the success of the piece.
A true friend will want to help your design be better. Remember that those who offer criticism only want to help.
Just because someone suggests you change something, doesn’t mean you have to.
Don’t be afraid to stand up for your design, but be humble enough to admit when you’re wrong.

Now it’s your turn. What would you add?

These are a few scenarios and suggestions I have seen as I have worked as an in-house and freelance designer. Criticism always comes up, and it’s a good thing. What other suggestions would you add to help other designers learn to accept criticism?

Design Essentials 2: Originality

Preston D Lee — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 13:48:15 +0000

This chapter of Design Essentials will cover the topic of Originality in design. Originality is the ability to think independently and creatively.

So why is it so important that we, as designers, are original thinkers? Put most simply, original designs are more effective.

Let’s take a look at the concept of originality in design:

But don’t great designers copy?

It’s been a popular topic of discussion here on GDB and throughout the design community: do great designers really copy other designers’ work? While you may or may not agree that copying other designers is admirable or correct, you have to admit that those designers who spend time copying others’ work become very skilled at the technique.

The difference between originality in technique and originality in thought and execution is enormous. While you may choose to copy other designers’ techniques by following tutorials, mimicking styles, or blatantly copying designs, originality of thought is not something that can simply be copied. It takes years of work and discipline to become an independent and original thinker.

Why a lot of designers lack originality

If it is so important that each design is original, why do we so many copied ideas and duplicated designs? I blame the internet. Don’t get me wrong–I absolutely love the internet. I love how involved designers are on twitter & facebook, on their personal blogs, etc. But I believe that the enormity and popularity of the design community are a two-edge sword. While many sites offer great tutorials on how to be a good designer, their underlying message is frequently misunderstood. You see, as designers follow tutorials, they should learn techniques that will help them as they progress in their career. Instead, a great majority of designers begin to copy, pixel for pixel, every tutorial’s design and claim it as their own.

See the problem?

Designers should strive to create their own creative methods by adapting the techniques and styles demonstrated in design tutorials all around the web.

A few tips on creating original designs

Now that we have briefly discussed the importance originality in design, here are a few great ways you can strive for more originality as a designer (please also add your tips to the list):

Break the rules. Going against the grain and designing something totally unexpected is a great way to be more original. Of course, to break design rules, you have to first have a firm understanding of them.
Broaden your scope of inspiration. A lot of designers tend to focus on one single site or a small group of web sites for their creative inspiration and instruction. Make sure you frequently bookmark and use new sites. Connect via twitter and other avenues to find fresh inspiration in places you have never thought to look before.
Design just for design’s sake. It’s hard to push originality to its fullest when you are limited by particular client restraints. Take an afternoon to just design something for design’s sake and I think you’ll be impressed how creative you can be.
Step outside your comfort zone. You might be comfortable designing for print media; try designing for the web. If you prefer logo design, try something unique like package design. You can be most creative when you aren’t stifled by the rules and guidelines you or others have set up in a particular skill your familiar with.

What else would you add?

That’s all I’ve got for now, but the topic leaves a lot to be discussed. What other originality-boosters would you add to the list above? What are your thoughts on the importance of originality in design? Share your thoughts with the rest of us.

Design Essentials 1: Attention to detail

Preston D Lee — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 20:42:54 +0000

This chapter of Design Essentials focuses on Attention to Detail and the important role it plays in the design process.
Attention to detail makes for a better experience in any industry. A candy on your pillow at the hotel or a mint with your check at a restaurant makes for a more enjoyable traveling experience. Detectives and law officials know that it is in the details of a crime scene that they find success. Engineers and architects know that the stability of the most enormous structure depends on the integrity of its smallest element.

Why then, should it be any surprise that the integrity and success of your design depends heavily on the attention you give to the details therein? Paying close attention to detail simply makes your design more professional.

In defense of simplicity: Detail vs. Clutter

Now, in promotion of minimalistic and simplistic design, there is a huge difference between attention to detail in design and simply cluttering a design with unnecessary details. Paying attention to the detail of a design means you consciously examine and polish every element of your design–whether simple or complicated. It means you only include what is necessary, and you make necessary elements beautiful. Many designers confuse creativity with clutter (hence the reason why we had to write “How to reduce clutter in web design“). Even cluttered designs can be created without attention to detail. Simplicity is a great way to focus on what is important in your design and then really make it shine.

Beauty is in the details

Many times designers wonder what they can do to make their designs look more professional. Probably 9 times out of the 10 that I get asked “What would make this look better?”, my answer involves a reference to the details. This one of the primary differences between beginning designers and experienced ones. Beginning designers hastily finish a project when it looks good while experienced designers aren’t finished until it looks great.

A few tips

Lastly, I’d like to suggest a few tips (please add yours to the list) that will help any designer learn to more effectively pay attention to the small details of his design.

Thoroughly analyze designs you think are impressive. Make a list of what makes them so great. Study them, talk to the designer, and learn all you can about the process, the motivation, and more.
Zoom. A one word solution that will help you identify flaws or mediocre design lapses. After you have finished your design, zoom in–and I mean close. Look at all the spacing, colors, shapes, vector graphics, etc. Get really close and inspect all the details.
Leave it alone, then return to it. After you have designed something that you think is wonderful, leave it for a few days. Allow time in your scheduling to do this and you are sure to catch any small details you overlooked the first time.
Get feedback from others. Many times we cannot see something because we simply have been looking at it for a long time. If we bring someone else on the scene and ask for feedback, most likely they will spot errors or have suggestions that we otherwise would have overlooked.

What do you think?

Is attention to detail really that important or should I step down from my soapbox? Please share with us any thoughts or experiences you might have regarding this essential part of design: attention to detail.