Guest article written by Paul Scrivens
Originally I titled this article Designers’ Ego, but ego seems to have a negative connotation so I switched it to confidence even though I prefer to use the term ego instead. In the article I will use them interchangeably so please don’t think ego is the mean, pig-headed bully that we conjure up in our imaginations. It’s more the voice that picks you up off the ground and dusts your shoulders off so you can try again.
Do you ever come to the point sometimes when you are designing and the design is just simply not working so you begin to wonder why you are even a designer or could even claim to be one? This used to happen to me, but then I would just surf the web and see somebody else’s ugly site and became instantly re-inspired to push forward. In the field of web design there is always someone worse than you that helps you to believe that you are at least decent and there is always someone better that makes you curl up into a ball. Now I am wise enough to understand that if I really need a great design job done I hire someone else to do it.
So many people enter web design because they believe that designing a website is easy. Unfortunately, they are wrong. Building a website is easy, designing one takes skill. This is where confidence (ego) kicks in. There are two key qualities that designers should possess and they both relate to criticism.
Give Criticism
The first one is that you need to be your own harshest critic. Believe me, this is extremely hard to do on the web since there are many people out there who are quick to point out how wrong your design is. When you think you are done with a design, take a step back and look at it. Could you do better? If you think you could, but can’t figure out how then just step away for a bit. If you don’t think you could do better then either you are right, or you just don’t want to push yourself further.
It’s human nature to believe that something we created is at least decent because we are proud of the work we have done. It’s okay to be proud of your work, but being satisfied with it is a completely different tale. Can you really look at your work and dissect what is wrong with it? Can you already see points of improvement?
Hopefully you don’t think your design is done because it looks like another popular site. You cannot call yourself a designer when all you do is steal other people’s designs. Sort of like thinking you can draw by placing a paper over a picture so you can trace the lines. It is okay to take the design elements of others to help with your own designs, but your ability to self-critique cannot develop until you have your own style. Your style may be similar to someone else’s, but at least when you design something you know that you designed it.
Receive Criticism
The second important aspect of being a designer is knowing how to take criticism. I am fortunate to have an audience that gives excellent criticism without being too harsh or demeaning. Many times I do not agree with what people say, but I have learned to listen to them because maybe in another design their ideas could work. Every once in a while you may get some jackass telling you how horrible everything looks. Why is he saying this? Who knows and who cares. When taking criticism there is always going to be signal and noise to deal with. Filter out the noise. Listen to others. Grow as a designer.
This is more important than ever now because the field is getting crowded. The usual designers who just happened to pick up the profession will troll the design galleries to see what they can pick up and emulate, emulate and emulate till they become just like the person they are emulating. Their ego tells them that they designed it when they didn’t. You need an ego that pushes you to do better with each passing design. You need an ego that accepts the praise and also laughs at it because you know you still have room to grow.
Eventually you might get to a point where you know how to do the right things to make a design look good, but that doesn’t mean it works. Large type, some gradients and the right color choices can get you in your gallery of choice, but is it the right design for the job? Is it what is needed? Did you actually design the site or did you just put on the right decorations? Depending on how your ego is developed will determine your answer.
Even when your ego is too big to fit on screen and you think you are the best around or people tell you there is no one better, there is always a way to learn and get better. Every website on the web has something to teach you. Be it something good or something bad, but from every design it is possible to take some knowledge away with you. If you want to be a designer then be one. You must have an ego or else you wouldn’t be doing it (unless you just do it for fun). Just make sure to keep it in check.
Do designers need an ego to be successful?
I asked on Twitter if designers need an ego to be successful and here are some of the responses:
“Yes when it leads to confidence and presence. No when it translates to belligerent refusal to continually learn and listen” — @GregMolyneux
“I’d say no. Confidence, yes; ego no. Ego can prevent you from fixing problems and improving” — @futuraprime
“As ego provides a sense of self, yes. Avoiding being egotistical and leaning towards altruism is the key” — @ritchielee
“I would have to say, yes. If there wasn’t any ego, no one could ever support their design decisions” — @kumailht
“Ego, no; but a tough exterior and a love for what you do couldn’t hurt…” —@LeaBotwinick
“No, but all successful designers have egos” — @worldobyrne
“A certain confidence and drive is definitely needed to be a designer, but I’d say the ego needs to be left at the door” — @henrytapia
Filed under:The above article was written by Paul “Srivs” Scrivens of the fairly new design blog, Drawar. Why I’ll don’t ask many for guest articles on The Design Cubicle I was immediately drawn to Srivs writing style. With his thought-provoking, well-researched, and sometimes “touchy” (see “You are not a designer and I am not a musician”) subject matter, Paul’s articles are often entertaining and enlightening while showcasing his unique voice and perspective.
Srivs’ links:
» Subscribe to Drawar
» Follow Srivs on Twitter
» Check out his Inspiration Gallery and Community Link archives
