On the importance of design
If you know me, really at any level, you know how important design is to me. You know that I feel like it surrounds us, a physio-visio-spatial fabric that helps to define a space, a culture or a community. I would also say that once you are past the idea that it requires magic or some gift of birth, you understand that you can do it too, given the right tools. Many of the designers I know who are asked to design each day are flummoxed not by the blank page, but because they are using Word or Publisher or PowerPoint to design, and for no other reason other than familiarity.
Using the right tool for the job of design
Let’s stop that where we see it, okay? Inkscape is one answer, but others exist. Oh, there’s one other requirement for design: You have to love it. You have to have a passion for having the right outcomes. You have to care about it. Otherwise, it will just be text and pictures on a page. You need to be able to be inspired by sites like http://vi.sualize.us and http://ffffound.com even if you feel like your work doesn’t belong there.
Passion is a big part of Design
The desire to help people learn is the key skill in being a great trainer. Legitimacy, transparency, and patience are definitely important too. My experience has been that getting past the fear of one’s own designs is really about getting your designs in front of the eyes of others, gaining feedback, improving, and growing. This project has really helped me to do that!
Hope you enjoyed today’s sketch!
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You’ve got me very interested in your work. I’d love to know how to not only become a great trainer, but to not be afraid of my own designs. Keep up the good work.
Thanks, Typegeek! I’d suggest that the desire to help people learn is the key skill in being a great trainer. Legitimacy, transparency, and patience are definitely important too. My experience has been that getting past the fear of one’s own designs is really about getting your designs in front of the eyes of others, gaining feedback, improving, and growing. This project has really helped me to do that! Thanks for coming, stopping, and sharing. I really appreciated it.