Let’s start this off honestly…
Quick turn arounds are something we ALL have to deal with. All industries, all positions…its to the workplace as gravity is to science.
Now that that’s out of the way, lets begin.
If you’re anything like me, there is part of you that gets a little buzz by the thrill of a rush job. The pressure is a challenge waiting to be conquered, and it can either make or break a project. I think this has to do with how I’m wired, but I also think its a product of living in a culture defined by now. The longer I’ve been a designer, the more I see that expediency is king. I can’t remember the last time a client said “I want this to be really good, so lets take our sweet time and make it right…” Even typing that gives me the chills. As right as that statement is, it rarely is the pretense to a project. Its usually the opposite.
And this is what bothers me.
Time is vital to the true creative process. Its the space and freedom that lets our muse dance. The more time dedicated to a project the more the concept is developed, the more the details are dialed and the more the finished product is amazing. This isn’t always the case, but most of the time our projects suffer from under thought and under development. A by-product is what I like to call “mirror projects”: projects which steal the genius from others who gave their art the adequate time. If you look at any design blog, or any art in general you will see loads of things that all look or feel very similar. I think its because we have these images or ideas locked in our consciousness and when we are 30 minutes from our deadline we recall these copies and use them as the launchpad for our own project. I am totally guilty of this.
The unfortunate thing about all of this is that we’re not only robbing our selfs by agreeing to crazy deadlines, but we’re building habits that slowly stifle our ability for original thought and holding back the almighty, “what could have been”.
So, why write about this and ironically waste your time which should probably be put to that pressing project…well…because like any good 25 year old, I am constantly looking at ways to be better and voice it to anyone who will listen. And I think we can actually make progress and make better stuff as a result.
Here are a few guidelines I am going to TRY to implement to see if I can I can break those habits, and give myself more freedom to actually create.
1. Be forceful with yourself and clients about timelines: Even if having that tough conversation risks losing a gig, whats better in the long run; putting yourself though hell and coming up with something mediocre? Or letting the meaningless rush jobs pass on by and waiting for the projects that give you the flexibility to challenge yourself and attempt to make something amazing? I think you know the answer.
2. Get organized: Procrastination is cancer to creativity. Often, we have the time to dedicate to our work, but we blow it by managing our time poorly. I’ve found (and am still learning) that if I get my crap together, I am much more likely to get to work. And that my friends is a good thing. Make lists, write down ideas and keep them where you can find them, clean your work space…These are all things that will help maximize our time and make us better creators.
3. Actually establish a creative process: People talk about creative process’ like they talk about hipsters. Its all theories and stories…but in reality, very few people actually have a dialed process or have really seen a hipster. The thing about establishing a process is that you can cater it to what works for you. If you work better right after taking a walk outside, then build that into process, or if you have a really hard time jumping straight to your computer, then make a process where you start with a pen and paper. The important thing here is that we can not compromise our process because of a rush timeline. Again, the point is to create good work, not complete projects.
4. Get to work: A book titled “The War of Art” changed the way I think about my work. The author repeats time and time again that you just need to sit down and work. The discipline is key. The more focused time we actually sit and work, the better stuff we’ll make. One lesson I’m learning is that discipline begets discipline. I’ve tried to discipline myself in other areas in an attempt to be better at focused work time. Read a book every night, or exercise, do anything that you can discipline yourself in and I promise that when it comes to dedicating time to focus on your work, you’ll get better.
By no means is this an extensive list, but its a start, and its some thing I’ve been trying to apply and have had some mild success with.
Now go, create, and make some bitchin stuff.
If you have a process or ideas to make this list better, I would love to hear them. Comment below and maybe I’ll write a part deux to this one with your ideas or comments.
