The Perfect Project
We recently interviewed someone for a designer position. It’s always nice chatting with another designer, and understanding their point of view. We don’t work off of a set list of questions for applicants, we try to just have a nice conversation, and understand who they are as a designer and a person. One of the questions we asked during the interview was “what’s your idea of a perfect project?”
As a young designer we’re all fascinated with doing stuff we’ve never done before. We all remember the first time we used an emboss or a foil or an expensive paper in a project. It’s the coolest feeling when you check off one of those items that you always wanted to do. Your perfect project is anything that’s different than what you’ve done before.
We all look for gratification in our work, and new experiences can be very gratifying. But after working in design for many years, your idea of the perfect project changes… It doesn’t revolve around materials, or processes. The perfect project has more to do with the way you interact with a client, and the successful outcome. The perfect project gives you an opportunity to solve problems, and do it elegantly. You’re not as concerned with fitting the client into your list of accomplishments as you are in solving their problem. It takes time to learn that patience.
Comments
Having been in the situation described above before 😉 I can relate to this experience and I can say that it was quite a challenge to think of ‘the perfect project’. After answering the question and a period of reflection, I thoroughly agree with the idea that it really boils down to problem solving. How can you solve both the visual and conceptual problems effectively? How do you communicate your ideas to the viewer as well as the client? And do you really feel happy with your own solution to said problem? If you can answer all of those questions effectively and still be satisfied with your results, then the project is a success. The details are all secondary characteristics to the actual solution. Well put!
Nice one Dominic. I think you actually said it better than I did. I had to write this little post, not because I thought you gave a bad answer, but because your answer was so different from the one Lea gave when I asked her the same question. It made me try to imagine my first job, and what I might have said my perfect project was. -Joe
I think everyone always searches for their own perfect project. One project that tests them slightly in all areas forcing improvement but also turning out to be a marvelous and satisfying outcome. I also liken this all to music, many times i’ll have one idea in my mind (a cllient) that needs a certain mood combined with melody, which will test me to be creative, and eventually evolve the thought into a slow forward process.. But by the time it’s done, it perfectly satisfies what I was wanting to express, everyone listening can feel and see the exact idea i was trying to convey.
Silas, Definitely. The thing that’s interesting though is that a bad client won’t get good work from a bad studio, or a good one. But a good client just might get great work from both. The studio/client relationship has a profound impact on the final result of the project, even if the work itself is gratifying…