Design: No School Like the ‘Old School’

By E. Brown

Have you ever seen a graphic designer given a creative project and the first thing they do is hop on the computer and start designing? Have you ever been that person?

The desire of seeing a crisp, clean, almost complete design on the desktop can sure be alluring. But at what price? I just read an article by my friend Duncan, where he told a story about a Creative Director and a Graphic Designer. I’ll let him tell it–

Not long ago I sat at an organization’s conference table with the Creative Director and a young graphic artist. The CD and I passed a legal pad back and forth across the table, sketching in perspective and adding to each other’s ideas, fleshing out the direction of a project. The graphic artist, fresh out of some art school, was astonished by the fact that we could draw. AARGH! How depressing is that? She added what she could to the conversation, but her creative vocabulary and visualization skills were constrained by her purely digital experience; when she offered creative thoughts, she had trouble expressing them verbally or on paper. Sigh…

Turn Off The Computer
I have experienced this same phenomena with contractors and design staff members. I’ve assigned projects and immediately the designer hopped on the computer and start “designing”. I cannot tell you how many times I have encouraged young artists and creatives to get a sketch pad and pencil and start doodling first. It is so much faster to conceptualize numerous ideas on a piece of paper. And you can quickly make changes and combine elements from any of your, loosely sketched, ideas.

Next, I encourage them to grab some color pencils, markers, or watercolors and work out a wide variety of color combinations for their three most interesting ideas. All this without sitting at the computer.

Once you have several design ideas and color studies, then you can take it to the desktop system. You’ll be amazed at how much time you save and how much better your ideas can be.

Sometimes, you need to turn off the computer and get outside or in another room for a while. Reacquaint yourself with sketching, painting and modelling. It is rewarding to see how simple yet profound this exercise can be. After a while it will become part of your workflow and the allure of pushing pixels around before pushing a pencil will become a thing of the past. Like the quote from the animated movie The Incredibles®, “there’s no school like the old school.”

Other Articles
- Start A Creativity Journal
- “Squiggles” Creativity Exercise

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Catalyst Conference

I just received a set of DVD’s from the last Catalyst Conference – Clearly 2006. Originally started in 2000 as “the conference for next generation leaders under 40 years old”, this Atlanta-based gathering has grown at an incredible rate. Where else can you learn from great speakers, see the USA professional Dodge Ball Team in action, hear the world’s youngest female yodler, and participate in setting World Records for Most Whoopie Cushions Sat On and Biggest Pillow Fight? With all this fun, a conference like Catalyst cannot help but attract growing numbers and, like myself, progressive leaders over the age of 40. (A couple years ago Catalyst had to lose the “under 40″ rule)

My two favorite speakers from last Octobers event were Marcus Buckingham and Kevin Carroll. For those familiar with Marcus and his books, Now Discover Your Strengths and The One Thing You Need to Know, you’ll be glad to hear he spoke about functioning within your strengths and surrounding yourself with people whose strengths are your weak areas. Think that sounds easy? Try building (or rebuilding) an organization around those principles.

Kevin Carroll is founder of The Katalyst Consultancy and author of Rules of The Red Rubber Ball. He spoke passionately about fun at work and having a D.R.E.A.M. for success–Dedication, Responsibility, Education, Attitude, and Motivation.

Other speakers included John Maxwell, Andy Stanley, Donald Miller, and Gary Haugen to name a few. Oh, and did I mention, Jeff Foxworthy made a hilarious guest appearance?

Experience Catalyst
See the slide show from Clearly 2006 to get a feel for the conference. Although, it is hard to replace the energy of actually being there. Another option is to get the DVD’s. I have used them in the past for staff Lunch & Learning sessions. The final option is to register for the next Catalyst and go experience this conference for yourself. Who knows, I might see you there…