Good design takes time.
I was recently reminded about the importance of setting expectations after feeling a little discouraged about a few potential projects offered to me with time frames that were faster than the speed of light! I contemplated taking them on, as like most creative industries, sometimes you never know when the next opportunity will come knocking on your door. While I knew I could produce "something" in the time frame required, deep down, I knew the corners I would have to cut would result in a less than stellar performance, something nor I, or possibly my client, would be happy with in the long term.
The reality is every project has a time frame, and even in an ideal world, if we had an infinite amount of time, we would more than likely keep working on a project indefinitely to try and reach creative "perfection" or to the point of exhaustion.
We live in a world where many of us want and expect deliverables as quickly as possible; we need to make our first "buck" now, and waiting is met with the mindset, "this is costing me money".
As an Interior Designer, we come across this plenty! However, have you ever stopped to consider why cutting short the creative process is a disservice to the project and its stakeholders?
I think about this a lot. I fully understand the implications of time and money; heck, I often have limited patience for waiting for things myself. However, I have struggled to understand how creative industries which are used to help develop a brand, a business, an identity, essentially a long-term investment, are encouraged to get it done fast.
Unless you are reproducing the same design over and over again, most of us are, or rather should be custom designing to each clients values, ethos, budget and an array of other criteria, skipping your design process based on just getting it done, will generally not result in a plethora of incredible creative output you will be proud of.
So, what is the solution?
Simple, make sure expectations are communicated on what will be delivered right at the beginning of an inquiry. Know how long an authentic design process takes, share why it is essential to research, ideate, prototype, test, and then possibly do it all over again. Provide potential results for a 1-week turnaround, 2-week turnaround and so on.
Understand who your client is now, whom they want to be in the future, and identify how the design process will add value to your client's vision and mission.
Set realistic time frame expectations based on your skill-set, the development required for optimal outcomes, and, most importantly, expectations based on the client's future goals you are designing for.
Remember, it's OK to say No to a project which doesn't fit who you are as a Designer. Staying true to your creative process will always be appreciated in the long term by clients who can see the value you offer. In turn, these clients will become your creative Advocates.
Kommentarer