WHEN DO YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF SUCCESSFUL

Aaron tagged me with a meme about gauging the personal success of a designer. The conversation started with Lauren Marie's blog post and was later turned into a meme by Graphic Design Blog. I'm humbled by the inquiry Aaron has made, all though, some may not consider me a designer. In-fact, I'm betting the term itself changes drastically within the next 5 years. None-the-less;

1. How did you get started in the business?
I was a comic book illustrator taking Commercial Art and Design Courses. My teacher ( Elvin Thomas ) thought my illustration abilities would be better utilized in identity design and creating typefaces. As the course progressed, the company I was working for purchased a few Macs. During my second year of class ( you know–after the mechanicals; letraset; and air-brushing on acetate ) we started using Photoshop 3. I would finish class and head straight to work, putting the curriculum to use. From there I switched departments ( I was a production artist which was different from that of a PA in a boutique or agency ) and became a 'marketing designer.'

2. What kept you going in those early years?
For the first portion of my career I was surrounded by writers and editors, not designers. I took a lot away from them. Creative banter, the type of work we where doing, coffee, Top Ramen, free bagels from Dunkin Dounts–all contributed to my personal motivation. It seemed, at the time, the ideas where endless and design was much more then I had initially thought. The memories of passion demonstrated by each creative I've worked under, with and for, support me to this day. Seeing other successful ideas executed is very inspirational too. Creative is never finished, only approved.

3a. Did you ever feel like you weren’t good enough or you would never make it in this industry?
The only obstacles I really recall where related to personal or professional issues. I've had work stolen and blatantly copied ( even traced ) and those experiences made it tough initially. I also found that, even though I was hired as a designer in some cases, that I could learn other aspects of the business and that ultimately it was the act of providing a 'solution' within in any medium that was the core of my motivation. There was, and always will be, numerous tools and professional extensions of the industry. Everyday yields a new opportunity to enhance the creative's arsenal and I never look back at my work. Remember, designers are a curious bunch and if I failed at one thing, I felt like I would certainly be able to excel at another.

3b. How did you work through that?
Finding a new challenge and integrating into my existing skill-set. Ideas just keep getting bigger.

4. Do you look at others today and think “Wow, I wish I were that good”?
No. I think–Wow, I wish I had more time.

5. How do you measure success?
As a professional; When the client is confident the work is representative of the objectives. As a designer; When the work starts a conversation. As a creative thinker; When I can talk about what I'm showing and everyone gets it.

6. By your standard, do you think you are successful?
Yes. However, I do not attribute my portfolio or talent with success. For me, it's about the people I've worked with and how much I've retained and in-turn, have been able to improve upon. I look forward to collaborating with other creatives, new and old and will forever be learning something new. :)

7. How do you define your success?
Through my challenges.


Now that I've answered these–

I'm not sure it's fair to call anyone a successful designer or a non successful one. We walk the fine line of art. Which means, this is a very subjective business. I've met designers whose work wasn't the greatest compared to less successful designers but, they where very well versed in design practices and very confident in their selling abilities. Ethically, maybe one should ask themselves what they are trying to achieve with design not, "how much can I make?" Design follows life and alters it on a larger scale. A town is defined by two things ultimately, it's architecture and it's commerce. Designers have a direct influence on both. Style is not talent. Maybe success should be measured more by the longevity of the message then by the currency of it's aesthetic. Sometimes, the debate of success is equivocal to a debate about the aesthetic/effectiveness of a Stop-sign.

Is good design a form of success or a function of success?

If your interested, below are some links to other designers whom have answered them meme as well. I really enjoyed reading everyone's perspective. It seems, after I was done reading, the one thing we all share is curiosity. Oh, and a lack of hours in the day too. :)

David Airey
Essential Keystrokes
Paul Enderson
Inspiration Bit
Aaron
Design Adaptations
Graphic Design Blog
Lauren Marie