Career lessons from the design world

Martin Spernau at Traumwind sent me a link to an article called "Ten things they never taught me at design school," and thought that several of the things were relevant to anyone's career.

Two of my favorites from the list:

Start with what you know; then remove the unknowns. In design this means “draw what you know.” Start by putting down what you already know and already understand. If you are designing a chair, for example, you know that humans are of predictable height. The seat height, the angle of repose, and the loading requirements can at least be approximated. So draw them. Most students panic when faced with something they do not know and cannot control. Forget about it. Begin at the beginning. Then work on each unknown, solving and removing them one at a time. It is the most important rule of design. In Zen it is expressed as “Be where you are.” It works.

Translate that to just about anything you approach in life, and you've got a mighty useful nugget o' wisdom.

Don’t forget your goal. Definition of a fanatic: Someone who redoubles his effort after forgetting his goal. Students and young designers often approach a problem with insight and brilliance, and subsequently let it slip away in confusion, fear and wasted effort. They forget their goals, and make up new ones as they go along. Original thought is a kind of gift from the gods. Artists know this. “Hold the moment,” they say. “Honor it.” Get your idea down on a slip of paper and tape it up in front of you.

Stay focused. Create your Passion Core (sm) so you have something to help you find the right course and stick to it. Don't be afraid to embrace serendipity, but only do it when it makes sense for your core.

Curt Rosengren
Passion Catalyst ^SM

Comments

[Janet]

Will you share the link? I didn't see it on Traumwind.

[Curt Rosengren]

D'oh! Link added.

[Janet]

Ha! They all apply to programming, too. Good article.