Its not about you!

Quite often people lose sight of what this is all for. What is it all for? That question always reminds me of high fidelity. Its always important to remember why we do the things that we do in life. Nothing in this life is for free, so don't expect anything without a price. I know I've been ranting about designers for a while but there is just so much to say about them. Design is one of those fields where authority is always blurred. 'Designers' start the whole process with the wrong frame of mind. I'll break this up into pieces so its easier to follow.

Why does a designer study/choose to become a designer?

I think most designers are really passionate about what they do and this is one amazing thing about designers. A lot of people are just not as passionate, hence what they do is a 'job' and not a lifestyle. They truly believe in their work and what they can create. Design is a subjective field, sure what they do is absolutely amazing to them and often to others too. They study/choose to do designs because the world would be so much better with their art in it. Well I guess they have one thing right, doing something you love for work means you're not working at all.

Now lets go to the next step. Now that they are a certified/professional designer they need to their skills into a livelihood. And this is where it all falls apart. If you are a novelist, you can go out and write whatever you want; as long as its good and some people like it, you make money. You better bet your bottom dollar that the author took a considerable risk to make that novel happen. What happens if it bombs? Well they lose a lot of time and money, but they are doing it for them. That gives them the right to do what they want. Designers do not have that right! When a client hires you to do work for them, its not about you, its about them. They are not paying you to create your masterpiece, they are paying you to create theirs. This is where 73% of designers have it all wrong. You can suggest what you would do but at the end of the day the person who is paying you gets to do what they want. If you can't stomach that, find a different profession. Sooner or later, ever designer who is successful realizes - this is a job like any other. The person who pays your 'salary' has certain expectations of you. Its the way of the world, don't think you've escaped it because you've found a something to do that you are absolutely about. You only have complete freedom to do what you want when you take a ultimate risk and do it for nothing; if you get something out of it thats your reward not entitlement.

So I guess this goes to everyone who wants to do something their are passionate about but want to commercialize it. Don't think its all fun and games, you too have someone you have to listen to.