A collection of mostly brief LinkedIn editorial posts.
1.25 Artifact or Asset?
Do you view the output of your creative work as an artifact or asset? I’ve been immersed in a different work environment for the last couple of months and on a few occasions I’ve heard the logo referred to as an artifact. When I heard it the first time it was curious but not too notable. I’ve always referred to and thought of brand/identity elements as assets. When I heard artifacts mentioned again, and this time from a different group/point of view it that piqued my interest.
Is referring to a logo as an artifact specific to this environment? Is it an implied reference to the historic nature of the what the logo shows – an actual physical symbol, specifically a bronze seal – or just their word for a logo? It got me thinking. My reaction to hearing artifact is that it’s something from a bygone era, a historic find or a relic. Referring to something as an asset gives me the warm fuzzies, that the logo/art has value (or at least a perceived value.) Nothing like a creative putting their own emotional value into their work eh?
What’s your take? Do you hope that your work is always viewed as an asset and will the work any of us produce survive to be seen as an artifact?
12.24 “F” is for…
Functionality, Frustration and Figma
This is far from a review, instead just a few thoughts about learning a new tool and finding overlaps with my existing skillsets.
After many years away from UI design, I’m back at it and have been picking up Figma with its unique functional - and occasionally frustrating - approach. It’s a departure from the Adobe-centric world I’ve been working in. So far, it’s been a refreshing (and humbling) challenge of learning an entirely new application and design process.
The idea of ‘atomic’ design seemed abstract at first, especially when I intended to start with full page designs. Instead of just jumping in, I did a fair amount reading/watching and then doing. Testing this and that, trying to wrap my head around how it works. To say that I ‘get it’ is premature, but there are ways it handles styles and what I’d call ‘nested’ components is phenomenal. I found symmetry to much of my existing style and naming approaches that made it a bit easier to grasp.
That said, how you ‘script’ a prototype is a longer learning curve. One morning I spent what seemed like hours (because it was) working to make a button perform like I wanted. Rollover states, clicks, etc. It reminded me very much of my Flash/ActionScript days. Knowing that you’re on the verge of getting something to work but being teased with close-but-not-quite-right results over and over. Then, after a break to clear my mind, I sat back down to the computer and “TA DA!” got it to work at the next attempt. For something so seemingly simple as a button behavior the feeling of success was great. Now I just need to figure out how to simplify building tables... Really – who creates a design application that doesn’t do tables? Anyway, that sounds like a future story… Thanks for reading and I hope you have the opportunity to learn something new.
PS – What’s wrong with the image for this story?
12.24 Do, Not Try
“Do or do not. There is no try.” – Yoda
There’s inherent truth in Yoda’s statement for all generations. For people of my generation (Gen-X, or more specifically Gen-X-Wing) Yoda’s 1980 admonition to Luke can be a core memory. For me, that hairy-eared little mentor suspending giant rocks with only his mind stuck with me.
For creatives, our mission is to do. We create content, tackle technical challenges, and craft storytelling through visual communications. We should do with planning, preparation and a reasonably clear understanding of our projects’ goals and how their success is measured.
Don’t be afraid to do and fail, you’ll learn, grow and be better for it in the long run. Want to learn a new design technique or tool, take on a new hobby, expand your circle of friends, just go for it. I’ve recently been doing new work in Figma, not trying, just doing. I’ll admit to frustration and hours invested in what appears to be basic interactions – but I got the little button to work like I wanted eventually. I’m having fun taking on a new challenge with UI work. Figma’s not XD, or like any Adobe product for that matter (hell, it doesn’t do tables!) but I’m enjoying learning on the fly. I remember years ago (think Flash/actionscript days) having the feeling of being on the cusp of “getting it” when learning something new. It’s a good feeling when that clicks and I wouldn’t have that unless I just did it.
Thanks for reading, what are you going to do next?
11.24 Art or Craft
“What’s the difference between art and craft?” This question came to me from a colleague who I now count as a friend more than ten years ago. We were out on a lunch break searching out the best taco/burrito in California’s Central Valley (still the best Mexican food around IMO.)
While we worked at the same company we were in different silos altogether. He was the lead product designer for all things gear (packs/bags/boots/etc.) and I was the Art Director. We each had an ‘abundance’ of work to do and the company was operating much like a startup still at that time. This chance to break out for lunch was a rare opportunity and if I recall, one of the few where it was just the two of us.
I remember feeling that we were getting to know each other a bit and finding common threads both inside and outside of a demanding work environment. To be honest, I didn’t make take time to build many of those relationships earlier in my career. That’s something I would tell my younger self today to take the time to do so and should be part of the “work” of work – if that makes any sense… Anyway, back to the art or craft thought…
“Huh…?”
In my rush to bring projects to completion, I don’t think I had considered that, ever. Now, was that pressure to rush an internal or external pressure? In retrospect I would say both, with perhaps more coming from an internal source at that time. That said, the environment and workload certainly implied a rush pressure from outside.
I’ve thought about that conversation, and my lack of clarity on it for years. In the last several years it’s been at the edge of my awareness, especially as the nature of my work was evolving in size and scope.
Today, I can look at my work through both and art and craft lenses. Some of that work is pure craft, technical in nature and ‘dialed in’. Can it be measured or qualified as ‘good’ from some OBJECTIVE point of view? How a catalog page is built, how cleanly the data flows from source to page, etc. Are those InDesign files something I’m proud of with fully developed styles, layers, etc. or are they just a haphazard pile? It’s easy to ‘work fast’ but with few exceptions that speed will have a higher cost down the road.
So, where does art come into the picture? Well, that needs an ‘artsy-feely’ answer…
Is the work done for pure enjoyment? Is it aesthetically pleasing? For example, is it entirely up to the viewer’s preference and its quality measured from a SUBJECTIVE point of view? Does the work connect with the viewer at an emotional or inspirational level? If so, then yes you’ve ventured into the realm of art.
Is the division between subjectivity and objectivity the differentiator between art and craft? If the work is subject to purely subjective judgement, then that is art, and if the work is subject to purely objective measurement, then it is craft. How does that fit for you?
For me, that doesn’t fit. Creative work requires both – it needs to connect with the audience (art) and be produced with intent and order (craft.)
I ask you – whether you’re a creative or not, how do you define art vs. craft? – Let me know here: https://airtable.com/appMPjc5uPKuEczUu/pagL0qX4WInV97Sf2/form
Picture was taken at The Miniature Engineering Museum (www.craftsmanshipmuseum.com) located in Carlsbad, CA. It’s a fascinating place full of exhibits that bridge the gap between art and craft.
11.24 Taking vs. Making Time – “Light Mode”
I think back to times over the last few years where I’ve said, “Yes, I/we can make time for that.” In retrospect, that was just wrong. There’s no making time, it’s a finite resource. We can only take time and move it from one priority to another.
Being helpful and providing what people need to get their own work done feels good IMO. That’s part of being a team and working towards the same goal, and it can be easy to spend time on those types of tasks. But if you ask General Akbar, he may tell you “It’s a trap!”
It’s a trap if that work is not aligned with your and your leadership team’s priorities. When we approach projects with a “make time” attitude we can give up the opportunity to establish and/or evaluate priorities – AND – the future opportunity to proclaim success. This opens the door to spend time producing work that may be important for one part of the organization but isn’t equally valued across the whole or isn’t easy to understand the benefit.
So, we need to understand – and ask – how requests align with higher priorities and how success can be measured beyond just getting it done. I’ve certainly felt like the AH asking how someone’s project request aligns with those priorities, sometimes suspecting that they were in turn just getting it done as well.
How best to handle that? Well, still figuring that out to be honest, but asking about their project goals with kindness and patience is a great start. And on the chance that they don’t know the answers you have a great opportunity to help align their project with higher priorities, prime future conversations, and have clear(er) ways to measure AND SHARE success.
Lastly, and specifically for the creatives, don’t be shy. ASK the questions even if it makes you feel like the AH. CHASE the information so you have something to SHOUT about when project is successful. If a project isn’t successful take the time to understand why and be prepared to communicate a fix for the future.
I write this to challenge/remind myself, and hopefully you as well to consider how our time is best used in support of our own priorities and the priorities of our teams/organizations.
Matt