Comments on: When are you a successful designer?

By: Chino Yray

Chino Yray — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 14:12:55 +0000

Everything is a work in progress. your designs may look good now, but will they look good in the future, everyday, ideas from different ideas are being recycled so I guess the only way to consider yourself to be a successful designer is when you are able to adapt in every change there is.

A design is not just an art, it should serve a function.

By: David Airey :: Graphic Designer

David Airey :: Graphic Designer — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 10:04:29 +0000

Amanda,

Sorry for the late reply. I must’ve missed your comment somewhere along the way. Indeed, it’s the little things that make it all worthwhile, for sure.

Here’s to many more years success for you.

By: Amanda

Amanda — Wed, 23 May 2007 14:05:29 +0000

I’ve been in the business for less than 2 years, so I know I have a long way to go and a lot to learn. I do feel like I am well on my way to success, however, when a client goes out of his/her way to contact me just to let me know how much they LOVE a website/design I did for them. That really makes me feel like my efforts are worthwhile!

By: johno

johno — Wed, 23 May 2007 13:43:17 +0000

Thanks for the link. Good to see that typography map up close – it’s very well done.

By: David Airey :: Creative Design ::

David Airey :: Creative Design :: — Wed, 23 May 2007 10:59:08 +0000

DM,

Money isn’t the most important part for me either. It does hold some importance for me as I want to provide for a future family as I’ve been provided for in life.

I know what you mean however, about measuring success. It’s not ‘the more money you make the more successful you are’. Far from it.

It’s something that I don’t enjoy about the culture in the UK. Too many people judge themselves according to what other people have.

The Buddhist way of life holds much more appeal to me, even though I’m not actually Buddhist.

By: Deaf Musician

Deaf Musician — Wed, 23 May 2007 06:20:55 +0000

You’re a successful designer when people appreciate your work. I don’t think money has anything to do with it here.

By: David Airey :: Creative Design ::

David Airey :: Creative Design :: — Tue, 22 May 2007 18:58:13 +0000

Renata,

You’re right that professional success can be different from personal success. It totally depends on the individual.

With me, for example, the two overlap a great deal. I find that if my personal life is good, then my professional life is too, and vice versa.

Plus, never forget your manners (good point). Armen at iffect.net recently reminded me of a word I use to describe myself, ‘humble’ (in the modest / respectful sense). I hope I live up to it.

Char,

You’re very kind with your words and I look forward to reading your post!

By: Char

Char — Tue, 22 May 2007 18:36:54 +0000

What great insight into your background. Each of your experiences helps to build your life portfolio from which you can draw great inspiration for your designs. You are a very talented designer and a successful one, too.

Now to work on my post as I was tagged twice for this one.

By: Renata

Renata — Tue, 22 May 2007 17:03:33 +0000

I think success needs to be separated into categories, i.e. personal and professional, though both obviously affect each other tremendously. We need to keep the fine balance of ambition and challenge with personal satisfaction and perspective. We need to be thankful when our basic needs are met, even while we strive for higher levels of achievement in other areas. And as always, not forget to say “please” and “thank you” :).

By: LaurenMarie

LaurenMarie — Tue, 22 May 2007 16:46:38 +0000

Thank you for responding to these questions, David! I’ve read Tara’s, Paul’s and your responses so far and everything you three have said has been valuable to me.

Having just obtained my own degree in graphic design, I would have to say I agree with what you and Paul said, experience is more valuable and more important. We had a little discussion about that over at Graphic Design Blog. That’s why I wrote the article. I think I’ve learned an incredible amount in the past couple months being in the design industry full time. I think school just gives people a bit of a head start with the technical side of things and a little practice without penalty on the skills end. I never read my textbooks in college, I even stopped buying them at the end (hopefully none of my profs are reading this!!), and since I graduated I’ve gone back and looked through most of them because they really were helpful after all. I think I like being self-taught in most areas. Sometimes instruction is easier, but a lot of it is just discovering things on my own. And that way I can choose what I want to learn and learn what is important to me.

Thank you again for taking the time to answer these questions. Very insightful!