Designing something new can be intimidating. Presenting off-the-wall ideas can be terrifying. We’ve all been faced with that awkward silence or a painfully prolonged pause when presenting an idea. And, no, it’s not nice. But one thing’s for sure, if you fail to differentiate then the risk is blending with the masses and becoming anonymous. And surely that’s worse?
A designer’s task should always be to push the envelope and explore concepts and ideas that may be unexpected and often disregarded by others. We’re not saying that all crazy ideas are worthwhile and credible, but at the very least it is a designer’s duty to explore them.
Of course, some graphic designers have a tendency for self-indulgent work that can stray from a brief; we’ve all been guilty of that. What defines good work should be an innovate solution that answers the brief. That is always paramount. But ‘good’ design should inspire, inform, surprise, delight, and sometimes even shock or offend. Keep pushing the boundaries.
‘Safe’ design has its place and not every brief requires a risqué solution. But when the opportunity arises and a creative brief comes your way…grab it with both hands.
“Many desperate acts of design (including gradients, drop shadows, and the gratuitous use of transparency) are perpetuated in the absence of a strong concept. A good idea provides a framework for design decisions, guiding the work.” – Noreen Morioka
