Design on Your Own Time

When I started college, I had faith that I would be in classes filled with enthusiastic people who were ready and willing to grow. This faith has been long shattered, but it’s grown from indifference to frustration.

I strongly believe that any person who wants to make a living out of fine arts and design better be ready to put forth the dedication and effort required to innovate. If you have no desire to innovate, this is not the field for you. There are plenty of people out there doing the same old thing and it’s getting old.

That said, I’ve met both professionals and (mostly) students who believe that when class or work is over, it’s time to take off the designer hat. Design is not a hat, it’s a full body tattoo. It does not come off.

I’d like to narrow this thought down a bit more, to speak specifically of web designers. Experimenting and playing outside of ‘paid’ time is absolutely crucial. It’s very hard to promise a great idea when you haven’t even dipped your toes into it and have no certainty that you can pull it off. Designing for yourself is fulfilling because you get to call the shots, be as edgy or abstract as you want, and see what works and what doesn’t without an angry client behind your back.

Your studies and projects will only strengthen your commercial work and give you the confidence to bring a bigger, cooler plate to the table.

Update: Some people have posted responses to this, both positive and negative. They are all worth reading: Marco Arment, Chris Fetherston, Daily Meh, Francois, Kyle Bingman.