In a wonderful lunchtime session with Institute of Design (ID) students discussing careers in design. Among the things I shared was my "master" plan (not) for "building a personal brand and becoming an influencer in the world of design" (surely not). This request made me think of my much-repeated tenet: "expertise is relative."
My silly chart highlights unforeseen connections and serendipities that led me to where I am today. Here are a few other things I shared:
- Expertise is relative. Know when you are a teacher and when you are a student.
- Don’t be afraid to expand your definition of design. Design looks different now than it did 50 years ago. It will look different 50 years from now.
- Learning is orthogonal. Expect surprise.
- Take models seriously, not literally. (The map is not the territory.) People care more about progress than models.
- Design as a verb. Focus on the product and content.
- You will likely have multiple careers.
- Ideas are great but don't hesitate to act.
- View your job like you're serving clients. Know your value.
- Failure is not only an option; it is certain. Plan on it. Fail forward. Failing is learning.
- Access is easier today, so make the best of it. It's harder to get noticed, so be more resourceful and different.
- Know your strengths to know where you stand, understand where you need help, and inform your growth path.
- As Max DePree of Herman Miller said, Leadership is an Art. "The first responsibility is to define reality. The last is to say thank you." Think of design as leadership.