Addicted to Mediocrity
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As designers and or developers we often work in one of a couple environments, we “work from home (independently)” or work in house at a company or agency. In both situations there is a level of stress and frustration that comes with the job, and at times we can be put in positions (though in hindsight they probably could have been avoided) where we are not able to put our best effort into what we are doing.
Sometimes it can be the pressure to bring in more money, or the pressure to meet deadlines (unrealistic or not), but in most cases there is a common push to cut the necessary corners in an effort to “just get the project done”.
Lets look at a couple of examples of how mediocrity is ruining the modern day designer and design culture.
1) “Quantity over Quality” aka “The Just Add Water Approach”
One of the major ways that mediocrity has crept into the design world is through the notion that the more projects you are working on and the more work you do you are a success. There is nothing wrong with striving to put as much solid work out there as you can, but we must ask ourselves if we go out there and line up bunches of work are we really able to handle all of the work we take on.
“ Will we be able to provide design/ development at a level that we are proud of and even more importantly the client can get excited about.”
I understand that we all need to make a living and financial pressures can be very frustrating, I would venture to say that if you put out a consistent amount of well thought, and well designed projects you will get to the point where you are able to charge what you are actually worth (or close to it), which will most likely lead to not having to take 30 projects a month to make ends meet.
When we fall into the mode of taking on tons of projects (quantity not quality) we find ourselves needing to turn projects around quickly which leads to the “Just Add Water” approach. We fall into using templates to complete projects, or even charging the client for a web site knowing all along that we just plan on getting a template (it’s not like they will know the difference) and customizing it for them. I believe this keeps us from reaching our potential and is just bad for the design community.
What sets us apart in our trade from other trades/jobs is our ability to provide a custom service that most others are unable to do themselves. We have a unique opportunity to empower others in accomplishing their vision.
This applies in both the in-house, and independent environment if we start chasing the dollar at the expense of a quality “product” then success, if any will be short lived. This is very prevalent is so many of those $99 dollar website in 2 hours!(said in annoying announcer voice) companies that pop up over and over again I work for a company like this… and it became miserable, it took all of the enjoyment out of design, it was like a design sweat shop.
The more we allow this type of work/mentality to slip in the harder it is going to be for talented designers to get appreciated for what they do, our trade will get watered down, and it will definitely become harder to find work as independents, and in-house designers will slowly fade away being replaced by off shore out sourcing in the name of saving a couple of dollars, and before you know it you can find yourself addicted to mediocrity.
2) Lack of Setting Goals / No Passion to Perfect Our Trade
This may sound “Motivational Speakerish” but we work in an ever changing environment and if we are really passionate about what we do then we need to set goals in an effort to grow as designers, and even as people (which is another article in itself). If we don’t set goals we will stagnate, and the design world will pass us by, once we set those goals we cant give up on them. I have set personal goals as a designer, but I have also set goals to hopefully speak about some of the more intangible aspects (client relations, etc.) of design. I know that these things aren’t necessarily a possibility now, but they give me a target to reach for which keeps me hungry as a designer.
I am sure we can all look at today’s leaders in our industry and if asked they would talk about having a consistent passion for what they do, setting goals and going and doing them, even if they failed along the way they kept going.
We will all experience some stressful seasons, and times where we feel like we are trudging uphill through knee deep mud, the key is to consistently trudge and not give up. The season will pass and we will have grown as designers and people by pressing through it.
Everything I am writing in this article comes from personal experiences and the beauty of hindsight. We need the challenges to keep us fresh, if we just sit back and slip into cruise control we will be come addicted to mediocrity.
How can we avoid becoming addicted to mediocrity? Take pride in our work, don’t settle for second best, as much as you are in control of balance your work load so that the work you do is your best, and not cramped by too much work. Set goals, challenge yourself to be better, step out of your comfort zone, remain teachable, and just keep at it.
I would love to hear your feedback, and thoughts on this topic.
~ Aaron I
Amen brother! In the end, for large corporations its all about how much money they can save. I’ve learned that the hard way on several occasions. A good friend and mentor has really emphasized to me that to be successful, you need to create relationship based transactions, and not transaction based relationships. Meaning put quality into everything you do, and plan ahead when you start something, so you can finish it with class and confidence making you and your client happy.
@Casey Hald
Tru That Buddy!
Thanks for posting
There is certainly no shortages of bandwagons around that people can just hop on and follow like mindless lemmings and drop an occassional comment on with no other motivation than to see their names in print. I think of myself as fortunate to have discovered someone who writes and works with integrity.
cheers,
@Robert
Thanks again for the kind comments. It has been refreshing to have someone comment on the site who provides quality input and feedback.
~ Aaron I
[...] Addicted to Mediocrity [...]
[...] I finished reading Aaron Irizarry’s December 12, 2008 article Addicted to Mediocrity, I conducted my own inventory of the various pitfalls the author discusses contributing to mediocre [...]
Aaron,
Great perspective in your writing.
What’s also a fundamental problem that breeds mediocrity is the source of “Quantity over Quality”.
Too often businesses soliciting work will ask for “5 to 10 websites you’ve designed” as part of the application or RFP process. While some shops crank out 5 to 10 sites a month, others are lucky to even build 3 to 5, based on the complexity, research, and depth necessary to provide a good product.
Now granted, perhaps a small business who just needs the usual info up on the web may not contact a shop that works on 3-5 sites a year, but there does seem to be a general trend that a dilettante design critic (the potential client) wants to see 10 sites that he probably can’t judge any better than he could 1.
I look forward to keeping up with your work–
Chris
@Chris,
Thanks for taking the time to read and comment.
Out where I live there are a lot of shops that promote “websites in 7 days” or $99 websites in 24 hours… It gets so frustrating that these types of business water down our trade… It just makes me cringe every time I hear of someone settling for second best, thinking they are getting exactly what they need.
I agree with what you suggested on your blog about setting up frameworks, and other systems that will help streamline our workflow, so that we are able to provide more quality work.
thanks again for commenting.
~ Aaron I
ahem, I meant 3-5 a year, based on complexity, research….
my mistake…
I find the competition that us freelancers have has increased greatly in the past 2-3 years. If I don’t get a referral and have to go cold calling, Design Quote, or worse yet — GAF, I find the process difficult and the rejection hard to take sometimes.
I would never go in-house though, I am a work at home guy.
Glad I could speak my peace to likeminded designers. Thanks.
@Rob
Thanks for commenting.
It is hard to work for the man sometimes… i guess it comes down to finding where you fit best, and what environment lends to your success most.
Competition can be stiff, and frustrating at times… I would use that frustration to fuel a desire to be the best, your work, and even more importantly how you crry yourself can and will set you apart from the rest.
~ Aaron I
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This post was mentioned on Twitter by anca_foster: RT @aaroni268: Addicted to Mediocrity http://is.gd/3HsB6 **great article, Aaron!
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As a designer, I find myself slightly frustrated with this process. I recently had a client that asked us to rework a mock-up they had made, but with several constraints. These constraints immediately made me know that my job would be to take a site from hideous, to mildly ugly. (they have [basically] gone back to their original mock-up). Since I don’t make the decisions in the company, i get overwhelmed with these decisions. My questions to you (as a far more seasoned designer), is how do you handle this? I don’t feel like I’m just ‘cranking these out’… but often feel that i am not allowed the proper time or thought into the project, and very often have to compromise my work. I know I must grow as a designer… i am far from the best, most brilliant, or talented. However, i feel often these compromises are keeping me from continuing to grow.
What are your thoughts/suggestions with how to deal with this? as a non-freelancer who can’t make the decisions, what is the best way to rise above the mediocrity?