Comments on: Searching for a Design Yoda http://www.nwicreative.org/learn/searching-for-a-design-yoda/ a creative community e-zine Thu, 02 Feb 2012 23:50:25 +0000 hourly 1 By: Melissa Washburn http://www.nwicreative.org/learn/searching-for-a-design-yoda/comment-page-1/#comment-3164 Melissa Washburn Mon, 01 Nov 2010 00:33:40 +0000 http://www.nwicreative.org/?p=53#comment-3164 Yes, nicely said, both Joe and Dan. I think mentors are an incredible thing to have regardless of your field. I think a lot of people are afraid to work with people smarter and better than they are, but it's really important to continuing to learn and develop. Yes, nicely said, both Joe and Dan. I think mentors are an incredible thing to have regardless of your field. I think a lot of people are afraid to work with people smarter and better than they are, but it’s really important to continuing to learn and develop.

]]> By: NWICreative blog round up « Howdy! http://www.nwicreative.org/learn/searching-for-a-design-yoda/comment-page-1/#comment-2940 NWICreative blog round up « Howdy! Sat, 23 Oct 2010 05:57:26 +0000 http://www.nwicreative.org/?p=53#comment-2940 [...] Any designer looking to grow in his or her professional life should have a mentor. The continuing education of one self is crucial to the path of personal advancement. My life has change drastically from the time I met my mentor, and has continued to change over time. Read more > [...] [...] Any designer looking to grow in his or her professional life should have a mentor. The continuing education of one self is crucial to the path of personal advancement. My life has change drastically from the time I met my mentor, and has continued to change over time. Read more > [...]

]]> By: Joseph Gonzalez http://www.nwicreative.org/learn/searching-for-a-design-yoda/comment-page-1/#comment-11 Joseph Gonzalez Sun, 22 Nov 2009 07:30:16 +0000 http://www.nwicreative.org/?p=53#comment-11 Good stuff dan, in your third paragraph you go into a great issue about clients and our roll as designers to educate. You should expand upon that in a separate post. Its a great topic as well. Good stuff dan, in your third paragraph you go into a great issue about clients and our roll as designers to educate. You should expand upon that in a separate post. Its a great topic as well.

]]> By: Dan Patton http://www.nwicreative.org/learn/searching-for-a-design-yoda/comment-page-1/#comment-6 Dan Patton Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:36:24 +0000 http://www.nwicreative.org/?p=53#comment-6 I've had several mentors over the years. I'm sure I'll have many more in the years to come. In general, even the CEO at the largest agency in downtown New York still has a mentor he calls upon when he/she is really STUCK. Talk to someone who's been doing what you're doing for longer than you. You can bet they've already run into the same problems you're having and they'll have the informational "nuggets" that can push you and your skills where you want them to go. A "mentor" doesn't always have to be someone you immediately perceive as "older and wiser." Someone at your professional level (or below!) can open your eyes to techniques and insights you'd have never come across from anyone else. You never know where valuable information will come from. Keep your ears open! More than anything, I think Joe's post is spot on. If you're going to be a successful designer, you have to be in a constant state of learning new things. If you don't push yourself, you'll put out menial work. If you don't get wrapped into a project with everything you've got because you're afraid of getting "shot down" by the client, maybe you need to be selling your work better. You're getting paid to provide your expertise. The client may even act like they don't want it, but it's your job to do everything you can to give them a product that will actually help their business in a big way. This'll develop a reputation for you and your business and bring in more work too! My point? Northwest Indiana is a drab place for design. Your designs don't have to be drab. Having a mentor or someone to bounce ideas off of is essential. Nicely said, Joe! I’ve had several mentors over the years. I’m sure I’ll have many more in the years to come. In general, even the CEO at the largest agency in downtown New York still has a mentor he calls upon when he/she is really STUCK. Talk to someone who’s been doing what you’re doing for longer than you. You can bet they’ve already run into the same problems you’re having and they’ll have the informational “nuggets” that can push you and your skills where you want them to go.

A “mentor” doesn’t always have to be someone you immediately perceive as “older and wiser.” Someone at your professional level (or below!) can open your eyes to techniques and insights you’d have never come across from anyone else. You never know where valuable information will come from. Keep your ears open!

More than anything, I think Joe’s post is spot on. If you’re going to be a successful designer, you have to be in a constant state of learning new things. If you don’t push yourself, you’ll put out menial work. If you don’t get wrapped into a project with everything you’ve got because you’re afraid of getting “shot down” by the client, maybe you need to be selling your work better. You’re getting paid to provide your expertise. The client may even act like they don’t want it, but it’s your job to do everything you can to give them a product that will actually help their business in a big way. This’ll develop a reputation for you and your business and bring in more work too!

My point? Northwest Indiana is a drab place for design. Your designs don’t have to be drab. Having a mentor or someone to bounce ideas off of is essential.

Nicely said, Joe!

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