My first blog post…
I’m not really the kind of person, who writes a lot. As a designer I prefer to draw and feel much more comfortable using a visual language. Nevertheless in the last years I’ve gone through a big transformation and after discussions with several people I feel that writing down my thoughts will help me to start up a conversation and will help me to tell what’s behind this change which design and myself have undergone.
When I started working as a product designer about 15 years ago I was creating objects. I was working all the time trying to make products, and was looking for added value. Added value of which I as a creative person believed they would make the difference. In many cases they were successful, I was able to get support from the management of the companies I worked for and we launched a lot of them with great results. A lot of them were exhibited worldwide and we got a lot of nominations and awards.
Nevertheless it wasn’t always that easy. In some cases I didn’t get the necessary support and I felt like not being understood well. Also some of the products didn’t sell in the way we expected and others were never launched.
By accidence I was writing a business plan for a start up regarding a snowboard binding. A big challenge that felt uncomfortable as I was leaving my own trusted field of design. My enthusiasm became big after winning a business plan competition immediately. I was rewarded, got a lot of press attention in completely different magazines than before and was invited to follow a ‘Master in innovation and entrepreneurship’ at the Vlerick management school. This new world was pretty different from my own creative bubble. In the beginning I didn’t really understand what they were talking about but soon I understood that it was important for me to learn this. It would help me to understand how business works and I got answers on why some companies refused my ideas. I understood the language my customers were speaking. And even more important I understood that designing a product is only a small part of the complete process.
Today I’m combining these two worlds, which I believe is necessary in order to deliver the right services to my customers. It’s strange to feel that a lot of designers don’t see me as a real designer anymore and on the other side managers and CEO’s look at me as a strange creative person. I became an outlaw, which I actually like to be.
I believe both designers on one side and businesspeople on the other side, make a mistake by living in their own world and instead of what they pretend are not open to other opinions if they don’t fit in their own beliefs.
Therefore I would like to give an advice to think about. I believe designer should not talk too much with other designers. Make sure to learn the language of business and you’ll be able to get much more impact. On the other hand companies should be open to listen to what designers want to tell. If you’re able to match both worlds the result will be beautiful.
Good luck and let’s change the world!
Het bericht Be a creative outlaw verscheen eerst op Studio Peter Van Riet.