How to Think like a Designer When You Write

“sticky notes” by Jo Szczepanska on Unsplash

Most creative folk I know struggle with process.

They are incredibly hard on themselves. They wonder if their work is good enough. Will they be able to salvage something from the train wreck they imagine they have created?

We often only see the final, polished result, but the overall process itself (including grappling with doubt) is far more important.

Nothing worthwhile or outstanding materializes out of thin air.

This is why retrospectives of famous artists can be so fascinating. We admire the great masterpieces — Guernica by Picasso, Melting Clocks by Dali and Campbell’s Soup series by Andy Warhol, to name a few. Building on tremendous skill and talent, these signature works came about after years of dedicated practice and toil.

• Picasso didn’t start out as a surrealist painter. He evolved into one after decades of experimentation and literally thousands of works of art.
• Andy Warhol was a commercial artist for over a decade in New York before he produced his iconic silkscreen designs featuring the faces of celebrities.

There are no shortcuts to any place worth going.

Make no mistake; to be great (or even semi great) you need to put in the hours. You need to focus on the process more than…