I do not know if every designer begins their career with these. In my experience, I’ve had to live a life long enough to get to know myself and my values better, as well as succeed and fail in certain places before I’ve been able to articulate the principles by which I measure my success as a designer. While every project, customer, and client is different, here is a succinct-as-possible summary of what drives my approach to designing things (in no particular order).
Considered
Everything we make exists in an ecosystem constructed of social, political, environmental, economic, technological, and legal norms, expectations, tensions and cultures. So, everything I make is evaluated against it’s impact on those to make sure that a balance is struck with every choice to maximise positive change and minimise harm.
Honest
The things I make do not deceive (which is why I don’t work with (most) marketing or advertising firms and prefer to make tools). The things I make aim to communicate clearly and succinctly. To do this well, I spend a lot of time pracitising copywriting. I don’t know many designers that do.
Resilient
Making things takes energy & I believe we should conserve as much energy as possible in an increasingly energy-scarce future. So, the things I make are made to last. In software, that’s a challenge. Whilst all change is not in our control, change seems to occur more rapidly in digital technology. But, designing for that change is what makes tools and systems endure so we can spend our finite resources on the most important things at any given time.
Well-made
Words aren’t good at explaining well-made. You could argue it’s a combination of durable, reliable, and honest. Some label it as ‘craft’. But humans know well-made when we see it, feel it, and interact with. You, dear reader, probably know it too. I aim for giving people that feeling.
Pleasurable
Pleasure can be derived from the form of the thing, or the function of thing. In rare cases, it’s both. Provoking pleasure in someone through the use of an object or tool has economic benefits (time-saving, clarity, increase in health etc), but it’s also a gift to another human. Here. I made this. I hope you enjoy it.