“Taste is something that you just can’t learn.” – Michael Khors
I love Project Runway. Something wonderful happens when you put this many creative people in a pressure cooker. I watch it all from the comfort of my living room waiting with anticipation to see what someone creates out of a bag of scarves or a pile of edible veggies. It is hard enough to create something amazing when you have lots of time and all the materials you need, but when you add in a time limit and force people to use random materials, it’s so much fun. And while I love almost everything about this show, the best part of Project Runway is Michael Khors. His creativity doesn’t stop with his clothing design, no, he wields his best weapon when he is describing the awful creations that these contestants create.
Watch the video below and be prepared for a good laugh.
Never Compromise
As web designers we want to always make our clients happy, but we still must maintain a level of taste. Even though they are paying for it, it has our name on it. When it comes to design you have to learn to pick your battles, but never compromise your integrity for a dollar. When you start to compromise you start to lose yourself and your identity. As artists this can be very destructive. You start to feel like you are prostituting yourself out and this can lead to burn out. What I find is that when my clients ask me for something that I don’t like, I try to find a fit that works for both of us – or I try to bow out gracefully and recommend someone else.
Confidence, Arrogance, and Humility
One thing I’ve learned about design after all these years is that you need to always stay humble. Humility does not mean being submissive or weak, but understanding that your skills are a gift from God and that your success is a result of a combination of hard work, talent, and the people or circumstances in your life. Arrogance is when you believe that you have arrived at your current state on your own without the help of anyone else. Confidence is knowing your skill set and your value both as a person and in the marketplace. At almost 40 it has taken me years to understand what true humility looks like, but finding the intersection of confidence and humility is a constant battle.
To anyone out there that is a designer, know when to pick your battles, never compromise when it comes to a level of taste and if it has your name attached to it, then make sure it is something that makes you proud.
