There’s got to be some higher order of creating things than waiting on a team or their masters to figure out the right answers. Granted, no one is expecting right answers. What we may all be wanting, is to not design by guessing or what feels like guessing. And we don’t want pure decisiveness — that may come only by way of ego and then why would I or a team be needed?
So how do we not wait? How can designers not just be honest in their critical thinking, but timely in its usefulness?
Sounds strange to say, as this is the joy of collaborating and I don’t believe not collaborating is a solution. On my own I’m not the best — I need these folks around me. But one major time suck or obstacle is not saying honest things at the right time. This is my flaw I care to remedy.
For instance, sometimes I have an insight or idea in the middle of a strategy session, some piece of design research that could flip the coin of a decision — rightfully. And I cannot be the only one with this experience. But what I do is gloss over the insight. I squirm in my chair, my chest gets tight, and I keep my mouth shut. Why? Sometimes decisions have to be made yesterday. Sometimes we have experts in the room. Sometimes we love a design drum circle.
Designers have a habit, now, to move too fast for critical thinking and shouting about it if necessary. And only later, after a lot of time and work in a different direction, we find the result is what should have been shouted before. So, we have gained hindsight. We learn. We iterate. That’s the designer’s way, right? We are sometimes afraid of being right. And we find our position too many times in hindsight. Losing lots of time and using lots of money.
Of course, what’s happened is my own fault. But now, I’d rather get to less hindsight moments and design critically up-front. And what’s funny is that I may have leaders that expect this of me, and I’ve failed. I should be a voice. I get paid for something.
This may only be possible with training (for myself and a team) — literally reiterating or by example, speaking up to the critical decision that should be made now and not later. I must pay attention to context and the people around to know how to effectively speak my mind. And finally, talk less, listen to the room so what I’m sure to say will be informed and not reactionary or ego driven.
Who knows how much time I can find to design pretty things instead?