And Go…
By megan dealDecember 3rd, 2007
By: Megan Deal
We have reached that interesting point in the semester. Time is running out. The semester is ending, and deadlines are fast approaching. As time disappears our days get longer, and before we know it the line between dusk and dawn becomes blurred. We begin to shoot coffee by the gallons and intake sugar by the pounds. Projects must be complete and there is no room for error; not from the individual or from the accompanying machine.
For many of us, these remaining weeks in the semester become the seemingly ceaseless road that we must travel in order to reach the final payoff of rest and relaxation. For others, these next 300 hours are nothing new, as the adrenaline/caffeine fueled routine that success seems to require has been inherent in our processes all year long. We all work very hard, and by this point, we’ve built an incredible endurance and unaltered acceptance, (or at the very least a tolerance) for the grueling routine needed to complete our design educations.
Yet something concerns me. Students in the first portion of their undergraduate education brag to their friends about having to stay up all night. They proudly where yesterdays clothes, as if their unchanged outfits signify endurance, and carry bottles of energy drinks like some sort of weird, rightly earned trophy. (If you’re skeptical of my claim, ride the elevator in the ACB once or twice. Many weary-eye students will boldly tell you of their arduous nights, or just how incredibly demanding their major is, as if they’re the only one experiencing such strain). They haven’t yet learned. But by the latter part of our undergraduate education something disappears. The fun characteristics often associated with sleepless nights turn to fits of rage. The caffeine trophies we once carried proudly have literally lost their effect, and our repeat outfits only remind us that we lack the time to do laundry, adding to the fury. For many, it is here where design ceases to be fun. This is the point where we begin to compare our hectic lives to the lives of our “other” friends, and gripe at the unfairness. We have all reached that point, and simply put: if we’re still awake we’re good and burnt out.
Yet it seems pointless to rant about how much our lives suck or how mind numbingly exhausted we all are. It’s worthless to place the blame on our so-called “unsympathetic” teachers, as they too have rightly payed their dues to the rigor of a design education. I think the question to address is WHY design culture, both academically and professionally seems to always be racing the clock? When did graphic designers become 24 hour slaves to client deadlines and/or self proclaimed workaholics, who would sell their soul if it meant reaching that deadline on time? This isn’t an argument against productiveness or deadlines. One cannot deny that ultimate feeling of accomplishment when you’ve successfully completed a lengthy and grueling project, “on time.” I am more concerned with the seemingly constant demand placed on designers to follow unrealistic timelines.
In her article Cult of the ASAP (http://www.designobserver.com/archives/027657.html), Meredith Davis writes that many designers, “who promise unrealistic turnaround on projects” are at risk of “closing down any time for reflection” on the work they’re creating. Our ability to examine our own work as it relates to the world around us ends up being sacrificed to get the thing out the door. Not to mention, when one works with severe intensity all the time, they’re often sacrificing their own health and well-being for the sake of a project. We talk about better design coming from everyday observation. We discuss the need for designers to pull themselves away from their computer screens every once in a while and focus their attention on things outside of design. But with such high demands expected from designers, who has the time?
Of course to change the face that graphic design has established for itself, will take a lot more then this author’s singular opinion. Perhaps then the key for all of us, in the meantime, is to establish a balance for ourselves. As we leave school and transgress fully into the world of professional practice we each must individually establish our own set of priorities…call them life priorities. Graphic design, no matter how wholeheartedly devoted to, or 100% focused on we may be, is merely a small component of a generally bigger picture. Figure out how graphic design fits into your life…not how it controls it.
Well said, Megan. This has been something I’ve struggled with my whole academic career. Balance is the key to design and to life. Frequent routine changes (I prefer Starbucks runs or “brew breaks”) during long nights of work will yield better results, or so I’ve found.
The only problem with this is when you know you’re going to stay up late, taking a break means you’re going to stay up even later, but I’ve found that it’s worth it for my mindset. I’ll sleep when I’m dead, so I’d rather not be miserable while I’m alive.
I agree… it’s rather disheartening to know that the panic doesn’t end after graduation. You’re still racing the clock to meet deadlines and pulling all-nighters in the professional world just the same as undergraduate school.
The more frustrating part is the fact that we have to rush through the projects that are SUPPOSED to be our best; our exemplary collection, the work that represents US and who we stand for as designers. But we sometimes have to slap it together and turn it in to avoid a late grade. I’ll probably spend just as much time touching up old projects and making them “portfolio ready” as I did conceptualizing for them.
i have found it isn’t a choice anymore, when i am tired i sleep. i can’t function at my computer with half shutting eyes. and when i am awake doing work i set “time limits” even if they are extremely flexible. it help to keep me aware of what i am doing..also by setting goals. a good all nighter is cannot be avoided, but design fits into my life and does not control it. or atleast this is what i like to think.
i have come to conclude that we all need to take the occasional break and work at our own pace. whats the point of fighting time if our work is never considered finished? davis is right when stating that there is no time to even talk about the work that is being produced. if there is anything that is intriguing about our generation of designers, it is the ability to think, talk, make, and document the entire process. we could just be the crowd that is going to challenge deadlines and demand time for reflection. rushing is pointless unless it is part of a concept.
Excellent topic and comments. Right up my alley.
Rberesh says, “it isn’t a choice anymore, when I am tired I sleep.” That has been my philosophy this semester and, although it is healthy and logical and sane, it has only gotten me into a bigger hole. I wish the 41 hour marathon I anticipate pulling tomorrow were for the same pure and good reasons they used to be for my sophomore year. It won’t be though. I will slap some shit together, resulting in the bare minimum. How does that benefit anybody?
Maybe graphic design is one of those things that just cannot keep pace with the rest of the world and retain its quality. Just because the turnaround of information, culture, and technology is exponentially accelerated in our present time, it does not follow that quality can do the same. You cannot force-age good whiskey.
Speed equals crap, we should know this by now. Just ask Nickelback.
Graphic design does not control my life. I dig it, or at least I used to, but if I wanted to be a rock star, I would have become a Rock Star. When the job puts me through the ringer as much as school has, I will not put up with it and I will move on. I’ve lived poor for a long time, and its much better than living nervous.
drektion (1:56:55 AM): It’s sad that the state of the industry is focused on temporary and disposable rather than timeless and irreplaceable
quatzu52 (1:57:14 AM): f***ing exactly, post that
As a recent graduate, I also remember all too clearly the immense toll that pulling repeated all-nighters can take on one both physically and mentally. However, I hope I can inspire a bit of hope in all of you. I strongly believe a key part in having a realistic schedule post graduating lies in whom you work for. This may seem a bit obvious, but through observing my schedule in relation to many of my close friends who are also recent graduates, I cannot stress how true this is.
Finding the right fit after graduating is difficult. Students tend to place a lot of stress finding an incredible innovative design firm to begin their future design careers. If they do happen to, more power to them. However, graduating comes with an entirely new set of issues and inner conflicts left to weigh and debate. Like many students, having spent the past four years of my early adult life solely committed to a great love, school, I felt as though I had missed out on numerous things my peers had enjoyed, an active social life, the freedom to go out on a weeknight (let alone a weekend!) to name a few. I was not eager to jump right back into committing the entirety of my time to one thing. On top of this, like many of you I am quite certain are now, by the time graduation and the student show rolled around, I was exhausted.
I did not have the time to send out the numerous self-promotional materials I had created in my portfolio class while I was in school, I figured I would wait until after graduation to really attempt to set up interviews with the many companies I had researched. Luckily for me, I happened to meet with a company that became interested in me during a CCS portfolio day. Shortly after classes had ended, and before graduation and the student show I received a phone call from the company I am currently working at today. They wanted to hire me. I obviously, took the position.
This firm was not on the list of Chicago based firms that I had previously been researching. In fact, I had not heard of this company until I saw the list of firms that would be present at portfolio day. As it turns out, the company I am currently employed at is very small, two owners and I am one of three employees. My bosses are designers, both also graduates of CCS from a few decades prior to my graduation. There are many, many perks to working at a small agency, however, I think most importantly is that I never once have to work with an account person.
Due to the fact that my bosses are both designers, they almost always try their hardest to set up realistic deadlines. They understand and value the design process because they too earned BFAs not degrees in accounting or business. They also respect their employees, they want their employees to have a life outside of work. This is not to say that I have never stayed at work later than 5pm, I have on occasion, however it happens so rarely and I know that my bosses are incredibly appreciative of it, that really I don’t mind.
What I stress to all of you when looking for a job after college is the importance of interviewing your employers as much as they are interviewing you. Ask about their process, take note of their personality, what they value in an employee. Numerous friends of mine have gone on to work for places that completely take them for granted. They work them like machines, late nights and little to no compensation. Some of them work for companies that are regarded as some of the best in the industry, others are hardly known. Some of them are doing work that they love and there is nothing they would rather do more, and for them, that’s great.
I am not saying that this will satisfy my love of design forever, and as difficult as it will be to leave employers that have become my mentors and friends I am rather certain with in a year or two the time to move on will come. I am not adverse to working more than 40 hours a week, I realize that the goals I would like to achieve in my life in regards to design will come at a higher price than that. I am however, incredibly grateful for the opportunity to learn more on the business end of the industry while simultaneously being able to breathe for the first time in four years.
well said.