Reimagine with me a scenario in which you regularly live as a graphic designer, after a long process of research and revisions — whether for school or with a client — you have done, and all you have left is to present your efforts in front of whomever you allow to judge you on this project.
Let’s assume that you are happy and confident, full of positivity, and you expect everyone to stand up for you. Because why not? You worked hard, and it all makes sense in your head, right? Wrong! 99% of the time that is not what happens. Different opinions, feedback, and criticism will confront you. Also, 99% of the time, the default response is to activate defense mode as you start to argue your design decisions. Because you are now attached to your work, and you feel attacked, it is a very natural response. But it is not practical or productive. Trust me when I say even experienced designers fall into this emotional trap because it is not a matter of experience.
When an argument challenges you, all your energy and focus go to trying to prove you right. But if you shift your frame a little bit and realize that as a graphic designer, your job is to help and solve problems, and as a graphic design student, your job is to learn. Only then can you embrace curiosity as a natural mode of action when you try to learn and help. You should allow yourself a moment of reflection after you listen very carefully, and follow up with questions.
Questions allow you to challenge the other part’s points of view instead of arguing that you used the perfect color with the perfect typeface. For example, You can ask why you think this is the wrong color? How will changing it facilitate communication? And you keep digging by showing genuine care and curiosity. If it is a strong opinion, it will hold up, and you should then reflect on your choices and try to find the best solution to the proposed problem. And if it is a weak opinion, it will be destroyed, and only then can you defend your decisions and explain your choices.
Never forget that your opinions are usually right until they are tested against another opinion. And always assume that the person you are talking to might know something you don’t. After all, design is not just playing with pixels and vectors, try not to get attached and focus on finding the best visual solution to communicate your message.
