Everyone I meet is a designer…
I don’t know if it’s the circles I run in, or because it’s Chicago, or because I’m now hyper aware of it, but it seems like everyone I’m meeting now is or has been a designer. Friends of friends, guys at bars, and even my taxi driver! (Granted, he was the Singing Taxi Driver—if you’ve never heard of him, he’s a treat. You can’t request him, it’s all based on your karmic luck. He does sing, and he’s pretty good. He’s been doing this for about 20 years now, and yes before that in his long list of experience, he too was a designer/creative director for apparently a decently large magazine. He wouldn’t say which.)
Anyway, it’s no joke. I’m either a magnet for other designers or Chicago’s just full of them. When I’m talking to a guy and I tell him I’m a designer, if he responds with “oh, me too.” I can only say, “oh, nice.” It’s not a bad thing—I love creatives, and especially creative boys. But it’s really just a reminder of how many people are out there calling themselves a designer. Future employers and clients are going to have to weed through that whole mess and I need to make sure I get noticed.
So I’ve decided, I’m not going to think just like a designer as much. Too many other designers out there. It’s like we’ve turned into zebras—and of course we’re all debating whether it’s white on black or black on white. Instead of just being a designer, I’m going to start thinking like a visual strategist.*
*I was sadly hoping I’d coined a new term, but the googles have told me otherwise. Either way, there’s a good chance it’ll end up on some future version of my business card.
artwork by me