Design Lessons from ‘Mad Men’
As I have been finishing the series and my year long Master’s design program at CMCI Studio, I kept noticing the correlation between the two worlds of advertising in the 60’s and design happening today. These are a few of the highlights.
1. Imposter Syndrome Can be Beaten
If anyone from the show understands “imposter syndrome” it is Peggy Olsen. Peggy’s storyline was possibly the most compelling of the show’s. But what made her so compelling was how she beat the odds and fought back any imposter syndrome she faced.
Designers today, me included, consistently shred themselves and their abilities down to strips because of self-doubt. It’s been deemed “imposter syndrome”. A feeling of not belonging resulting in inadequacy. If anyone should have felt imposter syndrome, it is Peggy Olsen. But by the end of the show, she becomes one of the most respected copy writers in New York City. As a woman in her generation, she beat some incredible odds. Even if a fictional one, her character goes to show that skill is the product of perseverance and hard-work. So stick with it, and maybe you won’t feel so imposter-y.
2. Storytelling is Key
This one I have been learning a lot about this past year. In our one-year long masters at CMCI Studio in Boulder, we are harped on how important storytelling is in design. And Mad Men captures this idea greatly. The best of them is Don Draper. He’s not that great of a person but he’s a fantastic story-teller, and story-telling is how you sell ideas. I didn’t realize the role storytelling plays in design, but it is critical. In this way, it has a lot of similarities to advertising.
In the show, Don’s greatest gift is his ability to wrap an idea around his audience in a way that is not only compelling but also solves a business problem. When he pitches his ideas, his stories offer a clear way of communicating his solution while relating it and the problem back to the client. Once he is able to put the client in the shoes of the consumer and offer a compelling answer to their problems, the solution is given an important sense of credibility. An “Oh, that works.” feeling.
3. Power is in the Details
One of the primary reasons the show is so great is it’s attention to details. From it’s set design, costume design, and the use of real history integrated into it’s plot story– the details make this show so attractive. The set of the show is actually so respected that it was turned into an exhibition at the Museum of the Moving Image in NYC. The same thing goes for the costume design. The fashion itself is a history lesson, plaid vests, odd shaped pants, crisp white shirts and greased back hair– there was a lot going on. But from it’s set and costume design we are given a real look into the culture that made the 60’s.
In design, we should be sweating the details. If we don’t than we don’t really care about what we are making. These set designers truly cared and we see that in the intricate attention to detail on set. In design, you have to care. When clients see an extra mockup of your logo on a storefront, or an effective use of brand components in your screens, they realize that you care about the project.
As I have been finishing the series, I continuously notice the correlation between advertising and design. In a way, a lot of modern digital design was founded on the world of advertising. Advertising like design, is rooted in problem solving with a solution that fits a specific person. That, and liquor.
