The missing designer

The risk of any small design start-up or organisation growing fast is that it grows incorrectly. This can likely happen when failing to welcome and culturally assimilate a good company culture. It can also mean hiring the wrong balance of people. In nature, good growth is called adolescence; and bad growth is called cancer. They say that its important to have a good mix of people who are good at their own different skill sets. For sure. But I would have to say that to find the right balance of designers in a team, it is important to identify them not just by their design skills but dig deeper at a more fundamental level. As I understand, there are basically only 4 kinds of designers we know of:

1. The Observer/Thinker

This guy is far less noisy than anyone in the team. He spends most of his time listening and reflecting than talking. He analytically relates to each idea, turn it over again and again, and see what works and what does not. His practical unbiased self will be constantly aware of the ground realities of the workplace and how this idea can be actualised. He may fall into the trap of being over-analytical sometimes but is often one good person to sit down with and start putting two n two together.

2. The Idea guy

This guy walks into the office with an easy breeze and sways away everyone with his originality, the owner of a unique idea that no one really thought about. Though the idea at this stage is barely a ghost, the Idea Person can already breathe some piece of it. This maybe a striking concept, a new approach to the old or an intuitive interaction. He leaves the room with everyone awestruck by his new idea. Ofcourse its not easy to be put in this throne at all times but mostly so, his soul lies in invention and walking the undiscovered path. So you most definitely want him present when you brainstorm for the next cool app idea! don’t you?

3. The Get-shit-done dude

The implementation phase of an idea, which carries on for a long period of time after the idea is generated, is of great importance. The get shit done guy comes in and realises this idea and gets things done. The clocks ticking and the dreaded meeting is in a couple of hours from now — new scenario that you must address — He’s got you covered my friend! He doesn’t get freaked out or succumb to pressure easily. He is the best go-to guy in a time crunch situation. In the mess of management, clients, ever evolving product strategies, you definitely need one of these guys to get your shit together. He may not be a perfectionist, but he knows how to manage time and get stuff done.

4. The Detail Freak

This one is the most difficult to deal with, but also your bestest friend. This guy will go to his grave to add those little details that please the user (and mostly even the stupid client). From solving small design issues to making things look absolutely beautiful, this guy works tirelessly without looking back. This guy probably comes towards the end of a project but is one of the most important one to make the idea go to the app store. He sits there with his magic wand (some huff and puff and a magic potion later) and things start looking impeccable and pretty. Not just that, you can see them turn real after all!

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Understanding is the first step to acceptance,
and only with acceptance can there be recovery.

I think that these are the most fundamental categories that there can be to a designer. Yes, Each and every one of us designers fall into at least two of these categories. There can of course be and will be people who are good at more than one or probably all the categories mentioned above.

Accept who you are

The important thing is to realise what category you fall into and hone it well. There is no shame in accepting who you are. Become the best at what you’re good, and then try to surround yourself with people that are good at the other stuff. Knowingly or unknowingly you will have new learnings and slowly start fitting into the shoes of the “missing designer” in you.