Recently, while at the Newport Folk Festival, I was in a line for food. A man behind me was irritated at the length of the line and was very vocal about it. At an event which is supposed to be calm and easy, I was a little taken aback. I turned to him and said "I understand you, and I'm looking at this as an opportunity to practice patience." We then struck up a conversation to pass the time.
Practicing patience is something that can be very difficult, but I have found that as a designer it's important to exercise it.
Design is a process. It's not linear. There is so much that goes into determining what the design challenge is. It takes the evaluation of all of the factors that contribute to that challenge, looking for solutions that fit, testing those solutions and then arriving at the best possible one. It takes time.
In a world where instant gratification is expected and information is available on a device that fits in your palm, slowing down and being fully engaged in the process is what will bring the best results.
I recognize that I am providing a service to my clients. So efficiency and respect for their time is very important as well.
But understanding the process makes the services that I and other designers provide to our clients that much more successful.
The best outcomes only arise when the process is respected and fully developed. And that sometimes takes patience. •