The Most Unfair List of Real Understandings From a Designer’s Reflections

I was following up with a student after the Design an Idea class. She said she wanted to be a designer. My eyes big and bright, "Super, design is a great profession." She continued explaining that she enjoyed making things with her hands. I just need to figure out the money part." My mouth formed into a sideways heart. If you don't know how that looks, try it right now...it's pretty much like mouth yoga forming into quite an inquisitive look. "Are you thinking you might want a business or to make money? I think I threw her for a real loop by the look she gave back in return. A passion to make things with your hands means you like making things with your hands. There is often an assumption, but there is no correlation between you making things and you making that into a business. If you'd like to make money by selling your products, that means you take money for them. It doesn't make you are an entrepreneur. Reflect on the definition of the term and your own intention or vision for your life.

Do you like to design or are you a designer? These reflections led me to write this list of the most unfair...but realistic understandings of our profession and the creative industry. It's where we make assumptions and correlations where there are none. Often time we think 8000 steps before we actually arrive. Acknowledging where we are at, during this moment, is important to understand where you might want to be later. 

1. Wanting to design things does not make you a designer, it makes you a person who is creative.
   
   
2. Wanting to make money and be your own boss does not make you an entrepreneur. It makes you a person who simply likes to work independently.
   
   
3. Wanting to develop your own collection or brand doesn’t mean you need special education. 
   
   
4. Wanting to be a designer doesn’t mean you have to develop your own collection or brand. It just means you want to realize something that originated from your mind.
   
   
5. If you take money for something at least 3 times, you are a professional _____. If that money is not a part of a salary, you own your own business.
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6. If you prefer the word freelancer rather than business owner, you are afraid of commitment.
   
   
7. ​If you read something for 3 hours or more, you are an expert (this one isn’t mine).
   
   
8. If you made it, you are a maker. If you thought it up, you are a designer. If you paid someone to produce it, you are a manager.
   If you took money for it and sold it, you have money in your pocket. If you envision yourself creating an enterprise and managing risks and profit, you are an entrepreneur.
   
   
9. To know when you are living a dream and when you are living the dream, first define the world dream for yourself.
   
   
10. Going to school to be a designer just makes you a creative person with a design degree, not a designer. 
    
    
11. If you pay an #influencer, a magazine or any company you find online, money to market your product and you still have your day job, you should turn around and give yourself 3 spanks.
    
    
12. ​If you pay someone to do your patterns (and you yourself are not a patternmaker), you are not designing your product, they are.
    
    
13. If you have never tried making your own product even with tape, paper, scissors or even a stamp or sticks, and you pay someone to do it, give yourself 3 spanks.
    
    
14. If you pay for space to vend somewhere without answering (and testing) at least one of these questions, find a part on yourself you’ve not spanked:
    What is the price point 75% of the buyers are willing to pay, buying items at that location, during that time of the year. Where 75% of possible buyers shop normally. What items 75% of your possible market would buy next on their shopping list.
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15. For the last and most harsh but very realistic one, #unfair and comment on my IG page that you've *almost* finished this article. I'll give you the last and most UNFAIR reflection! @tyesecooper
    
    If you have any questions, critiques or things to add to the add, I'd love to hear it! Connect with me on social or here. 
    

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