J. Zajac

DOGMA - J. Zajac

1. Conception. Know the rules and concepts of great design, and then break those rules when appropriate.

2. Hound dog effect. Have a goal, and don’t stop until you reach that goal. Otherwise, the work is incomplete.

3. Follow your path. More than one person may have the same goal, but nobody follows the same path to reach the end. Accept your path. As corny as it may sound, you must learn to enjoy the process, not the end result.

4. Listen hard. Make a point to learn how to listen to others. You don’t necessarily have to accept or agree with what others have to say, but just open your ears. Most people in this world do not listen (or do not know how to listen). Listening is under-rated, and talking is over-rated.

5. Learn thy self. Learn to listen to yourself. This is probably one of the most difficult concepts to grasp. Learn the concepts that you like, then learn how to get those concepts from your brain to your design. The mind is an unbelievably powerful tool, but it is not easy to tap into that resource without practice and continual effort. Push the limits of your capabilities...only then will you realize your potential.

6. Infinite patience is a necessity. A solid ability to design does not come with the ability to successfully explain certain aspects of design. Designers will need some salesmanship in order to best convey their design ideas to the general public (non-designers)...and the general public will not understand what you are talking about most of the time. So, practice patience in order to learn how to convey your ideas to the general public. Learn how the general public thinks, and convey your ideas to them in that capacity so they understand.

7. Be resilient. This goes along with #6 and only pertains to those working for someone else (such as a customer). True artists do whatever they want, hence the term “starving artist”. But for those of us who’s paychecks emanate from design, know that the higher power will continually shoot down ideas and concepts. One must learn to accept this as exploration with more opportunity to design. Follow the “Hound dog effect” in #2 and they will not be able to stop you.

8. Learn good design. Anyone can learn a computer software, it is a tool, such as a hammer is to a carpenter. A good hammer does not make a person a good carpenter. Good designers will eventually be in great demand. And, good designers will eventually have efficient software users making their designs. Learn good design!

9. Use your hands. Hands-on is the best way to experience anything in this world. Touch things. When signs say, “Do Not Touch”, don’t you think it is because it must be a very interesting thing to put your hands on (obviously too many people have done it already).

10. Seek out the unobvious. Think differently than you have been programmed to think. Look at something, anything, and absorb it, and then, think about it in a completely different way. The world has more to offer than that which is visible to the naked eye.

11. Thrive. Life is meant to be thrived upon, not simply endured.

12. Accept human nature. We are not machines. We are going to make mistakes. Look forward to the mistakes...they have much to offer.

13. Take advantage of every opportunity.

14. Keep a journal. Write down any and all ideas. They will be useful in the future.