These are some insightful and thought-provoking lessons from Wieden+Kennedy’s Executive Creative Director, John C Jay: 10 Lessons for young designers.
1: Be authentic. The most powerful asset you have is your individuality, what makes you unique. It’s time to stop listening to others on what you should do.
2: Work harder than anyone else and you will always benefit from the effort.
3: Get off the computer and connect with real people and culture. Life is visceral.
4: Constantly improve your craft. Make things with your hands. Innovation in thinking is not enough.
5: Travel as much as you can. It is a humbling and inspiring experience to learn just how much you don’t know.
6: Being original is still king, especially in this tech-driven, group-grope world.
7: Try not to work for stupid people or you’ll soon become one of them.
8: Instinct and intuition are all-powerful. Learn to trust them.
9: The Golden Rule actually works. Do good.
10: If all else fails, No. 2 is the greatest competitive advantage of any career.
AMEN!
(via johnmaeda, via Edwin Himself)
Great article.
I would add:
Learn about the business of what you do. Being profitable and doing what you love eg Design is the best thing ever! win win!
Feb 22nd, 2011 / 8:50 pm
Such good advice! I am taking this all to heart and getting off my computer right now!
Feb 22nd, 2011 / 9:27 pm
Work harder than anyone else and you will always benefit from the effort. (2) will always get you where you want to be,
Feb 22nd, 2011 / 11:49 pm
profound!
Thanks!
Feb 22nd, 2011 / 11:56 pm
number 7 should be number 1.
:)
Feb 23rd, 2011 / 1:33 am
“It’s time to stop listening to others on what you should do.” Great advice until you end up at W+K and try to do your own thing, i.e the thing they hired you for.
Feb 23rd, 2011 / 1:43 am
yes, number 7 in bold please ;-)
Feb 23rd, 2011 / 3:52 am
Great advice. You really can’t go TOO wrong if you follow this list.
Feb 23rd, 2011 / 4:47 am
Great. I personally enjoyed no. 7 :)
Feb 23rd, 2011 / 4:58 am
Work *smarter* than other people – long hours for their own sake not a good idea. Know why you’r doing what you do.
Also – remember the 7th Habit (from Covey’s book)
“sharpen the saw”
You need downtime to recharge and assimilate new things, make sure you take it or you will burn out.
Feb 23rd, 2011 / 4:58 am
seems to be so simple
Feb 23rd, 2011 / 6:03 am
Nice post!!, specially rule number 7
Feb 23rd, 2011 / 7:47 am
great post! so true number 7!
Feb 23rd, 2011 / 8:12 am
Awesome, love number 6! Individuality is what makes people and things interesting!
Feb 23rd, 2011 / 8:46 am
Inspiring …The journey of knowing ourselves as the unique individual and designer. Spirituality+Design+Business at it’s best.
Feb 23rd, 2011 / 9:11 am
Good Article! I enjoy lesson #4 because a great imagination can be found only doing creative things.
Feb 23rd, 2011 / 10:14 am
to me number 3 is so very important and I know that I don’t do enough of it!
Feb 23rd, 2011 / 10:18 am
Wise words…but I would add to that list.
11. A good sense of morality when working in advertising and design.
Feb 23rd, 2011 / 11:41 am
Read the AC Graying article in Creative Review on the issues of morality in advertising and design.
Exceedingly interesting to anyone in the industry.
Feb 23rd, 2011 / 11:42 am
I’ve always been a fan of John Jay…he’s never failed to inspire! Thank you for posting it.
Feb 23rd, 2011 / 12:33 pm
Fantastic list.
about n.7: I have to confess that I work with stupid people & strugle everyday not to become like them :s
Feb 23rd, 2011 / 4:59 pm
another text my fellow students and I liked http://blog.frankchimero.com/post/979706728/what-advice-would-you-give-to-a-graphic-design-student
Feb 23rd, 2011 / 5:11 pm
I would like to add: Always keep learning and empowering yourself. Even through mistakes, look for the lesson.
Feb 23rd, 2011 / 9:17 pm
Great Post ! making me introspect at all levels !
Feb 24th, 2011 / 4:06 am
Wise words. A good, succinct reminder of things we hear matter … they really do!
Feb 24th, 2011 / 9:59 am
Thanks for the great advice. Good words to live by!
Feb 24th, 2011 / 11:11 am
Amen to all in the list. This is truly inspiring. While the things mentioned in this list are all nothing new, it is reading again as it reminds us all about these wonderful things we need to follow in life.
Feb 25th, 2011 / 1:24 pm
thanks so much!
Feb 27th, 2011 / 7:35 am
Must get out more and apply #3
Feb 27th, 2011 / 2:56 pm
I would like to say that I just love #_, but I would have to list them all. So simple, so true. Now to follow his advice…
Feb 28th, 2011 / 11:27 am