{"id":2528,"date":"2016-08-15T11:46:13","date_gmt":"2016-08-15T10:46:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/marvel7077.wpengine.com\/?p=2528"},"modified":"2016-09-13T00:14:54","modified_gmt":"2016-09-12T23:14:54","slug":"digital-designer-of-the-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/marvelapp.com\/blog\/digital-designer-of-the-future\/","title":{"rendered":"The Digital Designer of the Future"},"content":{"rendered":"

These days, the latest technology goes in and out of style at light speed. It\u2019s enough to make a digital designer wonder how she\u2019ll be prepared for the future and stay competitive and competent in the job market. In fact, \u201cThe Future of Work\u201d was the title of the panel I was recently on as part of AIGA\u2019s San Francisco Design Week, along with Heather Phillips<\/a>, Tyson Kallberg<\/a>, Mario Delgado<\/a>, and Dennis Field<\/a>.<\/p>\n

As designers we frequently talk about what \u201cdesign\u201d really means, and what\u2019s the best tool for a design, but at the panel we all seemed to be hinting at the larger question of what the role of the designer should be. Is there a timeless definition of the prototypical digital designer? What should we aspire to be as new tools, techniques, and computing devices come and go? I would posit that there are 3 fundamental roles of a digital designer.<\/p>\n

A digital designer is a\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Facilitator, assisting others in refining and transmitting ideas.<\/li>\n
  2. Steward, supporting and protecting empathy and the creative process.<\/li>\n
  3. Connoisseur, maintaining a high bar of quality.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Designer as Facilitator<\/strong>
    \nThe first essential function of a designer is to facilitate others in refining and transmitting their own ideas. We can accomplish this is by designing compelling presentations and communications, which helps inspire others and rally colleagues towards a unified direction. The main way we do it, however, is by making abstract ideas concrete for others. This is an act of synthesis, it means coalescing knowledge of the medium, human behavior, stakeholder demands, and business goals into specific, actionable details.<\/p>\n

    We panelists all agreed: while every designer need not be a coder, every designer must be a hacker of sorts, mashing together whatever it takes to bring blurry, partially defined concepts into sharp focus. If you are wondering which tools to learn, simply pick one and get started. The choice of tool is irrelevant as long as the experience with the result conveys the idea and allows collaborators to distill their own thoughts. Put simply,<\/p>\n

    <\/div>
    <\/svg><\/div>

    \u201cDesign is the intermediary between information and understanding.\u201d \u2014 Han Hofmann<\/p><\/span><\/blockquote>\n

    A designer\u2019s ability to imagine something in their mind\u2019s eye with a high degree of detail and convert that to a realistic likeness removes the mental burden of having to visualize from others. This frees them up to apply their own domain expertise to the problem at hand.<\/p>\n

    \u201cPeople understand what they can see. If a programmer cannot see what a program is doing, she can\u2019t understand it.\u201d \u2014 Bret Victor, Learnable Programming<\/span><\/p>\n

    Similarly, we support colleagues in evaluating ideas by making them tangible. Designers can support and encourage powerful ways of thinking by helping others see their ideas, and as our simulacra become more refined we provide a maps of the way forward for others to follow. We help collaborators decide what to do next and provide the confidence to act. Doing that mental heavy lifting for people helps a team hone in on the best possible expression of a given idea much faster than they might have otherwise.<\/p>\n

    <\/div>
    <\/svg><\/div>

    \"Designers can support and encourage powerful ways of thinking by helping others see their ideas...\"<\/p><\/span><\/blockquote>\n

    Designer as Steward<\/strong>
    \nThe second fundamental role of the designer is to be a steward of a user-centered creative process. We should be ambassadors for empathy and creativity, using and extolling the virtues of what David Kelley calls \u201cdesign thinking<\/a>.\u201d Here\u2019s another gem from Bret Victor, again proving the not-so-large gap<\/a> between user interface designers and software designers:<\/p>\n

    \u201cProgramming is a way of thinking, not a rote skill. Learning about \u201cfor\u201d loops is not learning to program, any more than learning about pencils is learning to draw.\u201d\u200a\u2014\u200aBret Victor<\/span><\/p>\n

    In the same way, being a user interface designer is less about knowing Photoshop or Sketch, and more about sharing and applying a way of thinking.<\/p>\n

    I am intentional about my choice of the word steward here, and its connotations of both assistance and protection. We assist<\/em> people in seeing and assuming the perspective of others, to help create interfaces, products, and services that are responsive to human needs and considerate of human frailties. Designers are also stewards in the other sense of the word, because we protect the creative process. We protect<\/em> nascent ideas and in doing so, move our company towards innovation. We know about what Ed Catmull, head of Pixar and Amy Wallace call \u201cugly babies\u201d:<\/p>\n

    \u201cOriginality is fragile. And, in its first moments, it\u2019s often far from pretty. This is why I call early mock-ups of our films \u201cugly babies.\u201d They are not beautiful, miniature versions of the adults they will grow up to be. They are truly ugly: awkward and unformed, vulnerable and incomplete. They need nurturing\u200a\u2014\u200ain the form of time and patience\u200a\u2014\u200ain order to grow\u2026 Our job is to protect our babies from being judged too quickly\u2026 If, while in this vulnerable state, it is exposed to naysayers who fail to see its potential or lack the patience to let it evolve, it could be destroyed.\u201d \u2014 Creativity, Inc.<\/span><\/p>\n

    As a part of the small group that is expected to provide creativity on demand and on an ongoing basis, designers are well suited to champion and defend good ideas\u200a\u2014\u200awhatever their source\u200a\u2014\u200auntil they are fully formed.<\/p>\n

    Designer as Connoisseur<\/strong>
    \nThe 3rd and final fundamental role of a designer is that of a connoisseur, maintaining and promoting a high standard of quality. Quality is somewhat subjective, but it boils down to being mindful during the creative process, making every choice a deliberate and intentional one. The connoisseur role is likely the one that comes most naturally to those who choose design as their profession. A good designer strives to become a discerning judge of great work, honing their taste so that they can become appropriately critical of     the right things in the right order<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    <\/div>
    <\/svg><\/div>

    \"Quality is somewhat subjective, but it boils down to being mindful during the creative process...\"<\/p><\/span><\/blockquote>\n

    \u201cAs with all creative professions, design included, you want to hire someone with good taste and a discerning eye, who can scrutinize and poke and prod through all the dusty corners of a design and emerge with a comprehensive list of what works and what doesn\u2019t.\u201d \u2014 Julie Zhuo<\/span><\/p>\n

    With a sharpened critical eye, designers can share an appreciation for craftsmanship and conscientious execution with the rest of their team, pushing those around them towards excellence.<\/p>\n

    That Seat at the Table<\/strong>
    \nBy now you have heard about designers     gaining a seat<\/a> at the leadership table, alongside business and engineering executives. In light of these three fundamental roles, it makes perfect sense why that would happen.<\/p>\n

    \u201cThe ability to build empathy, connect the dots on complex problems, and help teams apply design thinking are crucial skills a designer can bring to a leadership team.\u201d \u2014 Phil King<\/span><\/p>\n

    By facilitating the visualization and transmission of ideas, stewarding the creative process, and contributing the discriminating taste of a connoisseur, designers can secure their place at the table now and in the future.<\/p>\n

    Special thanks to Katie Topper and Heather Phillips, without whom this piece would never have existed\u2026or finished\u2026or published.<\/em><\/p>\n

    This was originally posted on Diogenes\u2019 Medium profile<\/a> and Designer Fund\u2019s Bridge blog<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    These days, the latest technology goes in and out of style at light speed. It\u2019s enough to make a digital designer wonder how she\u2019ll be prepared for the future and stay competitive and competent in the job market. In fact, \u201cThe Future of Work\u201d was the title of the panel I was recently on as part of AIGA\u2019s San Francisco… Read More ￫<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":2615,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[70,71],"class_list":["post-2528","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-viewpoint","tag-hiring-talent","tag-workplace"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\t\n