Defence and attack techniques in design

Perhaps because the beginning of the year is hard, lately I've been coming across many articles by prestigious designers offering advice on how to get out of creative crises or situations of heavy workload. The latest one that has caught my attention is Andy Rutledge, which in its article Falling Down, draws an inspiring parallel between the techniques used in martial arts and design.

Here are some ideas for reflection:

Know your enemy and yourself
It is not enough to analyse the external factors that can complicate a design; it is also key to understand your own habits and responses. Some designers make better progress by dealing with frustration directly, others need pauses or reflection. Whatever your style, apply the techniques that work best for you.

Practice falling
In martial arts, learning to drop and roll allows you to face any unexpected situation with confidence. In design, the metaphor is clear: projects rarely flow perfectly. The most important skill is not the momentary inspiration, but how we respond with grace and balance when things go wrong. Practice and experience with difficulties allow us to transform setbacks into opportunities for improvement.

Revisit the masters and the basics
When design gets stuck, going back to the basics of art and communication helps to clarify structure, hierarchy and coherence. The fundamentals are the basis on which any creative solution can emerge. Repetition and constant practice, even in uncomfortable or frustrating situations, strengthen this ability.

Calculate all your opponent's moves
Anticipate different usage scenarios and potential complications. By exposing and analysing unseen or as yet undefined elements, we reduce uncertainty and facilitate the creation of workable solutions. Preparing for the unexpected allows us to react with confidence and adaptability.

Assumes roles and adopts perspectives
Putting yourself in the shoes of others, whether they are customers or users, helps to better understand the subjective experience we want to generate. This constant practice of role-playing facilitates recovery from creative blockages and improves decision making in design.

It is useful to develop techniques that work for us in the quiet times, but being prepared for the hard times is what really defines our competence. Things won't always go as planned; stumbles and unforeseen events are the rule, not the exception. Learning to “fall” and react gracefully to them makes us more resilient and effective designers.

 

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