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At some point, we'll have to talk about the fact that designers can't explain anything about their work (and/or the vision of their work) to other non-designers

by Signez 4y ago

At some point, we'll have to talk about the fact that designers can't explain anything about their work (and/or the vision of their work) to other non-designers professionals without being particularly condescending. The fact that we can notice this even in the startup sector speaks even louder.

dfee 4y ago
Kinda like being ‘cool’. It’s not really formulaic, but instead subject to its environment.
- andrei_says_ 4y ago
  Oh, yes, it is :) My favorite take on "cool" (and Albert Camus) is this existential comic: https://www.existentialcomics.com/comic/451 https://www.existentialcomics.com/comic/451
oldstrangers 4y ago
Maybe you're just hanging around annoying people? I work at a large agency, we have to explain our design rationale every day to people that have zero design backgrounds. The better we do this, the better we're able to do our job. If we acted like assholes we wouldn't be in business very long.
- Isamu 4y ago
  >explain our design rationale every day to people that have zero design backgrounds. The better we do this, the better we're able to do our job. Exactly, the really good and professional designers I worked with spent a lot of time to explain and work with me and show evidence for their approach. To be condescending and dismissive is a warning sign that maybe somebody is being arbitrary and has to cover up their lack of professional development.
- dgb23 4y ago
  Also it's a two way street. When I'm implementing a UI, I try to understand the principles and ideas behind a design. Good tooling and some experience/knowledge helps, but ultimately it comes down to communication, asking questions and just having a discussion about a design. On the other side there is also a benefit of giving technical input about a design, sometimes there are more robust solutions from a technical standpoint that gel with what the designer does. I think both design and implementation are more efficient this way. It's also more fun.
gedy 4y ago
A lot of this is from not actually having concrete reasons for why they designed something some way, aside from trends and fashion (which seems to be avoided admitting to at all costs)
- davidivadavid 4y ago
  I get that everyone on Hacker News loves to repeat that nonsense, but it really sounds like no-one here has worked with a designer before. Are you thinking of graphic designers?
  - gedy 4y ago
    > Are you thinking of graphic designers? Honestly most ux designers I've worked with were graphic designers by training and previous experience.
mrcartmeneses 4y ago
Have you ever tried to explain grammar to someone who does not understand grammar? It would get condescending pretty quick, especially if the said grammar ignorant insisted on asking you to put everything in one paragraph because otherwise there’s too much “white space”
davidivadavid 4y ago
Have you met any developers before? As far as superiority complexes are concerned, I'm not sure designers are any worse.
blueboo 4y ago
“If everyone around you is the problem, maybe…” I think to the same extent the phenomenon you describe exists, experts (perhaps even engineers) loathe accepting and abiding expertise outside their domain that impacts or determines their work. It’s human nature to want agency. Achieving some measure of mastery can confuse one into a growing sense of entitlement to agency…and this sentiments like yours.

by Signez 4y ago

dfee 4y ago

Kinda like being ‘cool’. It’s not really formulaic, but instead subject to its environment.

andrei_says_ 4y ago
Oh, yes, it is :) My favorite take on "cool" (and Albert Camus) is this existential comic: https://www.existentialcomics.com/comic/451 https://www.existentialcomics.com/comic/451

oldstrangers 4y ago

Maybe you're just hanging around annoying people? I work at a large agency, we have to explain our design rationale every day to people that have zero design backgrounds. The better we do this, the better we're able to do our job. If we acted like assholes we wouldn't be in business very long.

Isamu 4y ago
>explain our design rationale every day to people that have zero design backgrounds. The better we do this, the better we're able to do our job. Exactly, the really good and professional designers I worked with spent a lot of time to explain and work with me and show evidence for their approach. To be condescending and dismissive is a warning sign that maybe somebody is being arbitrary and has to cover up their lack of professional development.
dgb23 4y ago
Also it's a two way street. When I'm implementing a UI, I try to understand the principles and ideas behind a design. Good tooling and some experience/knowledge helps, but ultimately it comes down to communication, asking questions and just having a discussion about a design. On the other side there is also a benefit of giving technical input about a design, sometimes there are more robust solutions from a technical standpoint that gel with what the designer does. I think both design and implementation are more efficient this way. It's also more fun.

gedy 4y ago

A lot of this is from not actually having concrete reasons for why they designed something some way, aside from trends and fashion (which seems to be avoided admitting to at all costs)

davidivadavid 4y ago
I get that everyone on Hacker News loves to repeat that nonsense, but it really sounds like no-one here has worked with a designer before. Are you thinking of graphic designers?
- gedy 4y ago
  > Are you thinking of graphic designers? Honestly most ux designers I've worked with were graphic designers by training and previous experience.

mrcartmeneses 4y ago

Have you ever tried to explain grammar to someone who does not understand grammar? It would get condescending pretty quick, especially if the said grammar ignorant insisted on asking you to put everything in one paragraph because otherwise there’s too much “white space”

davidivadavid 4y ago

Have you met any developers before? As far as superiority complexes are concerned, I'm not sure designers are any worse.

blueboo 4y ago

“If everyone around you is the problem, maybe…” I think to the same extent the phenomenon you describe exists, experts (perhaps even engineers) loathe accepting and abiding expertise outside their domain that impacts or determines their work. It’s human nature to want agency. Achieving some measure of mastery can confuse one into a growing sense of entitlement to agency…and this sentiments like yours.