I have been thinking a lot about the students that I am working with; more so because I am about to meet with Norton, the Dean at the AI of Portland. I have been thinking about constructing a workshop of sorts for the local design students that would want to enter into rigorous critique far before their required graduation review. In my mind, it makes a good deal of sense to know where you stand as a designer, presenter, and conversationalist far before you are thrust in front meeting room full of bored-and-busy art directors and creative directors; as I had once experienced in my Junior year of college when making it to the final round at Sandstrom Design for their internship program.
Students, design-students in particular, tend to be such an interesting and often diverse build. But the underlying truth is that most all of the students I encounter fear what I call the design-mirror.
Success in our industry is based upon subjectivity, and it is a hard life-lesson for these young designers to put themselves out there. In fact, I would say that even some of the most senior professionals that I encounter still fail to do this. So stay tuned for the said workshops, they will be fun and difficult; exactly what keeps creativity at its finest.
