Today, one of my mentees asked me if they should continue designing by hand or focus more on managing others. My answer is both, and here’s why:
1. Developing a Precise Vision
Great results come from pushing boundaries. It heavily relies on your imagination and your ability to master and extend the capabilities of your tools. While you can guide the creative process from a higher level of abstraction, you risk missing crucial details that could lead to exceptional outcomes.
2. Wider Vision, Shorter Decisions
Looking through the lens of a manager broadens your perspective, enabling you to suggest more streamlined and efficient methods. This skill becomes a tool that helps you determine when it’s better to use words instead of graphics or a brief meeting instead of numerous iterations.
3. Leading by Example
Management styles can be contentious, especially in creative fields. However, it’s undeniably easier to demonstrate an example than to ask for something you don’t fully understand yourself. The broader your skill set, the better you can explain the nuances and differences, making you more effective in supporting your team.
4. Adapting Better and Faster
Hard design skills are more transferable than management, hiring, and process administration skills, which can vary significantly across different cultures and business sectors. This adaptability can facilitate moving to new regions or changing your area of expertise.
5. Focusing on What Matters
A desire to create is a clear indicator of passion for your work. If you find yourself avoiding certain tasks, it’s a good reason to reflect on whether you’re still passionate about them or if it’s time to introduce something new or even embark on a completely different path. Staying true to what you love in every detail is crucial.
In conversations with junior and senior designers, art directors, and other creatives, I’ve noticed that the question of whether to continue hands-on design often masks deeper questions, fears, and struggles. It’s valuable to take the time to reflect and discuss, at least internally, why you’re facing this question, what led you to it, and how you feel about it. The answers may be challenging but can be instrumental in helping you feel more free and fulfilled. What do you think? Is it worth keeping balance or better focus on one?