DUTCH DESIGN WEEK 2009
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ISTANBUL DESIGN WEEKEND 2009
BAUHAUS SUMMER SCHOOL 2009
Jon Kolko went from consulting to academia and then back to consulting. So what has he learned from these transitions? Well, not what you'd think. Here's a taste:
While teaching, I emphasized cohesive process and strong documentation because I saw the value of instilling a repeatable and user-centered design methodology as a base upon which individual design skills could then be built. Yet, this type of education occurs in an environment that is sheltered and artificial--by definition. Even the most industry-focused academic programs emphasize and teach a "clean" process, with deliverables that are defined in advance, requirements that generally don't change, and participants who are competent, articulate and well-mannered. Students make "good" design decisions because they have a rigid and confined set of constraints in which to work, and as it should, the safety net of academia provides a positive environment in which to fail.
Design consulting operates in a dramatically different world. While a statement of work may attempt to define concrete deliverables, even the most well-intentioned presales and planning effort can't cohesively estimate the proper amount of sketches, wireframes, documents, or deliverables that will "solve" a given design problem and communicate the solution. Changing requirements lead to slipped deadlines; changing budgets alter design scope in mid-step; even changing attitudes and the constant banging of the burn-rate drum begin to introduce arbitrary design constraints (such as emotions) into an already messy process.
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Comments
Best quote in this article...
(maybe 'Design is a...')
..."want desperately to understand why things are they way they are, and both realize that, underlying the human-built world, is a potential for us to make life consequentially better"
Dig it. Maybe I'll see you out on the streets of Austin, Jon. Intro to IDUS with a process cake.
-Taylor
Jon Kolko's article is all about the obvious and his 'insight' is based on what a appears to be a limited professional and academic career that is still somewhat in his infancy.
At times I found his perspective patronizing to his students and naive.
I would like to read articles that articulate real insight and address real issues that have a broad experience base of design and education.
Jon gives the impression of a disappointed would-be design rock star guy that craves more attention than he's getting... the picture with the article says it all.
Big noise - no message. More substance please Mr Kolko and less posturing.
Let your work speak for you.
That's right! I think design students nowadays are still totally ill-equipped to jump into the industry.
What they need are very difficult clients, an unspecified deadline and lots of revision requests.
I wish there's a way to emulate that without bringing real clients into the academies.
"so tainted by my junior and senior years..."
Tainted? As in "gone rotten" or "poisoned"? I think you probably mean you were "jaded". Tainted implies you were actually damaged by your education, which I'm sure you weren't meaning.
But this is a nice article! I especially liked that you mention that even at places like frog, that UCD processes aren't really followed. I'd say that in more than 10 years of doing this work, that UCD is almost entirely a myth, and almost never shows up in the real world.
absolutely agree with Despot...
Jon's insight (especially on Myth#3) made me laugh and cry at the same time...
Hi Jon,
Nice read. It was actually really valuable for me to read about your experience in academia, as I often consider going that direction from time to time. I'd love to do that sort of work, and the way you spoke about being inspired by your students was in itself inspiring.
Your take on consulting is where I'm troubled. You work for "frog design"; an amazing consultancy with a rich history. And it seems like a great place to work. It does however sound like an anomaly. Did you speak with other consultants whom you know when thinking about this article? I ask b/c every agency/consultancy I have considered working for in the long time I've been an "innie" (more on that in a minute) has been NOTHING but brutally honest about the reality of billable hours vs. life at home. I've heard horror stories from friends all around the agency world in both product and in interactive.
Back to the "innie" story. I just want to throw out there the option of going corporate. I've been corporate now for close to 6 years after 8 years as a consultant, and I have to say, it is really hard to go back. The pace is a lot more human and while there is TONS! of politics, it is nothing compared to client management that goes into being a consultant.
I just want to point out that you only stated two options--"consultant vs. academic"--which is fine, since that is your experience. But there is the third option as well. I even know people who as innies for big corps, they get all the fun stuff of academics (conferences, writing, mentoring) and all the fun stuff of consulting (moving between projects) but without the unbearable hours. It's called being a "principal". Hard to find, but fun if you can get it. ;) Even w/o that, the thrill of seeing a product through multiple refreshes to 3 or 4.0 is something you will never experience as a consultant (or at least it is highly unlikely).
Just a 3rd side to think about.
-- dave
Kon Jolko,
I must say (from the perspective of a naive student!), even if the terms between the student and teacher aren't the most amiable, it is still important to note, the student learns a great deal more than the teacher that is personable, as oppose to the teacher who is 'dead inside'; the one who doesn't make the effort to learn the names of the individual students.
The harmless jabs and banter of a class stirs life in the class, not to mention leaving memorable lessons!
-Carl
..."I greatly over-estimated how much work could be accomplished in a ten week quarter, and I suppose my classes gained a reputation for being a bit overzealous and akin to boot camp."
- Yes, this was true. However, I believe it conditioned us for the unknown. Patronizing, yet much needed in order to stimulate thought and motivation in otherwise ignorant and naive brains. Knowing you could survive kolko's class meant knowing you could intelligently handle any problem, design or not.
Excellent reminiscing, I'm glad I had a chance to learn with you.
-Jon
tribal earings, a suit, and a teddybear. who can take this guy seriously? dude, you forgot to include the life lesson about burning man, man.
I agree it is difficult to take someone serious with the bear and sitting in front of a dated calendar. More seriously, how can you take what he has written seriously? He must be like 28 years old? Come on, 2 years at each job??
Maybe in another decade you will write something with a bit more staying power.
How 'bout some credit to Vignelli for the blatant disregard of his calendar in this otherwise ... article. As someone who teaches adjunct, works full-time, and freelances, I think you have to do some things out of passion for what you do and not for a paycheck or selfish reasons. This article made me feel a bit nauseous and really after the new Xerox bastardization at the beginning of the week I didn't need this. And really, is Frog the end all/be all utopia of the universe or in two years will there be another article about that? I've found that you need to give it some time because the more you distance yourself from something the more you realize maybe it wasn't as bad as you thought. And I agree that you can't fully judge the merits of teaching professionally after a couple years and completely dismiss it. I've felt frustration with my students too but I had to step my game up and figure out a way to push them. And no, I wasn't an easy "A" either.
Does no one else see the obviously intentional irony of the image? He's making fun of the "rockstar" designers he talked about, clearly...
Ronaldo... lighten up. appearances (like youthfulness) are no way to judge one's experience. As someone who has also worked in both design education and consulting as well, I find your comments full of envy. Personally, I found this piece very insightful... The world of Design and Design Education are completely different... both present their own unique set of challenges. People that have yet to experience working on both sides do not fully understand this. I think Jon's piece does a great job shedding some light on this. Well done.
Ronaldo... lighten up. appearances (like youthfulness) are no way to judge one's experience. As someone who has also worked in both design education and consulting as well, I find your comments full of envy. Personally, I found this piece very insightful... The world of Design and Design Education are completely different... both present their own unique set of challenges. People that have yet to experience working on both sides do not fully understand this. I think Jon's piece does a great job shedding some light on this. Well done.