Challenge your assumptions

If you haven’t heard of first principles thinking, in its simplest form, it is the idea of challenging assumptions. It’s changed how I work for the better so profoundly, I wanted to share how in case it can inspire you similarly.?

Let me explain.

First, what is it? In essence, and in the most oversimplified way, it’s a deeper questioning to discover unusual solutions to complex problems. Some call it seeking the truth of a specific problem which is hard. I’ve found that just going a level or two deeper works too.

Step 1. Identify assumptions.?

Step 2. Break down the problem.

Step 3. Create new solutions.

Now, this is incredibly vague and very industry-speak-y, so let me show you exactly where I’ve seen it applied with desirable outcomes. Here are some of the many examples broken down into the assumption, and the challenge to that assumption to find a fresh solution.

Creativity.

'I need to be able to master everything as a designer.'

This was a dragon I chased for so long with immense frustration. Until I thought of it like sushi. You go there knowing exactly what you’ll get and trust is built.?

The best ones are always sharpening their knives, testing cuts, and recipes, and staying curious. Creativity is exactly the same, the process of keeping active, it a smaller lane you make exquisite is key. And the added bonus is it is much easier to get into a creative flow we all yearn for.?

Business.

We hire local freelancers because that is always how it has been done.?

But what if the task requires a craft different than who’s available? What if the budget is lower than you can afford based on local market prices? Do you say no to the job? Simplify it? Maybe.?

Or, you open the pool to the entire planet where there is an incredible artist, likely on your budget and hungry AF to make it rad. And your budget might stretch much farther.?

Production & the creative process.?

Digital messaging is the fastest way to communicate creative direction.?

Fast doesn’t mean better. I wasn’t getting the creative outcome I hoped for over slack and asked myself and my team why and how I can make it better. Two problems came up. For every message I added, 10,20, 30 more stacked on top of it, and new asks overpowered responses. On top of that, artists felt pressure to ‘deliver’ very frequently which wasn’t realistic or achievable, and unnecessary stress added.

We switched to formal verbal reviews to solve for this and wow, projects have gone so much smoother with a much happier team.

Pitching.

The client is asking for a specific creative solution, so we should give them exactly what they are asking for.?

After years of pitching, sometimes giving them what they want wins, but not as often as you would expect. We also made the false assumption that clients understand and were comfortable with animation.?

When we took our solutions above even the ask to how we can educate and delight the targeted customers, we not only responded to what we heard but quite often come at it with an incredibly fresh creative solution. It could be a copy change or simply an exquisite visual craft of an existing aesthetic. But it gives a purpose and why to our proposals that land a lot more soundly.

Marketing.

No one likes my posts or responds to my emails. My efforts are a failure.?

I believed this too. Until I challenged my assumptions and asked a client if I shouldn’t email anymore. His response was ‘I love hearing from you and seeing new work, but I don’t respond until they have a project or a meaningful reason to. But please keep sending them.’ I’ve emailed clients and gotten responses 3-4 weeks later.?

I’ve also posted work and got 2 likes but had countless people later tell me they see them, love them, and got ideas for a project of their own or a reminder to send a project our way.?

Enough to keep me pushing, posting, and honestly not putting a ton of face value on the outcome on the surface.?

This is just a small corner of how I have seen this work in the context of my narrow journey. I hope the mindset can offer the same to you too.