Don't let the pursuit of perfection get in the way of good

As a student, recent graduate or someone transitioning into a new discipline, you will often look at more experienced creatives, peers (even your design idols) and compare your work directly (and often unfavourably). Although this is a completely normal thing to do understand the world is only judging you relative to your experience. A good company recognise that within every block of stone a statue rests inside, and I’ve learned the best companies (both large and small) are willing to put the time, care and attention into carving it out.

You are the statue btw.

“The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn. ”

― Alvin Toffler

 Read into this what you will, but over recent years I've come to realise that in mastering one discipline, creatives often fail to realise they can be very good at many. It is critical to understand we are no longer in an environment where one skill makes or breaks your career. Rapid changes in society, market preferences and disruptive technology will continually disrupt the tools you will use and the consumer you are designing for. Rapidly changing environments like the one we find ourselves in (including ESG but particularly sustainability, the shift to mobility, ACES, work from anywhere etc) will see the most adaptable creatives find increased opportunity to start or enhance their careers.

Development is a journey without a clear endpoint

Avoid viewing the development of your skillset (both soft skills and hard skills) as a linear process with a clear start point and a clear endpoint. Creative development is indeed a journey from point A to B, but it has more akin to the 'scenic route' of Iceland's Route 1 than the Autobahn. Personally, I feel something like the Dunning-Kruger Effect (above) is a better scale to use when assessing (or reflecting) where you are. It also serves as a good way to remember the 'journey' when acquiring new skills and remain humble when new skills have been acquired. Whether you currently see yourself in the bottom left or (years into your career) the top right, you will meet someone, see something or experience disruption that puts you literally and/or figuratively right back in the bottom left by comparison, and that's just fine. Finding comfort in the bottom left with a willingness to restart the journey of gaining additional knowledge and skills is one of the best ways to ensure that you are always at the top of your game and evolving alongside the changing environment.

Regardless of where you are, or where you perceive you are, use this time as an opportunity to identify your values and hone your foundational skills, but be happy to shift them into different sectors, industries and spaces. Try not to become an expert for a world that no longer exists.

You enter the working world at an incredibly exciting point in time.

I wish you all the very best and the offer of support from the other panellists and myself was sincere, if you need us just reach out.