Genuine individualism will triumph over collaboration

#FutureOfWork 💭 — What is the one thing you’d change about the world of work?

Designers are known for their artistry, creativity, and rebelliousness, and it is these character traits that make them such exceptional individuals in their field. In a world where collaboration is championed as the key to success, it is important to remember the immense value of individualism in the design process. As a designer, I have come to understand the immense power that comes with trusting one's instincts and working in a state of deep flow, free from external distractions and influences.

One of the primary benefits of individualism in design is the ability to tap into the stream of consciousness and produce unimaginable results. When a designer is in a state of flow, nothing can stop them from producing their best work, and collaboration can often be a hindrance to that process. Working in a team can be distracting, with many external factors that can prevent a designer from getting into the right mindset. Therefore, working alone allows a designer to focus entirely on their creative process, unencumbered by the demands of others.

In my experience, larger team sizes do not necessarily lead to better results. Instead, it is more effective to assign a project to a single designer and allow them to see it through to the end. This model has brought my team tremendous results, as it allows each individual to take full responsibility for their work and ensure that their vision is executed without compromise. However, this is not to say that designers should work in complete isolation. Feedback and criticism can still be valuable, as long as they are respectful of the individual's vision and creativity.

Moreover, I believe that designers should have mastery in drafting and rendering what they design, as this stage provides room for introspection, improvement, and fine-tuning. This discovery is lost when a designer transfers the work to a second person for further processing. Large hospitality projects may require a larger collaborative team, but the team members should work on a sequential processing line, such as designer-draftsmen-visualizer, and not designers on a parallel level. Even the senior-to-junior designer hierarchy may not yield sufficient creative grandeur.

Individualism in design is not just about productivity and results. It is also about the philosophical argument for the expression of one's unique perspectives, experiences, and creativity. When we create something, we are putting a piece of ourselves into it, and collaboration can dilute this expression. It can lead to a design that is compromised or watered down because it is the result of many different perspectives, rather than the pure expression of a single individual.

Moreover, individualism encourages designers to take risks and push boundaries. When a designer is solely responsible for a project, they are free to take risks and experiment in a way that might not be possible when working in a team. This can lead to groundbreaking designs that change the way we think about and interact with the world around us. Therefore, individualism in design allows for more creative freedom, experimentation, and a greater ability to take risks.

In conclusion, while collaboration has its benefits in the design process, it is not always the best approach. Individualism can produce better results and may eventually triumph over collaboration. Designers should trust their instincts, work in a state of deep flow, and take full responsibility for their work to produce exceptional designs that are a true expression of their unique perspectives, experiences, and creativity. As a designer, I believe that individualism is the key to producing truly groundbreaking work that can change the world.

What are your thoughts on this? Let me know in the comments.