Back Seat Designer

There are reasons I like to be in a room alone when I'm writing. One, the sound of the ever-ringing phone at Aquent is finally quieted. Two, I can talk to myself without anyone else in the room thinking I'm crazy. (Sharon...)

The third is the one that causes me the most irritation, I go into a room so no one can stand behind me and read while I'm doing my work. My wife did this a few nights ago while I was blogging.

I stopped.

"Whatcha doin' back there, Wend?" I asked

"Oh, just looking," Wendy told me, still standing behind me.

"Um, can you not do that? I'm trying to write. It's kind of personal."

She retorted, "Personal? This thing that you're putting up on your blog so thousands of people can see?"

"It's only personal now. Once it's up it'll be public. You can go back and read it when I'm done."

She did leave, but only after I threatened to write something about her (instead of saving it until today).

I've heard Designers say the same thing about people commenting while they're working.

"Shouldn't that image be a little more to the left?"
"Does that font seem small?"

Constructive criticism is good when it's after your work is completed, when you've already signed of on a draft or version, but man is it irritating when you're in the midst of the creative process.

Honestly, people, we'll get back to the font and the comma issues before we give you the draft. If we haven't, then you can go ahead and point it out.

In the meantime, please don't irritate the heavily caffeinated creative.

Why don't you ask them if they want a cookie instead?

Cookies are good.

Especially during the creative process.

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thinkLA: Meet the Board Mixer

5 April 2010

Come meet thinkLA's Board of Directors in an informal, engaging setting. Yahootinis and selected wines & beers from around the world will be hosted until 9pm. Appetizers will be served through...

thinkLA: Annual Spring Conference

28 March 2010

Los Angeles is the only place on the planet where a confluence of leaders from such a wide range of industries goes beyond simply co-existing. They collaborate, encourage and challenge each other, ...

AIGA LA: Emerge Exhibition 2010

25 March 2010

Enjoy an exhibition of emerging new talent at the Pacific Design Center. Student design works representing design programs from all over Los Angeles will be showcased.

Aquent/AMA Webcast: Demystifying Social Media Measurement

25 March 2010

Speaker – John Lovett, Senior Partner at Web Analytics Demystified.

The social media frenzy is escalating as millions of consumers flock to sites like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and F...

thinkLA: AdU

23 March 2010

Program Overview

The perfect course for junior-level employees, professors and college students, AdU gives a broad introduction to the various departments within an advertising agency. The ...

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