Clear Quote by Michael Bierut
“Sometimes I will give some very vague directions to the designer that I'm working with on a particular project and they'll come back and surprise me with something that really shows a lot of their own 'hand' in it. Other times I'll have a really clear idea about how I want it done and I'll draw it out pretty precisely and say 'make it look exactly like this' and it will be something where it looks like I can say it was 'fully my design'. The work can also range between the two.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Design Talk, 2015
Design collaboration varies from vague guidance that sparks creativity to precise instructions that ensure control, highlighting the balance between direction and freedom.
In simple terms: Guidance can be loose or strict, affecting outcomes.
Key Takeaway
Find the right balance of direction.
Themes
creativity
collaboration
control
Mood
inspirational
practical
Type
advisory
reflective
When to use this quote
- project brainstorming
- client meetings
- prototype development
- feedback loops
Key Concepts
design process
authorial voice
Questions to Reflect On
- When should you give detailed specs?
- How does ambiguity foster originality?
A Different Perspective
Too much control can stifle innovation.
![“We have no clear ideas of the agency of [demonic] spirits, nor is it necessary. The Scripture says little to satisfy our curiosity; but tells us plainly that he is always watching us, and desiring to sift us as wheat. I believe we give him no more than his due, when we charge him with having a…” quote by John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c75/john-newton-6629_abundance_we-have-no-clear-ideas-of-the-agency-of_2907.jpg)
