A Synopsis of The Case of You’re Not Generic … So Why Act That Way? Featuring How to Think Life a Great Graphic Designer by Debbie Millman
Chloe has been working in the field of graphic design for over twenty years, completing design and advertising commissions for major publishing corporations. She designed and authored her first book over ten years ago. Her second book has been on the back burner since then.
Her intuitive ability to come up with ideas and her passion for excellence led her to become an influential and sought after designer. But somewhere along the way, something changed, but she didn't know what, and without knowing the what, she was struggling to know what to do.
So, when her boss Ava said to her: “You’re not generic … So why act that way? These words hit home for Chloe. She knew they were true. What she didn't know was what to do about them.
Chloe met with Harry, a longtime friend and mentor, who always had a wise way of looking at and seeing things. He immediately asked Chloe the question she had been struggling with: "What's changed?" Chloe still couldn't answer. As much as she knew something had changed, she still couldn't pinpoint what it was or when it happened.
Harry suggested this was the question she needed to reflect upon. This was the question that would allow her to give herself the self-feedback she needed to be able to know what to do. He went on to suggest a book that might give her the clarity and insight she needed to be able to answer this question.
The book was: How to Think Like a Great Graphic Designer by Debbie Millman.
The stories in the book spoke to Chloe.
Vaughan Oliver, in particular, gave voice and words to what Chloe was feeling: "I would like to get back my love for graphic design, because I think I've lost it." His story resonated with Chloe. He spoke about how he can get stuck in his mind, and how when that happens, his anxiety increases, how his self-doubt creeps in.
He went on to talk about the change in the industry - both technological and cultural changes that have caused disempowerment, and it's the disempowerment that fuels self-doubt. He said there's lack of rebelliousness and surprise in the industry right now; and went on to say he no longer has the satisfaction at the end of the day, of a day's work well done.
Everything he said resonated with Chloe. She had found her answer to the question: What's Changed? It was an answer that went deeper and wider than she had realised, and it was painful. But she knew it was what she needed to be able to move on.
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The Case of You’re Not Generic … So Why Act That Way? … Featuring How to Think Like a Great Graphic Designer by Debbie Millman is part of the WorkLife Book Club Learning Through Reading series, by Carmel O’ Reilly from School of WorkLife.
The Learning Through Reading series is a collection of stories inspired by real life WorkLife struggles and successes, presented as case studies for group discussion. The case and the accompanying recommended book will be required reading for each meeting, and will help to frame the subsequent discussion.
The premise behind the WorkLife Book Club Learning Through Reading series is that experiences we have in our WorkLife shape our understanding of the world. Stories help communicate truths about human behaviours and relationships, bringing an opportunity for change and development. Books help anchor WorkLife conversations through characters, plots and settings, enabling a range of issues to be worked through.
My stated mission is to guide learning through reading. I also have a secret mission, which is to draw attention to stories of change and active decision making – people standing up and saying they want to do something different with their WorkLife. I want to highlight stories, books and discussions that focus on in-depth portrayals of subjects inner feelings, thoughts and motivations. While readers will not encounter the exact scenarios they read about, they will be able to use an increasingly finely tuned ability to understand and respond to multiple competing viewpoints.
Carmel O’ Reilly, WorkLife learning practitioner, writer and founder of School of WorkLife. Author of WorkLife Book Club: Volume One: Shoreditch.