How Teaching can Make You a Better Designer

Today’s article is a subject I feel strongly about and part of the reason I started writing this blog. That’s why when Sarah Cowley approached me about sharing her first hand experience with teaching others about design, I was so excited to allow her to share it with all of you. For more great articles by Sara be sure to check out her new blog: Hello deer!

I Got Schooled by Teaching

Being the Principal and sole designer for Sara Cowley Design has been a wonderful experience, albeit challenging at times. I can say whole-heartedly that I love running my teeny-tiny, home-based agency, but it can get lonely. See, when I say teeny-tiny, I mean just little old me. Don’t get me wrong, the perks of my home office are many—such as working when I want, in very comfortable clothes, with my dog, Lucy, by my side. More professional benefits are saving overhead costs of rented space, tax deductions and the reduction in transportation expenses. Even with all of that, it’s no secret that working solo can be socially isolating; with no one sitting next to me to bounce ideas off of, it is a little creatively challenging at times. So, when the Creative Circus approached me to teach a typography class, I was beyond thrilled. Not only did I feel I had industry knowledge to share with upcoming designers, I’ve always had a big interest in teaching. I felt I could get something from my students, as well. And boy… did I ever.

Introductions

As I prepared for my first class, Introduction to Typography, it was clear I’d better get busy with research. I knew I had a lot of wisdom to share about design and typography, but what I didn’t understand is the large gap between knowledge, and communicating that knowledge. For example, decisions I make everyday—choosing typefaces, kerning, laying out grids, expressing ideas through imagery and type—these concepts now had to be articulated and explained. It made me realize how much I knew about design and typography, and at this point in my career, how much of it is done on intuition. I found myself having a difficult time defining something as elementary as leading; simply saying “uh, the space between the lines…” wouldn’t quite cut it. I had to dig deep. I had to teach these concepts.

This experience has made me seriously consider what it means to be a designer. We do so much more than move things around on a page, or create logos. How often have you found yourself consulting, speaking in front a group, marketing yourself or your clients? It can be extremely challenging when we are put outside our comfort zone as designers, and forced into a very different role. A role we may not even know that much about; a role at which we think we don’t excel. So, we get up there and we fake it til’ we make it, and eventually, we do become comfortable and proficient. Perhaps the title “graphic designer” doesn’t describe all of us anymore, with this multi-tasking society we are living in, and the many hats we are often wearing. We need a broader title—something that shows our clients and other non-creatives how much we really do. Perhaps this would increase our worth and value.

Another interesting thing that has come out of teaching typography is that I realized there is a good bit I don’t know about my own subject. That’s right, I said it. I think I might be one of those designers who didn’t initially understand the importance of smart quotes, used the apostrophe incorrectly and didn’t know the difference between a typeface and font. I had to look up the definition of a ligature. I didn’t have a strong grasp of the licensing restrictions on the typefaces I used daily (who reads that stuff, anyway?). Does this mean I wasn’t qualified to teach the class? Absolutely not. While admittedly, I don’t hold a PhD in graphic design, I do have solid experience. After working in the field for over 10 years now, I know my stuff, just in a more “real world” way, and not so much in an “academic” way. At the first class of the quarter, I got up there, I faked it, I made it, and now feel extremely at ease guiding these new artists toward a career in design. I can talk type history, font formats and grid design just like the rest of them. However, this adventure in teaching really made me see that there is always more to learn, and I sure as heck don’t know it all. The academic component is downright important, and directly relates to the decisions we make everyday as designers. It made me wonder, how many of you have found yourselves in situations where your lack of knowledge was apparent? What did you do? Did you dig deep, or did you forget about it, and simply move on?

Homework

My students have taught me this: we can’t simply move on. In order to prevent becoming stale as designers—and it’s happened to all of us—we have to keep our eyes open and our minds inquisitive. Keep asking questions. Keep learning. It can be so easy to get into a professional rut, and assume that our real world experiences teach us everything we need to know. So, I’m encouraging you to get out those old college books. They’re inspiring. And, it might just help you look at your work in a new way. Bringing a fresh perspective to our type choices, layout, imagery and concepts can never hurt. In fact, it’s a necessity.

Class, do we agree?

Guest Author Bio

Sara teaches at the Creative Circus in Atlanta, Georgia. She is also the woman-power behind Sara Cowley Design, full service graphic design studio. With a focus on print and surface design, they work with local and national clients of all sizes. Please visit www.cowleydesign.com for more information.