"He is one of the most professional people I've ever worked with, in
the sense that he thought through all of the formal relationship
between a client and a professional such as himself -- obviously very
deep thoughts about this -- and therefore he had very clear conclusions
about what the relationship meant to both parties and how it should be
conducted. For example: I asked him if he would come up with 'a few
options'. And he said 'No, I will solve your problem for you. And you
will pay me. And you don't have to use the solution -- if you want
options go talk to other people! -- but I'll solve your problem for you
the best way I know how, and you use it or not, that's up to you, you're
the client -- but you pay me.' And there was a clarity about the
relationship that was refreshing."
-- Steve Jobs, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xb8idEf-Iak
I really enjoyed his uncompromising attitude, "I'm not going to attempt to solve the problem 4 times for you; you can consult 4 people who wholeheartedly attempt to solve the problem once." The idea that art is not something to be half-assed but something to be pursued, as the Tibetans might say, "one-pointedly", is a deep lesson which I myself resonate very strongly with.
There can be problems with this approach, specifically, "The best way I know how" may not be the best way for the client. There are pros and cons with nearly every potential solution and it can be beneficial to discuss the pros and cons of more than one solution with the client before proceeding. It's arrogant to assume the best way you know how is the best way for the client.
For example, if you only know Ruby and the client is a PHP shop and you implement a solution for them in Ruby anyway, that could cause more problems than it is worth in the long run.
"It's arrogant to assume the best way you know how is the best way for the client."
That's not what he's saying. He's saying that he's going to try as hard as he can to come up with what he thinks is the best solution to the problem. It may not be the best, but it's the best he can come up with. It's better than someone who comes up with five options, then leaves it up to the client to make the wrong decision.
I just don't understand the aversion to expertise that's so common these days. Have some fucking pride in what you do well. And trust that other people know their shit, too.
It's not about pride in your work, it's about the reality of your client. Options normally intend to cover aspects and requirements of the work that the client didn't even think of. Options can allow you to create a solution better than the local maxima that you would find within the confines of your client's understanding of his needs.
I'm not arguing that providing options (done the right way) is a bad way to do it. I'm just disagreeing with someone who says the Paul Rand way of doing things is arrogant. Some people are extremely good at what they do. They have have tons of experience. They do extensive research. And in the end they're able to produce a single solution that endures for decades.
As your comment shows, "the best way you know how" when applied to yourself includes the realization that a PHP solution might be better for a PHP shop. Throw in another bunch of such realizations and a life long effort to actually come up with such realizations and you will understand why Paul Rand's approach is acceptable. He set out to solve Apple's problem. Not his initial and naive conception of their problem. He first made sure he understood their problem.
A wonderful man. I followed everything he wrote for many years. To this day, I do a double take when I see Congressman Rand Paul in the press, and then feel disappointed.
I would rather not show you specific examples and risk generalizing his work, but I don't want to drown your interest under perhaps too many choices, so I suppose I would point to his different advertisement pieces for Shiseido (interactive and print) as an introduction. (Search for images with the terms John Maeda Shiseido and crawl your way in.)
If anyone is really interested in his work (and if you do UI-related work dare I say, you probably want to be), I'd recommend the book "Maeda @ Media", it's a great guide through his earlyish work and process.
He's recognized more for his influence on tech and art rather than his name on a specific product. You might say that he was in the right place at the right time with the right interests.
The line has a sense of arrogance. Although it is true, it might not need the mention.
I agree. If anything, it's poorly worded. I think he's just observing what others think about him. And maybe his intention to make himself be seen as gifted.
Is it just me or is everything he says very abstract? Sure he's good at his craft, but all the things about everything being subjective, and design having many meanings, and that anything can be artistic... it just seems like he has very generic sort of explanations for everything.
I guess to be a good designer you have to have this attitude, but in today's business, the sort of attitude where you're like "I'll show you a single logo, and you won't have other options" won't cut it.
Design is subjective and it will always be, so not giving your client many options is just plain stupid and will make you poor before you know it.
The only effect I've seen from the word "talent" is to convince some people they'll never be good at anything. I really hate that word and the pretensious jerks who use it.
