I have had a number of conversations about the process of getting to the right idea or a good idea on a project as a designer. It is not an easy process and the cycle is continuous. As soon as you solve one problem for a project you get the next project and are back at step 1. Generally, this is how work is for designers and often it is a good process. We enjoy working on a variety of things and moving on to the next project is a welcome change of pace. Where this becomes a problem however, is when the imposter syndrome starts kicking in. Which, for me, is almost always at the start, when the good idea hasn’t been found yet.

The Role of Bad Ideas

We often view 'bad' ideas as failures, embarrassing missteps on our journey to solve the problem. I can’t help but say “I’m just trying things out” or “I’m just messing around with things here” when I am getting feedback from colleagues on early work. However, I am coming to recognize these self-proclaimed failures as invaluable stepping stones, guiding us toward our ultimate destination. Take, for example, the process of redesigning a logo. Initial sketches rarely hit the mark or even make sense in many cases. But each attempt is a movement that explores the way we can visualize what an organization represents. Each 'bad' idea serves as a puzzle piece, or a breadcrumb that eventually leads to a coherent and compelling visual identity.