On not knowing

A student recently asked me why I don’t blog more about what I do — i.e. my job as a design leader and my profession generally. I told them that whilst I enjoy writing, I find there’s already an abundance of observations, advice and methodologies being posted that I’m not quite sure what more I can offer.

Ok, arguably I’m doing it now, (it’s a fair cop). I’m just not naturally drawn to read about design. I’m not averse to it, per se. I appreciate the golden nuggets I sometimes find in them-there hills. I just prefer to learn through doing, rather than looking up answers in advance from people I’ve never met. What works for them might not work for me. And vice versa. We’re all different.

Like skateboarding, I learned my trade by falling down, getting up and trying again. I did this until I’d perfected a style that worked for me and proved attractive to others.

An old friend and colleague once wrote of “the infinite possibilities of not knowing”. I liked that. I’ve come to realise that not knowing is great! And the scary part of not knowing only adds to the excitement.

Not knowing is an invitation to know. Sure, there’ll be stumbles and bruising along the way. But also accomplishment and growth. Doing things this way requires you to admit what you don’t know. Contrary to what some designers might think, asking questions demonstrates confidence. Plus people like being asked questions. It makes them feel smart, needed. And all the while, it is you that’s learning.

So dare you figure things out this way? I bet you could. But don’t listen to me. I don’t know.

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