Design Feast Series: Designer’s Quest(ionnaire)

Janice Wong

Design Planner and Researcher

Primary design concentration:

Design planning, research, and service design

Most preferred tools for designing:

Half sheets + a blue Sharpie or the biggest whiteboard you can give me!

How and why did you choose to become a designer?

In undergrad, I started as a business major and took an elective course in graphic design because I was curious. My second year, I switched majors and became fully dedicated to graphic design. Now I’ve come full circle, and I’m studying both business and design in grad school. Through it all, the one biggest reason why I chose to become a designer is because I believe it’s a way of dealing with the world that can be applied to an infinite amount of problems and projects. Charles Owen, an old professor at my school, once said that “a designer is a specialist in the process of design but a generalist in as wide a range of content as possible.” For me, THAT IS IT. I love the freedom that design gives me to be restless, work with lots of different people, and tackle crazy problems.

What are some of the challenges you encounter as a designer and how do you deal with them?

There isn’t enough time! So I don’t sleep much. Usually I feel like there isn’t enough time to develop a truly deep relationship with the user groups that I work with either. I try to preempt that problem by doing good secondary research and reading copious amounts to quickly gather contextual understanding.

What is your definition of an “elegant solution,” that is, good design?

I don’t think elegance needs to be expensive; rather, it could be unexpected, in a way that makes the user smirk with delight and respect for an idea well-executed.

From skills to values, what makes a designer successful?

You’ve got to have integrity and uncompromising standards. As “design” becomes associated with more and more, it’s up to us to fight the good fight and educate clients about the skills and professionalism that make us best equipped to tackle the problems we do.

How do you stay motivated and grow personally and professionally as a designer?

I read. A lot. And I am inspired and spurred onwards by young designers who are disproportionately young for the amount of awesome work they have produced.

For those aspiring to become a designer, whatever the discipline, what is your advice?

Let yourself be consumed by design. Surround yourself with the good work of others and know that through the sheer repetition of exposure to good work, you will develop an eye and a process to creating great stuff yourself. Be a glutton about it!

What is your quest in design, from a professional practice, education or evolution standpoint?

I am inspired by our capacity to positively impact each other and the power of design to help with this process. For me, I am just continuously looking for opportunities to bring people together in new and interesting ways. Design is the most consistent means for me to do that.

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