1.0 out of 5 stars
Designed for wankers?, December 4, 2010
This review is from: Designers Are Wankers (Paperback)
Although a nice concept this book missed the mark with me unfortunately. Serving as a handbook for designers who wish to strike out on their own, for the most part it is concerned with the type of design work which creates novelty, and the process of bringing novelties to market and less about the internal design process and collaborative group work.
McCormack makes a couple of points which some post-graduate students may need to hear; the first: check your ego, and the second: people from different industries see the world differently and need to be negotiated with in a language and manner they understand. I apologize for simplifying so grossly but feel these points get labored again and again throughout the book which gets tiresome. He also manages to talk about humility and understanding when dealing with manufacturers whilst simultaneously coming across as superior and condescending.
Ultimately I can't give a good review as the book was not written for designers like myself. I missed the irony I was hoping to find inside the cover- instead it reminded me that many companies (and designers) still see a designers' place in the world as the bestower of "things" to the masses. Freelance superstar designers maybe; if this is your aim then you may find value in this book. There are tips on self-promotion, getting funding, and approaching manufacturers. If instead you intend to make yourself useful to your future company by bringing them design processes and broader skill-sets, and helping them to innovate then I would suggest you will not find enlightenment here.
A couple of the interviews were good but didn't save it for me. Ultimately over-priced and repetitive.
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