Design can mean different things depending on who you ask. If you ask Alan Reid, design is like horticulture. A graphic designer, such as Reid, is like a gardener.
Therefore a client is the person who eats the harvest. People have varying tastes, and it’s important for clients to enjoy their diet.
Like plants, design comes in all shapes and sizes. Consider the apple: apples are quick to eat and easy to digest. The design analogy is a simple graphic, like a sticker, an emblem on a T-shirt, or a logo.
But apples combined with other plant products (sugar, cinnamon, wheat) constitute a tasty dessert. Graphics also work together to form design systems, such as a brand, that are greater than the sums of parts.
Greenery need not be eaten! Just as a sprig becomes a garnish, an illustration becomes a visual on product packaging.
Flowers are often (not always) grown to please the senses. Design pleases the senses too, but if that is all it does then it isn’t design at all. It’s art.
In all cases, plants begin as seeds. Designs begin as concepts. Alan Reid is always on the lookout for concept seeds because healthy seeds are critical to the vitality of a garden.
Germination begins when seeds absorb water. Reid’s design concepts germinate not by water but through a mixture of creativity, research and tenacious effort.
Roots break through seed casings and draw from the soil nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Soil is knowledge and experience and talent.
Just as plants are mortal, sometimes designs just don’t work. But the ideas can often be recycled.
Reid regularly replenishes nutrients in the soil by adding compost, which is like education and inspiration gleaned from other professionals in and outside of design fields.
Many plants need pruning to look their best. Design needs refinement as well. Sometimes it’s necessary to kern the roses.
Other times it’s important to…
justify the hedge.
justify the hedge.
Reid doesn’t deny that in his garden dwells an ego spider. Ego spider sometimes catches and eats pollinators, but it also feeds on self-doubt beetles.
Reid doesn’t deny that in his garden dwells an ego spider. Ego spider sometimes catches and eats pollinators, but it also feeds on self-doubt beetles.
Cross pollination drives the evolution of plants. Similarly, Reid seeks criticism from other professionals to ensure his designs never stagnate. He is always ready to infuse new ideas into the garden.
Reid wants to work with you on your next project!
To get in touch, email to alanreiddesign@gmail.com