Managing Creative People to Achieve a Common Goal

Manuel Saez — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 22:14:24 -0400

Building and running a creative team is one of the greatest challenges for any manager. Creative people are passionate and have a tendency to think they are right, better, and more humble than the others around, but the truth is that the nature of creative work requires to them to be individualistic and fight for their ideas and beliefs. The challenge is when several of these personalities get together and need to be managed to achieve a common goal.

Design/Art

Manuel Saez — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 20:19:44 -0400

Is China becoming a global design superpower?

Manuel Saez — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 15:26:35 -0400

In recent years concern has risen about the potential of China as a global design superpower and the threat of China becoming a design source for the west, threatening the livelihood of thousands of designers and designers-to-be in the US and Europe.

Perhaps this is the inevitable evolution of the design profession where the creative input becomes a commodity with no real lasting value beyond it seasonal life span. Or perhaps this broadens the gap between design as a commodity and great design that is driven by context.

Design: Europe vs. US

Manuel Saez — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 21:28:25 -0400

Many see Europe as the source of great designers, but knowing that the United States is constantly producing great designers who produce great design work, I wonder why are we not hearing about them?

Reasons

Manuel Saez — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 18:31:41 -0500

Most product designers would agree that, on a philosophical level, the purpose of our profession is to solve important problems in effective and responsible ways, and products should only be designed and produced if they bring true value to someone. However, reality presents us with a different picture, and it is often difficult to stick to our values.

Measuring and Compensating Design

Manuel Saez — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 17:18:46 -0500

Evaluating and measuring a design’s worth, and determining a designer’s compensation for the design, are challenges facing every organization that brings original products to market.

Great Design – Defined

Manuel Saez — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 09:24:26 -0400

What is good design? I asked friends and colleagues what good design is. Most of them answered naming a few products or mentioning a designer’s name. I felt that these answers were not getting to the essence of what good design is or even better, what great design is. Read below my attempt to answer this seemingly easy question.

Great designs are those that successfully balance beauty and function in the context they are going to be used.

The Home Depot Experience

Manuel Saez — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 09:35:36 -0400

In the last two years I have seen a consistent and ever growing decadence at big box retailers in the US. Recently I found myself choosing NOT to shop at Home Depot, but instead to visit a smaller retailer further from my home cutting out an hour from my day. The reason I switched is clear. I favor a better shopping experience over convenience. So do a lot of people I know. Some are even forgoing lower prices.

Service Driven Product Design

Manuel Saez — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 10:29:46 -0400

For a long time customer service has been a strong strategic tool for many service-based companies like USAA Insurance Company and the Four Season Hotels and resorts. However, today, product-based companies like Apple and Lexus are relying more on customer service as a complement to their products. The strategy works, although the line between product and service has become blurry. Today, what matters more is the total experience.

Design Brief vs. Business Brief

Manuel Saez — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 17:57:51 -0400

The Design Brief, which states the parameters of a project in relation to the user/consumer, is a common document that guides designers through the process of product development. However, designers seldom have the opportunity to work in a broader context that offers more insight into the life of the product and its business aspects.