Blog of the Week: Design View
As regular readers have likely noticed, I’ve begun featuring design-related blogs in my Friday posts. I’m taking a slightly different tack with this one.
While I have a lot of respect for Andy Rutledge and read his blog, Design View, on a regular basis, I find that I often disagree with his viewpoint. So today, while recommending his blog, I’m also refuting his most recent post, titled “A Sense of Non-commitment”. Andy argues the case that it is unprofessional to work for a company while at the same time running your own design firm on the side. In Andy’s own words:
“I’m talking specifically about actively displaying clearly conflicting loyalties in our professional practice; e.g.: being employed by XYZ Corp. as a Web designer and operating and promoting one’s own Acme Designz on the side. This practice smacks of irresponsibility and non-commitment. It reflects poorly on both the individual and the agency that employs him. Yet this is not an uncommon practice, even among otherwise respected and highly visible designers. Why?”
As an example, he cites Luke Wroblewski, currently Senior Director of Product Ideation & Design at Yahoo!. Luke makes no secret of his own firm, LukeW Interface Designs. Additionally, Luke is the author of Site-Seeing: A Visual Approach to Web Usability and the soon to be published Web Form Design: Filling in the Blanks, publisher of the blog Functioning Form, former Lead User Interface Designer at eBay, and a popular speaker at any number of conferences.
Andy claims not to want to “throw Luke under the bus”, but claims that “the fact that he operates his own design business on the side (complete with the royal “we”) just makes both his consultancy and Yahoo!’s design practice look a bit dodgy. Most of all, it makes him look flighty and unprofessional.”
I disagree. Allow me to refute Andy’s reasoning. As Andy used Luke as an example, I will do likewise (with apologies to Luke if the further scrutiny of his career is undesired).
“Launching a full-fledged design consultancy on-the-side/outside of one’s employment might do wonders to build or extend one’s reputation as a designer, but it soils one’s reputation as a professional. It speaks to characteristics that are contradictory to professionalism.”
Luke founded his firm in January of 1996. He didn’t begin working for Yahoo! until October of 2005. He started at eBay in 2004. He worked for the NCSA starting in January of 1997. His firm predates his entire professional career. I wouldn’t expect anyone to give up something that they have such an investment in. His employers were undoubtedly aware of this fact when he was hired. Designer’s should be concerned about their reputations both within and outside of their current place of employment. I would venture to guess that Luke’s reputation outside of Yahoo! brings value to the company.
“From the side-job studio perspective for instance, this practice clearly communicates the idea that if I contract you to do some design work for me, you may become distracted by some other appealing opportunity and leave my project for greener pastures. Or perhaps things at your real job might get so backed up that you have to leave my project languishing while you take care of your real work.”
Again, Luke started at Yahoo! in 2005. I didn’t see any projects in the portfolio on his site that were dated later than 2004. I can’t say what his external work load is, but it’s obvious he has cut back since starting with eBay. If a designer is going to do work on the side, it is his responsibility to manage his time. Any company that hires a design firm or freelancer knows that they are not their only client. They decide (based on many reasons that I won’t go into here) to trust that the firm will do the work that they are signing up to do. If a designer can’t meet her obligations, she won’t retain clients. However, retaining multiple clients, be they an employer or third party, does not insinuate the poor professionalism that Andy claims.
“By the same token, think about what sort of impression this behavior leaves on the agency that employs these sorts of individuals. For instance, imagine that you need some repair work done on your car. You find a mechanic shop, but learn that most of the mechanics on staff run their own personal mechanics shops on the side, too. Does this make the shop seem more professional? No, it makes the shop seem fly-by-night; like it might fold any day when the staff members decide to bail in favor of their “real” interest.”
This is another poor example. Every software firm has employees sign a non-compete agreement. I’m betting Luke wouldn’t legally be able to, say, do some consulting for Google or Microsoft’s search teams. Even looking at the projects in his portfolio that were done prior to his employment at Yahoo!, it’s obvious that none of them are competitors. As long as a designer is scrupulous about his choice of clients, there will be no conflict of interest. If there is any question, he should get approval from his employer.
Nor is this a situation unique to design. Software developers, professional musicians, teachers, nurses—there are many professions in which it is common practice to do work on the side. I am adjunct faculty at a university. Every Wednesday, I leave my office early so that I can teach a class. I am responsible enough to make up the time that I miss, and more importantly, get my work done. In April, I’ll be missing two weeks of class due to a business trip. In either case, my activities and responsibilities are known and accepted by my employers. My company takes pride in the fact that I am experienced enough to teach a masters class in my profession. The school at which I teach appreciates the experience I bring to the classroom. Everybody benefits, and my professionalism all around keeps everyone satisfied.
Look at the phenomenon that is LinkedIn. Everyone acknowledges the fact that the purpose of maintaining a profile there is for professional networking. Thousands of employed people have what amounts to a resume posted for public view at all times. There is one degree of separation between me and the CEO of my company, that being another current employee.
So, if there really is a problem of professionalism, it is much broader than the net Andy is casting—broad enough that the definition of professionalism that Andy espouses may no longer be accurate.
That said, be sure to check out Design View. While we don’t always agree, Andy always delivers good food for thought.
