Andy Laub

I’ve mentioned before that I tend to have issues with color. On the other hand, there are some times when I’m working that a color scheme or I like happens to fall into place while I’m just screwing around. Such is the case with those shown above, because now I’m thinking about keeping them. The question is, do I continue to try to work them, or do I use them as is since I like them now? I find this to be kind of the eternal paradox of graphic design. Yes, I could go forth with the rough concept that happened to fall into place, but would I be slacking off by doing that or just working efficiently, or just lucky? If I do proceed with that and finalize it, it almost feels like I’m taking the easy way out because I’m not painfully exerting myself and stretching my abilities to their limits.

This is when you have to start thinking about scale. How important is this project, and what kind of lifespan is it going to have? I could understand the weeks or months of struggle if you’re developing a new identity for, say, AT&T. On the other hand, if you’re working on a catalog with a lifespan of a month, chances are you’re not going to spend nearly as much time developing the look since it will be gone and forgotten before long.

Which brings me back to my dilemma. In this case the colors and design in question are for a personal project which in a way adds another complication. When I’m working on stuff for my actual real job it’s easier because of the aforementioned short lifespans, but also because there are others involved on the project so I don’t have to completely rely on myself for feedback. There are certain times where I get to a point in a project and just can’t do anything else with it. At this point it helps to see the marketeer in charge because I can start to refine it or add things I missed or remove things that are unnecessary, which means that whether I like it or not I have to continue to work until we are both (hopefully) satisfied.

Not so at home. I could call it a day if I wanted to on this project and proceed to the next steps and stare at it and feel guilty about not having put more thought into it, or I could continue to waste time on trying to make it look better when I really like it right now. Damned if I do, damned if I don’t.