design for life: how to survive a career in design (arthur irving)

Design For Life

@skylarkcreative skylark_creative skylarkcreative.co.uk

by Arthur Irving

The Year 2000

This was me…

Equipment

Power Mac G3 (beige) Nokia 7110

Software

Mac OS 9 Photoshop 6

Web

Google Black Planet

Print Design

IT Support

• WHAT you should work on to maintain focus and clarity

• HOW your setup can lead to a better lifestyle • How running has helped me re-evaluate WHY I

am working in design

Uncertainty

Calling

Career

Job

The Problem

Design What You Do

What is a Digital Designer?

• 60%-65% are an employee of a company • 40%-50% are self-employed or freelance • On average a web designer will work 40-45

hours per week • 65% are satisfied by the job

*Collated from coders-survey.com, heartinternet.uk, freelancejam.com, howdesign.com, aneventapart.com

The Power of Time Off

Stefan Sagmeister uses sabbaticals: ‘…to pursue some little experiments, things that are

always difficult to accomplish during the working year’

• Freelancers may divide their working month into work for clients and their own projects

• Permanent staff may want to negotiate time off during the week

Passion Projects

Movie Posters by Mat Weller: ‘…I set aside a few hours in the week to work on my posters. It is important to schedule the time

and sit down at my desk no matter what’

• Set a goal for the project • Schedule the time each week in which you act

on your project • Set a deadline for the project • Get it done

Other Training

Design How You Work

HomeShared Space

Large Agency

Corporate Office

Small Studio

Freelance In-housePermalance One man band Cooperatives

1. Routine

• 29% take a regular lunch break • 28% don’t take a lunch break at all • 45% do not leave the office • 31% eat at their desk • 42% respond to work calls / emails • 46% seldom do something relaxing or rejuvenating

*Source: bupa.com

The Experiment

Arthur, Creative Director

8,166 - average steps per day 8.7 hours - average daily sitting

29 - ‘inactivity’ stamps

“I was shocked by the sheer amount of time I spent in a seated position each day”

Clare, Head of Production

8,208 - average steps per day 99 mins - average daily activity 82% - average movement goal

“I found I could easily add that all important extra movement each day by walking an extra few tube stops”

’

Nick, Designer

17,931 - average steps per day 165 mins - average daily activity

29,264 - most steps achieved in one day

“The device acted as a personal reminder to move by telling me exactly how lazy I am. It has made me rethink my lifestyle”

Mat, Designer

5,917 - average steps per day 7 hours - average time spent sitting

4 ‘Good Posture’ hours goal hit each day

“Standing at work was a real benefit here as the 3 or so hours I’d spend standing per day would be at ‘outstanding’ posture

according to the device” ’

Jocelyn, Production Assistant

12,127 - average steps per day 10 hours - average time spent sitting

“I was able to see how little I actually do when I decide not to walk to work”

’

• 80% take a regular lunch break • 10% don’t take a lunch break at all • 10% do not leave the office • 40% eat at their desk • 40% respond to work calls / emails • 20% seldom do something relaxing or rejuvenating

*Source: Skylark Creative

• 3 out of 5 of the participants regularly failed to attain the 10,000 steps required for a ‘good’ level of activity

• More senior team members spent on average 9 hours sitting each day

• Choosing to walk to work or an earlier tube stop doubled the active time recorded

• The more ‘active’ users were those who made regular breaks and chose walking over train or bus

• We all rethought our lifestyle choices

2. Setup

Eye StrainMigrainesNeck Pain

Back PainCarpal TunnelRSI

Keyboard & Mouse

Screen

Chair

Topography

Get Up Stand Up

We are the most sedentary humans in history

Food Glucose Blood

Healthy Heart

over the course of a year, is the equivalent of running 10 marathons.

results in blood glucose levels falling back to normal levels after a meal more quickly.

burns more calories than sitting.

Standing for around 3 hours a day

Standup Solutions

Basic Desk (£250) Electronic Desk (£550+)

Standing whilst talking on the phone

Taking the stairs as an alternative to the lift

Going over to talk to colleagues rather than IM or email

The Creative Difference

• Improved health, and sense of well-being • Increased focus and concentration • Improved endurance for longer projects • Created a bit of a ‘buzz’ and a talking point

“I’d read that sitting is better for creativity whilst standing for admin-type work. I did notice this to be true, although that might

just be the article getting in my head.”

“I feel a noticeable difference in how productive and reactive I am, particularly on fast-paced days. When I have lots of small jobs to get

done, I find that I am more able to complete them when I’m using the standing desk.”

“Standing periodically is great when I feel like I’m in a rut creatively - it restarts the motor. The same can be said for sitting back down

too. Standing up is like a sprint - sitting down you feel more settled in. When I don’t stand I certainly feel lazy.”

(Re)Design why you are working

Running

Sorry

Motivated by Time

Why Running is like Design

1.Talent

2.Focus

3.Endurance

Acquiring Talent

Bringing it back to why

Leo, Designer

‘My motorbike unleashes a freedom and an endurance that I try to use in my creative practice’

Simon & James, Print Designers

‘Being able to create both music and design as a team means that we have a unique way of communicating and

compromising. It keeps our work fresh’ ’

Dan, Product Designer

‘Triathlon training keeps me sane and focused whilst also being a great escape from the office’

Troy, Illustrator

Troy has created a successful pop-up ‘Wingman’ in Dalston

Designing Your Profession

Overcoming Resistance

The Digital Battleground

Subverting the environment

Fall in love again

The Bottom Line

Design For Life