“Design should not dominate things, should not dominate people. It should help people. That's its role.”
I feel like whenever I’m creating something, this sits at the front of my mind. The struggle for me is I’m not making alarm clocks or home products like he did, I’m making graphics and prints for shirts or poster designs. How does that help people? is something I’ve had to ask myself over and over and over. In one sense, it doesn’t! My design won’t fix any important issue in their life. But if I can design a shirt that they really like that they’ll constantly grab to wear because they feel good in it? Success. If I design a poster that fits in their living room and it fits their aesthetic seamlessly? Success. It’s forced me to really consider if what I’m putting out there will actually help someone, and with that guiding principle I’ve been putting out better, more useful work.