Recently I was asked to share how I come up with a design concept. They wanted a run-down of my whole creative process, which kind of felt like having a telemarketer ask for my credit card number and social security number. The little voice in your head starts asking, “Why do they need to know? What are they going to do with it?” You see, my unique creative process is what makes me, well, unique as a professional. I feel compelled to protect my process like a company protects a trade secret or formula. Maybe I’m just paranoid. In my competitive field I feel like I have to have an edge all the time. A lot of people think graphic designers are a “dime a dozen.” You have no idea how many times I’ve heard it – There are some people out there who are really quite cynical about my line of work. Unfortunately those people are usually those in the position of hiring or employing graphic designers, which as you can probably imagine really makes things interesting for people like me.

Sure, you can probably find any punk off the street to lay out some text and place some stock photos onto a page using Adobe Illustrator. Thanks to software, a simple secretary can make a PowerPoint presentation look as if it was designed by a pro. But it’s all template driven. It lacks original thought and no one is really inspired by any of it. There is a difference between some secretary throwing together a presentation using some template designed by Microsoft and someone like myself going through a couple hours of research, a couple hours of thumbnail sketching and brainstorming. I’ll usually write each idea or line of copy and draw each sketch on a Post-It note and I’ll stick it up on a wall. I’ll usually fill up the whole wall, using 1-2 pads of Post-Its. What color do I use? Wouldn’t you like to know.

You’d think I’d be used to answering these questions about my creative process by now what with all the job interviewing and portfolio shows I’ve had in the last couple years. Still, I feel like I have to hold back. I just don’t feel like giving away my secrets. So I often just give the usual generic response, which is probably why some might find themselves hesitant to work with me. In the long run, it will probably be better if I just start sharing more of what I do with the people who need to know. After all, it’s the final result of a design that ultimately matters. Who knows, maybe my process wouldn’t even work for anyone else.

It almost seems impossible that Christmas is already behind us. And 2006 is upon us? We’re already over halfway through this decade? Unbelievable. Time is really flying, which means I’d better get my butt into gear and get some big things accomplished here pretty soon. More about those things another day…

To be honest, this was a really stressful Christmas. Even though it’s over, I’m still feeling really stressed out. I really envy those who can make it through Christmas stress-free. As much as I try not to, I’ve always envied those lucky enough to have all the material comforts of life. It’s hard to imagine what it would be like to be one of those people who whose backs are truly unbent.

Plus, It’s been kind of a long week back to work. That comes as no surprise, you get all built up to this big holiday and then it’s just all done in an instant and we’re expected to get back into the swing of things just as quickly. So it’s been one of those “I need a beer” weeks.

That aside, Christmas this year – although stressful – was great. I enjoyed my holidays very much. Had some delicious meals, received some wonderful gifts. Can’t ask for any more than that. Would have loved to have seen more of my family, but I guess I got that at Thanksgiving so I shouldn’t complain.

I do feel kind of bad about one thing, though, I messed up when shipping out some of my gifts. I mixed two boxes up and shipped one to Kansas, the other to North Dakota, but really they should have been reversed. So now as a bonus Christmas gift, those people get to make a trip to their local post office to ship them to the right place for me. Not to mention the gifts are late. What fun is opening gifts a week after Christmas? And I tried so hard to get things out on time. I guess this will teach me to not be in such a hurry at the post office. I’m confident they’ll understand.

No big New Years plans for us, and no resolutions this year. I’m not entirely sure what I’m going to do with my Monday off from work just yet, but I’m sure I’ll have no trouble figuring something out.

Happy New Year!