Outcome and Ambition – The Importance of Self-Initiated Projects in Relation to Commercial Projects
We are already close to the end of the first brief of this module. It is turning out to be quite a journey. I say this a lot in my posts, but this course has indeed taught me and made me think my current position as a designer in relation to my life and career. I have found the lectures in the past four weeks very insightful. I always enjoy the interviews, as it is fellow designers sharing their experiences in the creative business. This week, we are looking at how self-initiated projects differ from commercial projects as well as evaluating the learning outcomes and possible improvements for later projects.
Self-initiated projects are a means to self-discovery and self-teaching. Firstly, you get to choose on what you would like to work on, which is a big plus for creativity. Enjoying what you are doing boosts creativity massively. As you are your own client, there are no restrictions. Restrictions and parameters are set by you. Whilst parameters are important in any project, as they dictate budgets and deadlines, it is good way to spread your wings further and see what you can achieve with your own projects. Ideas can be pushed to their limits.
Moreover, such projects offer the opportunity to identify problems and address them. In some cases, self-initiated projects are what attracts potential clients to your business. As said by Veronica Fuerte from Hey Studio, she mentioned this plenty of times in the lectures in the past four weeks. Speaking from experience, she said that she started her business by working on her own projects and sharing them on social media. This helped her and her studio to form the studios identity.
Through self-initiated projects, one can build a brand persona from them. It can be a process or an artistic style, such consistency will help in making your work recognizable. Designers such as Malika Favré and Vic Lee have a particular style in their working, making it easier for clients and fellow designers to distinguish their work from the rest. It is about finding your ‘voice’ in your own work. Really and truly, it is the best way of promoting yourself and what are you capable of. Unfortunately, client-based work often has stricter bounderies. In many cases, there is a brand set already, or the client is not receptive of certain ideas. That being said, it is important to understand that client-based projects are the once that pay. A self-initiated project is often unpaid. You are working for yourself after all. However, self-initiated projects should not be motivated by the potential revenue it might yield. Such thinking will probably hinder the project, as passion is substituted by profit. As said by many designers, you have to like your self-initiated project. If you are working on it half-heartedly, it is very unlikely that it will ever be complete in the first place. They may have their challenges, but the advantage in such projects is that you can adjust deadlines as it is deemed necessary.
When it comes to self-initiated projects, it is all about how passionate you are with the topic in question, how are your current priorities and how much do you really want to get into the project in the first place. Creativity and practically work hand in hand in any project, whether it is for a client or for your own sake.
