- Always brief designers on the problem to solve, not how to execute the solution.
- Strip away all bullshit, keep things simple at all times. Then make an effort to strip away more.
- Put in the extra 5% of work at the end. If often makes 95% of the difference.
- Always be grateful for the efforts of others.
- Don't be afraid to say no.
- Own the project. Ask for support.
- If you can improve something, do it. Don't wait for approvals. Just put it up and only take it down or revert back if the client has a problem with an improvement.
- Don't let difficult clients get you down. Don't complain. Don't expect them to change. Accept it, adapt to it, deal with it. Move on.
- Be grateful for both compliments and complaints. Don't let them get to your head. Know what's what and get on with it.
- Always plan ahead. Tackle the unknowns first.
- Step away if something's already being handled right. Focus on something else (there's always something else).
- Chill out sometimes. Once every few weeks, take a break and do nothing.
- Learn by doing things over and over until it becomes intuition, natural and thoughtless. Cumulate knowledge through experience.
- Looking back, be satisfied with your work. If you're not, change the way you're working.
- If the client starts killing the project or the project starts to sway off track, step back and redefine the problems and rethink the solution.
- If a client is a feedback junkie and making bad or destructive decisions and demands, distract the client to deal with trivial issues while you focus on the important ones behind the scenes.
- Always build in a fluid and flexible manner. Be adaptable to change as with almost every project, change is inevitable.
- Only over-engineer if you have the luxury of time or the shelf life of a project is long-term. Learn how to build robustly without over-engineering.
- Be sure that with each project, you learn something new or improve your ability.
- Always help others when they ask for it. Ask for help if you need it.
- Never assume, always clarify.
- Anticipate the clients response and be ready for it. Be two steps ahead.
- Creative direction by committee does not work.
- Get involved pre design phase. Be the dev eye for the design guy.
