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AMA: I’m Mig Reyes, a designer at Basecamp.

almost 9 years ago from Mig Reyes, Exploring art, technology and design at Basecamp.

  • Jonathan ShariatJonathan Shariat, almost 9 years ago

    Hello!

    What has been your favorite "connection" moment, where in designing something you found some inspiration, some user insight, or something else that seemed unconnected and connected it with what you were working on?

    0 points
    • Mig ReyesMig Reyes, almost 9 years ago

      Jonathan,

      Good question. I really enjoy when I find moments of serendipity doing the work as opposed to looking for inspiration for the work.

      In my classes I teach, I encourage every student to study great work that has come before them. Chew on it, figure out why they did what they did. I still do this, too. But I’m always asking two things:

      • Why does it have to be this way?
      • What if we did this weird thing instead?

      So in a recent example, I worked on the Basecamp.com signup page. Here’s the dialogue to myself:

      • What if this still illustration of the man moved instead?
      • What if it was more fun, and he made funny faces on errors?
      • Oh, also, what if I learned enough JavaScript to do this on my own?

      And questions like why can’t I do this on my own? and why the hell does everyone squish their browser to see responsive design shaped projects like jQuery.wanker.js.

      So, those moments of connection happen when I keep digging, keep asking questions, and connecting things that never seem relevant before.

      1 point
      • Jonathan ShariatJonathan Shariat, almost 9 years ago

        Thank you for your response.

        I totally agree. I think the best designers are a bit annoying to work with (at first) because they are always stopping to ask questions and challenge assumptions. They test very restraint to see if its solid or mailable.

        0 points