why not Write now?

Hello world.

As I move through my career and as Rouge and therefore my team grows, my untiring ambitions continue to push, drag and cajole me to surveil the horizon for those doing it well. I look around me at the great design houses and leaders of our time (and even some of the not-so-great ones) and almost all of them have some form of online presence or following through which they’re making their thoughts and voices heard on the world of design.

So after a little consideration, I’ve concluded that with many years in the sport behind me, and admittedly quite late to the party, I might have something to say about that.

To be frank this kind of thing does not come naturally, in fact, it makes me cringe a little. After all, who gives a monkey’s mouse scroll what I might think?

But I have had a growing interest in writing as I’ve got older and with a creeping desire to take my seat at the table, as Marty McFly once said:

I think it’s about time.

Professionally speaking though, I actually believe there might be people out there - the less-experienced in particular - who could benefit from the conclusions of many years of experience in the world of branding and design.

In general, I’m an unassuming fellow and am under no illusion that the world out there is sitting in anticipation of hearing my thoughts on anything in particular. I stay unengaged from ‘social media’ these days, and I certainly don’t post anything anywhere but for the occasional drawing on Instagram, despite no longer having the app.

However, I do have one or two well-formed opinions when it comes to the industry I’ve put my attention to for the last 20+ years. I feel I’ve probably earned the right to have a say on one or two things, if for no other reason than I’ve stuck it out for this long. ‘You don’t know, man, you weren’t there.’

But importantly, as is more widely accepted in the world today (or at least it should be) I’m more than aware that having an opinion doesn’t mean I’m right. It means that these are views I’ve formed based on my thinking, knowledge, and experiences on the front line dating back to 2004.

Anyone who knows me will know I am always open to being told I’m wrong (I hope). I am never pig-headed enough to believe I know everything, meaning this article exercise is going to be one of pure experimentation, an open willingness to be disagreed with and an unassuming expectation to quite possibly be proven wrong. And if that’s the case, at least I will learn something.

I know that I will never know everything, and as an important person whose name escapes me once said:

‘As our island of knowledge grows, so too does the shore of our ignorance.’

The more I do know, the more I realise I don’t.

I accept this entirely and go into my writing foray humble and ready to be put back in my content container.

However, if I do write a post it’s because I have a compelling case in its favour, so should you step up and shout me down, be prepared to be met with some resistance, at least until I realise my mistake.

On we go.