I read a number of design-related blogs as a matter of routine; these often point to other articles and blogs of note. I've read a few of Andy Rutledge's articles and, for the most part, he seems like a pretty decent guy. There is one recent article that I'm scratching my head over, though.
Andy uses over a thousand words to describe a phenomenon within the design community to have side jobs and sometime side agencies. His position is that while side jobs are okay, the practice of side agencies is undermining the design profession by demonstrating designers' lack of loyalty. And loyalty equals professionalism.
I disagree. I've found that with almost any creative type, if they have the means (financial or time), they have multiple lives. It's not so much about losing focus as being able to fulfill ideas and goals simultaneously. It's not even a designer thing. Steve Jobs, arguably an executive and salesman primarily, splits time between Apple and Pixar. This is not because he's unprofessional or disloyal. It's because the two companies do not fill the same needs.
In another example, I know a graphic designer who spends half his time as a photographer. Turns out he's really, really good at both. Calling him unprofessional or even slightly unskilled is an embarrassment only to the accuser. Show me a creative type (designer, entrepreneur, whatever) who has all their ideas satisfied by a current employer and I'll show you someone that isn't at the top of their industry.
Andy's argument is wrong because it is a rule based on employees instead of the entities he is trying to criticize. He confuses employees and entrepreneurs. In all environments, unprofessional people and sloppy work broadcast disloyalty. However, multiple companies are a creative person's way of allocating resources and talent that are best suited to accomplish something new.
The truth Andy misses is that side projects are about what a client allows its employees to have; side businesses are about what a designer creates independently.
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Notice the diversity in Andy's own life. He states: "My name is Andy Rutledge. I'm a designer, a writer, a composer, and bonsai artist. I enjoy writing about design culture, professionalism, and technique from the perspective of how human perceptions govern the fundamentals involved."
All human beings need diversity in their lives. Variety. There is nothing so boring as a person who can only do, or talk about, one thing. The true renaissance person is one who is multi-talented, multi-faceted, multi-interested and -interesting.
Kinda like your dad, no?
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