http://www.designobserver.com/archives/entry.html?id=38917

but you’re correct–this post isn’t about writing better. it’s about designing better. if you’re looking for writing tips, read this: http://is.gd/jTJE

Maybe in the silly reality of the business, you have to justify and explain and rationalize designs to CLIENTS. But you don’t have to explain it to the USERS of the design: the readers of the magazine, or viewers of web site. It’s the same with a joke: if you have to explain it, you didn’t do it right.

Also, I suspect that designers (and writers like me) tend to make up the rationale AFTER coming up with the solution. We devise the solution for whatever reason, then cook up some client-pleasing reason for doing it, so that it sounds corporate and brilliant. None of which, of course, actually went into the designing of it.

In this case, I think what you’re proposing is ‘learn how to BS better’. It’s not really about writing better.

But then again, what do I know about it?

I came to design as a writer, and find that after all these years, I still approach projects as a writer first and a designer second. The words matter to me, sometimes too much.

So if anyone has ideas on how to let the verbal go and welcome the visual, please post. Thank you.

One day, I was at a dead end in a meeting; there was no notification that I had to make a presentation about what I did in front of people from three major banks – managers and business people. I was feeling faint but there was nobody else around me. Anyhow, I did it for 5 minutes, then my project manager took over. It must have been painful to watch. I was relieved but I was shocked more.

I think when you are designing something; you have reasons for what you have created. You must put the context into your creation. You must answer every question and being able to explain why you reached this result. If you are not sure, the clients never understand.

“I used the colour red because I felt so.” This isn’t working at all.

Are you an artist? Then I understand that is good enough, but the client is expecting you to design, right?

Visual is the strongest human sense and people can judge your visual at a glance. Yet at the same time communicating with writing or speaking about what you create is necessary as a designer. It’s not “write/speak/talk about design”, it is “write/speak/talk about THE DESIGN.”

I am not a good speaker or writer, besides English is my second language. I have been reading books/articles which written by Paul Rand. Is there any graphic designers who can write like him? It must be very few. That’s why Paul Rand is Paul Rand. He talked and wrote about design and his design.