If you take your car into a mechanic and your mechanic finds that your brakes are shot, but doesn’t want to tell you that the brakes are shot or he doesn’t want to have to charge your for the brakes or he doesn’t feel like doing the brakes, that would be criminal if he let you out of that shop with dysfunctional, non-working brakes. Or unsafe brakes. And we would freak out finding out that other professions were doing this.

And yet as designers, we’re willing to accept that somehow giving a crap about the effect our work has on people is a super-special extra thing that we do. And then when we do it, we start putting ourselves on a pedestal and it’s like, «I’m changing the world!» It’s just called a job. This is the job that we signed up for and these are all core parts of that job.

Mike Monteiro.

I’ve been in the design business for a long time and there seems to be this idea that you have to convince designers to actually give a shit about the kind of effect their work has on the world. And if you were to apply that same test to any other profession, it would be weird, right? So would you ever consider having to ask a doctor, «Why wouldn’t you kill this patient?» «Why wouldn’t you want to heal this person?» Mike Monteiro.

Sebagai agen perubahan. Desainer grafis bisa berperan lebih daripada sekadar membantu menjual produk-produk industri, atau berkarya bagi kepentingan komersial semata. Desainer profesional memiliki kemampuan untuk membantu organisasi-organisasi atau masyarakatnya mengatasi masalah-masalah sosial dan lingkungannya. Menghadapi terjangan ekonomi global yang dikendalikan sepenuhnya oleh perilaku konsumsi, atau merespons terjadinya perubahan iklim dunia, desainer grafis bisa berperanserta dalam mengubah pola pikir dan perilaku masyarakat. Hanny Kardinata.

We spend hours fussing over every pixel. Precision is what really makes the difference between good and bad design. Matteo Bologna.

Ignore everybody while working on a new idea. If you’re in love with it, chances are 50/50 and NO one other than you will be able to give you the advice you need. Don’t ask for advice, roll with it! Or do it like I sometimes do: If 10 people call you stupid or an idiot, you got your validation, now prove them wrong. Tobias Van Schneider.

Ideas are cheap, because everyone has them. Getting shit done is what counts in the end. Tobias Van Schneider.

… jealousy is never useful. Many negative emotions can be useful—pain tells us something is wrong, fear tells us to look before we leap, etc.—but jealousy, no matter how jealous we get, will never help. Joshua Fields Millburn.

There are the basic rules of thumb in design that we know of. But from my perspective, good design can change within time. Design to me has to relate to culture. Design itself can create its own culture and bring good value. Moreover, good design can subtly educate people about good quality and good value.

In the end of the day good design is about creating something that enriches people’s lives.

Hermawan Tanzil.

A company is like a big orchestra with me as the conductor. Everyone I come across has his or her strength and weaknesses that can be perceived as their strength.Artistically, there are types of a person who probably aren’t as talented in their art skills but are considered a hard worker, then there are those who are gifted story tellers,and you can see a balance in that. Composition is very important in a firm. The varying personalities and skills is what enrich us as a company.

How I approach the company is also very personal. I may approach both staff and clients differently. Anyone who works here will learn and do everything. I make sure the team has an understanding of different aspect of the creative process. And I can ensure you most of the people who once worked here end up doing something great on their own.

I don’t have an ego to claim and do everything by myself. I realize the capacity and time of my generation has passed and people’s way of thinking has evolved. I instead am in the constant look for young and fresh designers, because they keep the company relevant and help us grow as a team.

Hermawan Tanzil.

Anyone can make a fancy design, but design itself involves many aspects that other people don’t see or understand. For instance, art directing a photography shoot, copywriting, or the technical aspect in printing. As a design company, you will collaborate your efforts with copywriters, photographers, illustrators that presents the same design vision as the company. I also believe in the importance of research, conceptualizing an idea and execution. There is an element of science, technology, and craftsmanship in design.

All this can only be obtained through the right resources, skills, and experienceto evolve your design style into something different. To design something that is simple and pretty can be done by anybody. But to present something of value that has character, spirit, and a better means of communication is what differentiates us from the other designers.

Hermawan Tanzil.