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Artists, shrug off that imposter syndrome – the tech world needs you

magicbell.com

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Re: Artists, shrug off that imposter syndrome – the tech world needs you

#41

Post by pkdpic_y9k »

As a practicing visual artist / art school hippie who recently got into working as a software engineer I got really excited when I saw this, noted problems aside. But I wasn't surprised to see it was limited to UI/UX.

I'm having a really hard time finding other art school grads and visual artists working on the engineering side of tech and it's starting to make me feel a little crazy.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to find some other visual artists working as software engineers to connect with?

Re: Artists, shrug off that imposter syndrome – the tech world needs you

#42

Post by spython »

armchairhacker wrote: post #6

I think people underestimate how UI aesthetics actually improve user experience. I remember when I was younger it was a lot easier to be more productive and creative with Pages, Numbers, Keynote than their competitors (this was when they were still skeuomorphic). The pretty UI genuinely motivated and inspired me, to an extent that I actually noticed. I really believe it helped start projects easier and work on them l…

Material design is like the design of a typical hotel room. It aims to accommodate everyone. It aims to be a temporary home for everyone and a permanent home for no-one. Hardly anyone would actively choose to make such a clinical, impersonal, unopinionated environment their home.

That's what happened with user interfaces when software ate the world – once the UI designers tried to reach everyone, be the place for everyone, the hotel room design took over. The call to bring artistic view into designing interfaces only makes sense if you are brave enough or lucky enough to allow your product to be opinionated, to not be for everyone.

As a trained artist in the technology field, actively working on speculative HCI designs, I don't often see companies that are open to opinionated designs. Most expect the designer to produce decoration, whereas the actual strength of a good designer lies in creating a space, a choreography, an interaction that fits the needs of the customer exactly right. That solves the actual, human need in a way that is true to the medium.

don't turn your project into a hotel room, I beg you!

Re: Artists, shrug off that imposter syndrome – the tech world needs you

#43

Post by renewiltord »

gatkinso wrote: post #4

Does this person even know any actual artists? Many of them would rather die than work in tech.

Presumably he's not talking to those many, then. What exactly do you want him to say. "Guys, do this thing! It's fun! Except for you guys who don't think it's fun! In that case, ignore this!"

Do you want every exhortation to also include a disclaimer to not be exhorted if you actively oppose?

Re: Artists, shrug off that imposter syndrome – the tech world needs you

#44

Post by unamashana »

backtoyoujim wrote: post #31

This article reminds me of people that say the eagles could have dropped the ring into Mordor. The corporate world has spent the better part of a century convincing the populace that when one doesn't work in cubes, "people" like artists, then they aren't really doing their share. And now, suddenly, the corporate state wants those people to prioritize their value as resources to the corporatocracy. Much like the eagle…

Disclaimer: Not an artist myself but a friend of the writer, and a co-founder of MagicBell - the host of the blog.

Aren't there a lot of artists (just like there are lots of actors) who have a day job to pay the bills? If that job happens to be in tech (and pay well) that should ideally be of interest to many people. Not to everyone but surely to some I assume. They won't be invested in the IPO or disruption but they could be interested in doing their job well and making a good living. I have a lot of friends (not all artists) who are super smart but work for low pay at restaurants and I for one sure wish they could work at tech and make more money. I know for a fact many of them would want to.

Re: Artists, shrug off that imposter syndrome – the tech world needs you

#45

Post by Zachsa999 »

antiterra wrote: post #2

This article feels like a bit of a mess. It doesn’t really back up either of its two statements. Imposter syndrome generally requires that you are/were in the role that makes you feel like an imposter waiting to be found out. There’s an interesting tie between UI/design and a color principle. There’s recognition that an artist may find this gratifying and relevant. But, it’s a limited example not necessarily relevant…

Good thought. Don't forget that op is an artist not a linguist.

Re: Artists, shrug off that imposter syndrome – the tech world needs you

#47

Post by BigBubbleButt »

hoppyhoppy2 wrote: post #35
BigBubbleButt wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That just sounds like a lack of confidence. If you aren't an imposter, why would you call it imposter syndrome?

>If you aren't an imposter, why would you call it imposter syndrome? Couldn't you say this about the names of various psychological syndromes? "If you aren't Alice in Wonderland, why would you call it Alice in Wonderland syndrome?" It's referring to the person's subjective experience, from their (perhaps warped) point of view.

You can call it whatever you want, but if the description doesn't fit I think it's fair to say it's at best a poor label. And it will always lead to confusion when just trying to communicate something. Why not just call a spade a spade?

Re: Artists, shrug off that imposter syndrome – the tech world needs you

#48

Post by mattgreenrocks »

backtoyoujim wrote: post #31

This article reminds me of people that say the eagles could have dropped the ring into Mordor. The corporate world has spent the better part of a century convincing the populace that when one doesn't work in cubes, "people" like artists, then they aren't really doing their share. And now, suddenly, the corporate state wants those people to prioritize their value as resources to the corporatocracy. Much like the eagle…

Only speaking for myself here, and not speaking as an artist, but I think a lot of companies foist a lowest-common-denominator incentive structure on everyone and then act surprised when they have difficulty with recruiting/retention. Not everyone wants the same thing out of work.

For example, I have a fundamental disconnect with the idea of corporate ladder climbing, and it makes me feel like a bit of an alien sometimes. It's not interesting to me, though I realize you need a certain amount of status to maintain some notion of autonomy. I'm not even talking about office politics per se; I just think the notion of "work X years and get Y title" feels empty to me. As I mentioned, I'm motivated more by autonomy than external perceptions of status.

I'm happy with work, but I've had to realize and accept this in myself, and learn ways of navigating a world where many concern themselves primarily with their own status.

Re: Artists, shrug off that imposter syndrome – the tech world needs you

#49

Post by AnIdiotOnTheNet »

I personally would rather that all artists stay far, far away from UI design forever, for the simple reason that they will never allow me to customize anything. It's bad enough we're stuck with the current bespoke "light" and "dark" modes in UIs that were fully customizable in the fucking longlongago of the goddamned 90s. Not to mention their propensity for form over function.

No thanks. Kindly fuck off.

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