Graphic design is a human activity that involves emotions in performing a task. On one hand, emotions give life to a design and could also be a source of creativity. On the other, feelings of disappointment and anger take a toll on one’s performance especially in stressful situations when a designer’s work is subjected to countless revisions and disapproval. All of the respondents had their share of demotivating disagreements at work, and articulated the need for emotional resilience. This approach applies to situations when a designer learns to put aside their emotions and focus on delivering results and meeting client expectations. Although it may dispirit them at one point, the respondents underlined the need to carry on and learn from constructive feedback, as well as finding chances for reconsideration even in seemingly unyielding design negotiations.

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Emotional resilience trains us graphic designers to be flexible or open to new ideas which could develop in our interaction with our clients. The concept of resilience however should not equate to absolute tolerance, in the sense that our clients or supervisor could freely ask for unlimited revisions.

 

For employed graphic designers, they could be flexible if revisions are necessary and explainable. For freelance graphic designers, they should require a limit or a fee structure on revisions based on the premise that a project can theoretically never end - even little changes take time to make, and the more changes clients request, the longer the design process gets.