Designing for yourself... difficult or not?

[Victory Over All]

I was wondering if anybody else has the same problem I do...
When it comes to designing for clients I have no problem coming up with ideas, however, when it comes to designing something for myself, like my own business cards, adverts, etc. I find it hard to come up with a solid concept.
Anybody else think it's easier to design for a client than it is to design for yourself?
Maybe it's the complete artistic freedom or something... too much freedom leading to not enough focus :icon_dunno: possibly...

Any thoughts people?

[Ozwaldo Sanchez]

No such problem with coming up with concepts - more of a problem saying 'that's finished' as things can always be better!!

[Pickles]

Yup I'll agree to that. I'm my worst critic. It seems soooo much easier to design for others than myself. I have too many ideas and then they all start to clash together, sometimes producing something good but also many unfinished ones! :icon_Wall:

[Mercy Design]

Perhaps you need to spend more time working for yourself- I know time probably isn't a premium, but setting yourself projects allows you to define who you actually are and what it is you do.
This is what we're up to:
12 Angry Zines Mercy : Design Agency, Literature & Arts Collective : London / Liverpool : UK

Gemma
Mercy : Design Agency, Literature & Arts Collective : London / Liverpool : UK

[Victory Over All]

Yup I'll agree to that. I'm my worst critic. It seems soooo much easier to design for others than myself. I have too many ideas and then they all start to clash together, sometimes producing something good but also many unfinished ones! :icon_Wall:

Exactly! I've had so many ideas bouncing about and the moment I get close to finishing one, I suddenly decide it could be way better and start re-working the damn thing! The upside of this is that it often results in something that it far better that the original idea.

[Victory Over All]

Perhaps you need to spend more time working for yourself- I know time probably isn't a premium, but setting yourself projects allows you to define who you actually are and what it is you do.
This is what we're up to:
12 Angry Zines Mercy : Design Agency, Literature & Arts Collective : London / Liverpool : UK

Gemma
Mercy : Design Agency, Literature & Arts Collective : London / Liverpool : UK

Thats a great idea.. I suppose the only projects I've set myself recently are typical "design a new business card and flyer" jobs. Getting stuck into a project thats a bit more meaty however, probably an awesome way of getting ideas flowing for my own work! Something with more substance than purely a self promotional piece.

Hmm... got me thinking like I did back in my "fine art" days now!

[Mercy Design]

Exactly- design is solely about the art of visual communication.
A really good place to start is by re-designing a piece of media you consume regularly- a blog, magazine, CD- that way you're not worrying too much about setting yourself a brief- more re-defining someone else'

Then you can share your work here for a good old crit sesh.
X
gemma
Mercy : Design Agency, Literature & Arts Collective : London / Liverpool : UK

[dogsbody]

I was quite glad when I saw that poll result so far, I'm not alone after all!

[CarmaCreative]

Always spend way too long designing for self... Yikes.

Best to keep the re-designs to a bare minimum over the years.

I almost gave up on the last one and asked another freelancer to do my logo for me

[dot design]

It can be difficult but its also finding the time to do it as well, which may sound strange.

I think sometimes not having a time limit or schedule to work to on personal projects can create problems, abit like an artist never knowing when to leave it alone.