To this date I have not heard of a better, more pronounced and defined metaphor for what we as designers do for a living then the one stated below. I am currently reading the book How to Think Like a Great Graphic Designer by Debbie Millman. She interviewed a designer in this book by the name of Stephen Doyle. (owner of his own firm, Doyle Partners based out of NY.)

The last paragraph of his interview, Doyle cordially states;

This is where creativity comes from: being able to deconstruct what people say and find the words in it and blow it back up again. We take paragraphs and slogans, and presentations and chip away at them. And then we bring them back to life.

Our design work is reductive. We’re more like stone carvers. A big block of stone comes in, and we start chipping away at it until we find the sculpture inside. Some designer are additive. They’ll add and layer things on. To me, this is decorative rather than reductive.

I would rather uncover the essence of what is already there. All we ever do with the material our clients give us is take things away. We take things away until we can see what is in front of us.
                                                                          —Stephen Doyle

What a nice perspective. And maybe even a great book title.

Enjoy

Cheers.

GWCC