Adrian Shaughnessy

Professional practice, 12^th January 2011

This designer, writer, editor and consultant used his own life experience as an example to show how the boundaries of the design profession are defined by each of us. Also according to his own path, Shaughnessy shared some thoughts and stories regarding the designer as practitioner.

The broadness of the profession allows one to decide which role to play within the design field. One can either work for clients’ briefs within a studio or as an individual, or assume the role of the client and act as a gathering agent that controls the entire process and content and brings people together into collaboration.

Shaughnessy covered some topics that he refers to as “The paradoxes of design”. These are his own reflections about the design practitioners and their relationship with the clients, themselves and the world. According to his views and learning, there are key characteristics that the designers must possess to succeed in the referred areas.

These include the curiosity and willingness to better know and understand the clients; devotion and integrity in daily practice; humility and openness to learn from the others; awareness about the world and surrounding context; and the capacity to communicate and stand for the work and ideas.

Shaughnessy started his professional life as a self-taught graphic designer, and worked with different industries and clients. As many other professionals in this field, a sense of dissatisfaction with his career led him to abandon it for a short period and try to find his own path.

Working currently as a writer and editor, he is focused on filling a gap he found in the design books’ universe: he publishes books by and for design professionals about day-to-day design practice in different fields.