Joel on Software - Hitting the High Notes - Observation of the Managed

In response to Joel Spolsky's latest article, Hitting the High Notes, I posted a message in his forum entitled, Hitting the High Notes - Observation of the Managed, which I've copy 'n pasted here:

In Joel's latest article he makes a statement that the designers at Creative won't ever be able to make something as good as the iPod. Is that a case of the talent of the Creative staff? Or is that a case of "the company" or "management" imposing it's will?

Joel states this about the iPod....

"Why can't you change the battery?

My theory is that it's because Apple didn't want to mar the otherwise perfectly smooth, seamless surface of their beautiful, sexy iPod with one of those ghastly battery covers you see on other cheapo consumer crap, with the little latches that are always breaking and the seams that fill up with pocket lint and all that general yuckiness. The iPod is the most seamless piece of consumer electronics I have ever seen. It's beautiful. It feels beautiful, like a smooth river stone. One battery latch can blow the whole river stone effect."

But it's the company/management that allows this to take place. Let's say another company's staff were to present their amazingly smooth and sexy design to upper management. And the first thing out of one the executive's mouth is, "How will people replace the battery?" Designer responds, "Uh, well you see it's like a style thing, we're creating this experience...." Executive, "It's got to have a battery cover, people won't buy it if they can't change the battery. Put a battery cover on it, and it's got to go on the back."

These could be the greatest designers on the planet, but their skills get "managed" out of the equation. And over time, they stop producing great work because they are always designing stuff within the "boundries of acceptance" by the people signing their check. (Regardless of skill level, not everyone is confident enough in their own abilities to leave a bad company.)

Ask any creative person. "Management" likes to turn their creative people into monkeys. "Draw this line here. Put the logo here. Make it look like this...handing them a sketch of their own."

The point: It takes awesome people from the very TOP all the way _down_ to the people actually doing the work for product successes like the iPod to take place.

Remember, if you hire the best people, don't forget to trust, listen, and let them do what they do best!

If there is one thing that I vow to do when Ataraxis Software hits it big is trust, listen, and let the best do what they do best. I wouldn't let the Art Director tell me how to program, so why should I ever tell them how to do all that "art stuff". ;)

Now, if you are really not happy with something an artist shows you, have a conversation with them about what the piece (or product) is supposed to accomplish, as opposed to giving artist direction.

For example, when presented with a magazine advertisement comp where the logo is obviously to tiny, don't say this:

"Make the logo three times bigger and add a red background to it so it pop's more."

Try this instead:

"This ad is beautiful. But my goal for this advertistment is get our brand in front of people. I don't feel that this ad will accomplish that goal. What are your feelings?"