What motivates (web) designers?
We are working on a blog post in the topic of building startup teams. Typically when we talk about startups we talk about web or mobile startups and in those types of startups a good capable team is composed with the skills of designer who can do good visuals and/or design UX/UI, a developer that can code and a biz oriented person who likes to interact with customers, partners etc.
We have wrote a lot about entrepreneurship and startups in general and also about how to attract a developer in to your team (see link at the end) and are now researching to write a good post about what motivates designer types to join a startup.
It's pretty obvious, that while the whole team needs to be motivated by the core vision of what the startup is doing - in the individual level people also have different motivators in their own area of responsibility as well.
So while we have covered a lot about the biz & developer side, we are now working to get idea, views and answers to a question "what motivates designers?" in regards this context. I.e. to be part of a startup team in a new venture.
http://www.growvc.com/blog/2011/03/attracting-the-techy/
Answers (6)
Dr. Jim A.
Communication skills that will make you unforgettable (training in speaking, negotiating, managing people and products)
Best Answers in: Business Development (2), Economics (1), Events Marketing (1), Internet Marketing (1), Sales Techniques (1), Organizational Development (1), Branding (1), Distribution (1), Engineering (1), Product Design (1), Pricing (1), Positioning (1), Career Management (1), Enterprise Software (1), Using LinkedIn (1)
Valto,
Web designers are like every other technical professional. There are two key factors that motivate them to perform at a high level: a technical challenge (i.e. it's never been done before) and peer recognition (e.g. "I did this"). If a start up can meet these needs in their designers then there is a very good chance that they won't leave!
Lou S.
accomplished designer focused on user experience, design education, curation, performance and dynamic media
Best Answers in: Graphic Design (4), Using LinkedIn (4), Staffing and Recruiting (1), Internationalization and Localization (1), Mobile Marketing (1), Public Relations (1), Organizational Development (1), Project Management (1), Engineering (1), Professional Networking (1), Business Plans (1), Starting Up (1), Computers and Software (1), Software Development (1)
Designers need to be empowered. Once empowered with the right tools, environment, teammates and trust, the stage is set for innovative creativity. Cool projects that explore undiscovered terrain present exciting challenges for design. And of course, all the typical accoutrements that come with any truly world-class venture — incredible and competitive compensation and benefits, flexible office hours, fun and productive team setup, respect and recognition for all efforts ( no matter where they fall on the spectrum of success ) — these keep just about any employee happy, motivated and excited to really get passionately engaged with the challenges of the organization du jour.
Links:
All the above plus a decent lifestyle i.e. some money. Works for me.
It is however a very rewarding thing to solve design related problems too.
Peter C.
Senior Software Engineer at Say.So
Best Answers in: Web Development (9), Computers and Software (4), Starting Up (3), Software Development (3), Staffing and Recruiting (2), Business Development (2), Organizational Development (2), Commercial Real Estate (1), Travel Tools (1), Criminal Law (1), Graphic Design (1), Public Relations (1), Social Enterpreneurship (1), Small Business (1), Blogging (1), Computer Networking (1), Wireless (1), Using LinkedIn (1)
Money is a good motivator, up to a point.
Designers have families to feed and mortgages to pay; we can't throw that away on the off-chance of being one of the few startups that really makes it. So the startup has to be well financed for at least the first year, in order that the designers (who have a lot of responsibility for the final product) are sufficiently rewarded. Share options should come on top of that, not as a replacement to it.
Other finance options are available, but the important aspect is that the designers are rewarded proportionally to the other stake holders; if they all get paid, the designer should not be working for free or on a 'promise' of shares.
It's worth noting that any decent web designer sees proposals at least once a month from someone offering a 50% share in their great idea, if only the designer would build the website for them. It traps a few young designers, but the best ones have seen it far too often; an idea is worth nothing without financing, and designers don't (or shouldn't) work for free.
Vinodh Sen E.
Technical Lead,ING Institutional Plan Services
Best Answers in: Web Development (89), Software Development (50), Computers and Software (35), Enterprise Software (24), E-Commerce (21), Databases (15), Computer Networking (10), Telecommunications (8), Information Security (7), Wireless (5), Staffing and Recruiting (3), Blogging (3), Information Storage (3), Job Search (2), Business Development (2), Business Analytics (2), Professional Networking (2), Starting Up (2), Using LinkedIn (2), Freelancing and Contracting (1), Mentoring (1), Conference Planning (1), Offshoring and Outsourcing (1), Intellectual Property (1), Employment and Labor Law (1), Advertising (1), Sales Techniques (1), Equity Markets (1), Nonprofit Management (1), Market Research and Definition (1), Professional Books and Resources (1), Business Plans (1), Small Business (1), Biotech (1)
Hi,
leadership status is more important than money.
that gives authority. this is true for any new economy jobs/skill.
while money is important it is not the most important motivator.
i am not paid any money to help others in technology related queries in linkedin and many realtime projects. i am listed the topmost best contributor. best designers and serverside developers crave for brainfood/food for thought which is the best motivator.
regards
vinodhsen
Prasanna S.
Founder & Director, Skynapse Business Technology
Best Answers in: Software Development (1)
Hi,
Designers are motivated by purpose, freedom and money in that order.
They need to be involved in a product that they believe in or has a cause.
They are also motivated by freedom of expression in what they do.
Finally it is money ofcourse.
Designers mostly consider themselves as artists and creators. They breathe life into an otherwise lifeless software or website with standard functionality. So, their motivations are different than say software engineers.
