The concept of yin and yang originates from Ancient Chinese philosophy in the 14th century BCE. Contrary to its simple design, it’s a rather complex philosophical concept. It describes how opposite forces are complementary and interconnected in life. It’s a great reminder in life (and also in work) how balance across board is necessary for harmony and efficiency.
After deep reflection on this concept, we have gathered 3 key areas in which designers and design agencies need to ensure they have balanced for continued success. Curious? Keep reading to find out!
Naturally, design agencies’ strongest asset is their creativity. Designers, creatives and storytellers have the natural talent of being able to tap into the clever right side of their brain. This innate creativity is what allows them to do what they do. Creative thinking skills include visual reading, imagination, thinking ‘outside the box’ and also artistic creativity. Each of these talents are needed in life, and certainly in a design agency, so that we can find new ways to do things and bring art into the world!
However, with this creativity comes the need to balance imagination with logistics. Logical thinking arises from observing situations and tasks and making rational conclusions and decisions. There are some aspects of design work like deadlines, prioritizing tasks and setting realistic goals, which require logical thinking. Don’t be afraid to tap into your logical side for necessary tasks like the ones we mentioned above, while also adding your creative flare. Using daily planner like Notion, and designing it as you please could help you delegate tasks and work logically toward deadlines and goals.
It’s easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of work, especially when working from home. The day blurs into one big stretch of time, and before you know it, the day is over! If you’re working from home in particular, it’s vital that you set boundaries for yourself. Allow yourself to take time away from your work in order to rest, recharge, and return better than before. Give yourself the hour for lunch, and silence your notifications after working hours.
You can’t spell hard work without hard, so be fair to yourself and schedule in time to detach from work after working hours. This way you will be able to contribute your best effort at all times.
The day-to-day of life and work is important to fulfill tasks, meet deadlines and complete projects. Without focusing on day-to-day tasks, we would not be able to complete any kind of work. However, it’s important to not get completely engrossed in the short-term and lose sight of your business objectives, or long-term goals. Long-term goals help keep us motivated and inspire ambition. Have three long-term design goals in the back of your mind during the working week. This keeps us progressing along our career path and professional life.
We hope that these 3 points have sparked some reflection for you and your working life. Without balance we would be out of sync and dysregulated. So, this week, try channeling the concept of Yin and Yang and embrace the equilibrium needed in the design world!
