It’s now exactly a year ago that my version of what the City of Toronto’s logo should look like was published online on the Globe and Mail website/ It was titled, “Eight designers offer up new logos for the City of Toronto”.
I was contacted a little before Christmas, by Dave McGinns and asked if I would like to offer up a concept. Sure, why not. At the time, I found out I was a few weeks pregnant and so “all day sickness” was a close friend. January rolled around, I had nothing. I almost wrote to Dave telling him I might have to bow out. But I didn’t. Instead I pressed on and created a logo based off the ROM, which I think is a gorgeous and unique structure and should be represented. I was pretty pleased with myself. Until I started reading the comments (go ahead read them).
I’d say 90% of design critiques were nothing to feel good about. A lot of the comments just completely ripped us 8 graphic designers apart. It was hard to look at, but I made myself read them. What kind of a graphic and web designer would I be, if I couldn’t take criticism of my work. From faceless people online at that. So I did.
As an entrepreneur/business owner I needed to come to terms with not everyone will like you or your work. You have to be strong to hear it all and not let it crush your spirit. Instead of giving up, work harder, try new things. I walked away with two very valuable lessons.
- The truth hurts and people are mean. You can let it make or break you. Don’t give up. Keep going.
- The tongue has the power of life and death. Speak life. If you have nothing positive to say, don’t say anything.
I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed. – Michael Jordan
I love what I do. I wouldn’t be very good at it or anything else for that matter, if I gave up so easily.
