Why are people afraid of designers?

Maybe it's the way we dress, or the way most of us stock up on gadgets. I have been referred to as a "gadget girl." Mostly by my best friend, but there is some truth to it.

I have found that most ordinary business people that I network with don't really know what a creative designer does. I've stopped referring to myself as a graphic designer, by the way. There are a lot of folks out there calling themselves graphic designers and we all know that a mastery of Microsoft Word should not constitute a graphic designer.

Back to the topic.

Since most business people don't really have an understanding of the creative process and hence the value of creativity, they are afraid of us. They may tip-toe around us, not wanting to "interrupt the creative process" and snicker to their co-workers about the fruitcakes in their creative services department.

Although I do own a t-shirt that has "fruitcake" screen printed across the chest, this does not mean that I really am one. I love the creative process and I love to talk about it. Once most of these business professionals see the passion for my profession, it usually brings down the walls and the stereotypes. Opening up conversation between us. I get many remarks from my clients that I'm not at all who they pictured me to be. In fact, I've had many of them tell me that they were surprised that I would accept their feedback on a particular design or idea.

My view is that feedback is critical and there is a very fine line of how far I can go in my recommendations to a client. I don't pretend to know more about their business than they do and my clients appreciate that. They expect professionalism from me, but also enjoy the "fruitcake" designer side.