Choose curiosity before passion

In a world that often pressures us to find our passion, Elizabeth Gilbert offers a refreshing perspective in her interview with ‘On Being’:

“Curiosity is our friend that teaches us how to become ourselves. And it’s a very gentle friend, and a very forgiving friend, and a very constant one. Passion is not so constant, not so gentle, not so forgiving, and sometimes, not so available. And so, when we live in a world that has come to fetishise passion above all, there’s a great deal of pressure around that. And I think if you don’t happen to have a passion that’s very clear, or if you have lost your passion, or if you’re in a change of life where your passions are shifting, or you’re not certain, and somebody says, “Well, it’s easy to solve your life. Just follow your passion,” I do think that they have harmed you, because it just makes people feel more excluded and more exiled and, sometimes, like a failure.”

This quote really resonates with me. I often feel like I don't have a clear-cut passion – mostly because I'm interested in so many things. It's easy to look at others who seem to have it all figured out and think I should know my one true passion by now.

But Gilbert's words turn this idea on its head. She points out that passion isn't always available, while curiosity is a constant companion. This shift in thinking is liberating.

We can apply this approach to our work as designers too. Being curious about new techniques, wondering how something might look, or exploring unexpected ideas – that's often where our most interesting work comes from. If you're feeling stuck, try focusing on even the smallest thing that sparks your interest. That tiny bit of curiosity might just lead you to something bigger.

So next time you're feeling pressured to identify your passion, remember that curiosity is always there, ready to guide you. It's a gentler, more forgiving path that can open up a world of possibilities.

Why you need a separate inverted logo

This week, I’ve been working on my guide about how to deliver a final logo package. I did some research to see what terms people use for creating what I call 'reversed' logos (i.e., logos on a dark background). It turns out many designers – including James Barnard – use the term 'inverted'. He has made a great video on why you need a separate inverted logo for a dark background and what adjustments you need to make, especially if your logo uses shadows and highlights. At a minimum, you might need to offset your logo design by a pixel or two. He explains all of this in less than two minutes!

Watch James Barnard’s 2 min video on YouTube