As I mentioned here, authenticity is super important to me. I strive for authenticity both in my creation and in my communication. In my work I try to find a good balance between being honest and fair about my faux pas, but also being proud of the outcome and the shiny side of the successes. It’s about telling a unique story with depth and creative purity.

The last few years this positive development is seen in the creative field too: people are moving towards a more open approach to the way they design. People are willing to share their failures and learnings.

Here I curated a few articles around this topic that inspired me and are – in my opinion – worth reading.

Enjoy and let me know what you think about this theme of authenticity and “Showing work without showing off”.

Photo: Unsplash

Let’s embrace the open-kitchen model in the design industry.

Being authentic is about being true to one’s own personality and character. In a collaboration though, being authentic also needs awareness of the thoughts and needs of others. In this article four 99U speakers explain why empathy is such an important skill.

>> Read more

Empathy is the skill of the future.

Being authentic is about being true to one’s own personality and character. In a collaboration though, being authentic also needs awareness of the thoughts and needs of others. In this article four 99U speakers explain why empathy is such an important skill.

>> Read more

Illustration by Jason Bacher

Be open to the outcome, not attached to it.

Brian Buirge of Good F*cking Design Advice talks about “weighing the risk”. According to him risk and uncertainty are the key ingredients of the design process. Innovative ideas never starts easy, safe and expected.

>> Read more
>> Check out the amazing Chrome plugin for your daily GOOD FUCKING DESIGN ADVICE

Authenticity in design is vital, so make it count!

In this article Róisín Lafferty talks about big designers – such as Le Corbusier and Verner Panton – who knew instinctively that design has the power to change the world. What these designers all share is the art of risk taking.

>> Read more