Why Great Design Often Requires a Pivot
I’m just going to say it:
I love a good pivot. (IYKYK).
For me, it’s not a setback, it’s usually where the best design solutions happen.
Most designs start as one thing, and then reality steps in. A finish isn’t feasible. A colour won’t print consistently on different mediums. A supplier has limitations. That’s not failure, that’s where the magic happens.
A quick story
The other day, I was working on a new packaging project and asked the manufacturer for her recommendation on a specific coating. She paused and said,
“Are you really asking for my opinion, Nadine?”
Ummm… yes, why wouldn’t I?
Turns out, most designers just tell her what they want. Even when she raises red flags, they push ahead with their vision. That shocked me. I’m an expert at what I do, but so are printers and packaging manufacturers, and in completely different ways. Why wouldn’t I want their input?
The reality check
The last thing I want is to design something beautiful that ends up trashed on a retail shelf because it doesn’t hold up. Given a choice between:
An incredible idea that fails in the real world, or
A slightly different idea that performs beautifully?
I’ll pick the latter every single time.
Why boundaries are brilliant
For some designers, a pivot feels like compromise. For me, it’s the moment things get really interesting. Checking in early, asking the unsexy questions — Will it scuff? Will it fray? Will it ship?, is how I make sure my work stands up.
Boundaries, whether it’s budget, production, or materials, aren’t roadblocks. They’re what spark sharper, more creative solutions. They’re the thing that keeps good design grounded and great design possible.
The fun part
Design doesn’t live in a vacuum; it has to hold up in the real world. And honestly? That’s where it gets fun.
The pivot isn’t something I fight. It’s something I embrace. Because when the perfect meets the practical, that’s where the smartest ideas come to life.
👉 Now the question is: Are you team pivot? Or team “stick to the vision no matter what”?
