Of course it’s a joke, but when I laughed and said:
“Good joke, now I have a question about this assignment.”
He stared at me with chilly blue eyes. He got angry and he lashed out:
‘I am so tired of your questions. You only ask difficult questions and I don’t want them anymore. Do exactly what it says and get it done by 5 p.m.’
He really wasn’t kidding. I walked back to my desk and stared out the window. I was on the 23rd floor of the tallest building in the financial district. It was a bright day. You could see almost the entire city of Amsterdam from here.
I sat down and began to ruminate.
How am I not allowed to ask questions anymore? Do I want a high-paying job where questions aren’t allowed? After all, this colleague would soon be my boss after the Christmas vacations.
If I learned anything in art school, it’s that questions are more important than answers.
Questions help me think and stimulate my curiosity.
Questions help me be a better designer.
I decided I have a good brain and I want to use it. The next day I handed in my resignation letter.
These days I call myself a strategic design consultant. And I ask difficult questions.
Questions that clarify and concretize. Questions that no one dares to ask, like the “silly” questions. Questions that broaden and explore schools of thought.
Designs to approach issues in a different way. That make the complexity of the issue and problem visually understandable and concrete.
Projects that benefit us and the world. Where we become “richer” and better as human beings. Where we make a positive contribution to our world.
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