Renowned Apple designer Susan Kare, who created the original Macintosh icons and digital typefaces like Chicago and San Francisco, has shared some valuable tips for young designers hoping to make it big.
In an interview with Fast Company, the 60-year-old design icon imparted the following words of wisdom, which were “faking it until you make it” and the fact that “design never really changes.”
Recounting her salad days as a rookie designer, Kare said she knew nothing about typefaces and taught herself typography by borrowing books from the Palo Alto library, even bringing them along to her interview at Apple. Her perseverance and ability to work within constraints was how she created the Chicago typeface.
On the topic of digital and analog design, she said that although design has evolved thanks to technology, not much has changed over the years.
Comparing mosaics and needlework to pixel and bitmap art, she stated it’s not the medium that matters, but “thinking hard about what you want to do and what you have to work with before you start.”
Candid and honest, Kare’s words will surely serve as useful advice for aspiring designers to keep in mind as they build their careers.
Head over to Fast Company to read the full interview.
[via Fast Company]