People wonder:

”Why do people in the creative industry always work till the witching hour?”

“Why do creatives always work from dusk to dawn but never the other way round?

“Why are creatives addicted to coffee and are nocturnal beings?”

This is common. Most creative professionals will tell you the same thing: “I work best under pressure”, “The last minute inspiration is always the best” and “The night is more in sync with our creative synergy,” well… not exactly these phrases but along the same lines.

Excuses for being a last-minute worker or merely a syndrome, which applies to most creative professionals?

Q: Too Busy…?

A: The corporate hierarchy will vote a full score of this habit and coined this as Bad Time Management. Bad management you think?

Well perhaps… If only our clients are systematic with what they want, stop making amendments at the last minute and their logos bigger, then perhaps this judgement is valid.

Too bad, clients do not know what they want. They only know what they don’t want.

Q: Uninspired...?

A: This is a syndrome and habit, which one should protest adamantly. Creatives can be busy. We may say we are doing sketches and research for the project. But we cannot do ourselves injustice for saying we are Uninspired. We are creatives. Never use this vulgar word.

One point being: No one is paying you for your muse visits.

Q: Preferences...?

A: Your company has just got a property account and you have to build concepts and mock-ups on that. Autocad, building perspective and floor plans. It bores you to death and you do not want to do it.

The problem is you don’t have a choice. Nobody pays you to do what you like to do.

Q: Research...?

A: Design annual books. Every nook and cranny of the design portals in the world over the internet. Newspapers. Tear sheets. Reading client’s brand identity and scrutinising past advertisements.

Creatives are hardworking bunch, we are. Even if there are evidences and tendency of similarities with other’s designs, well… “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery...?”

Q: Prefectionist…?

A: Last minute designs or writings are always the best and most satisfactory. Many would dare vouch and say This Is Not An Excuse. It just happens. And it happens a lot.

Untill the last of the ticking second hand, we will perfect every curve, every contour...

Q: Procrastination…?

A: “The observant reader may feel at this point that structured procrastination requires a certain amount of self-deception,” John Perry, Professor, Stanford's Philosophy Department.

Q: Excuses…?

A: Maybe but we are sincerely going through this syndrome – a constructive syndrome.

Irresponsible…?

A: Projected to be but never are.

Metropolitan, cosmopolitan and the undogmatic society. The speed of needs are being made in a quick and requirements are met. Everyone wants everything fast.

The least onlookers can do for us is to let us work our own comfortable way. Last-minute or not, it is the way that work.

Half of the time we are more pressured by the people in suits who expressed their “concerned” and “surprise” about not getting things done 3 days before deadline, than our last-minute tendency…

Bianca Zen

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p/s: Anyone staying in Seattle? Any closet writers?