The design world, like most artistic fields, occasionally gets a reputation as an easy place to inhabit. After all, designers aren’t out there fighting wars or putting out fires; their confines are usually air conditioned offices with background music, and clients who come to them for help. Some designers even become world famous and make a great deal of money. It leads the uninitiated to assume that designers have a stress-free, cushy job that doesn’t require toughness or courage. Nothing is farther from the truth.

Like many artistic pursuits, a designer in any industry has to first know the technicalities of their industry, inside and out, backwards and forwards. There is usually no time to consult reference manuals and even less time for research. This means they cannot be academic slouches. Like all craftsmen, they rely on dexterity of their brains as well as (possibly) their fingers. The real work comes in blending that learned skill with innate and inspired artistry.

Now, some artistic careers allow for the execution of creative whims without parameters, while others place specific restrictions on ingenuity. Guess which is more difficult? It’s one thing for an artist to design something never before realized; it’s another to do so in terms of structure, material, size, shape, content, compatibility, and durability-all the while striving for universal appeal.

And then there’s the issue of being one’s own business manager, bookkeeper, PR spokesman, and webmaster. Some designers are lucky enough to have secretaries or assistants, and others join firms, but many opt for the entrepreneurial life. Those folks now have all of the headaches of running a business, in addition to operating said business based on the blend of art and technicality. Since everyone has a different view as to what constitutes good design, success is not as clear cut as with products that either work or don’t work. Art always carries with it that unpredictable element of interpretation.

Finally, there is the issue of emotional bravery. People who don’t take chances out of fear of potential criticism can be described as wimps, and good designers can’t indulge in such hesitations. When one considers the amazing architecture, furniture, art, media, and clothing resulting from designers’ talented perseverance, it’s clear why the end results have a place in history. Every masterful creation carries with it a mix of human spirit and evolution.

It is up to designers to expose the ever-widening boundaries of choices, and to continue as catalysts for the “Wow” effect. It’s a special burden, but also a special privilege-and definitely not for wimps.