This document describes 9 different types of designers: 1) The Fortress of Solitude focuses solely on their own ideas with little collaboration. 2) The Social Butterfly is highly influenced by others on social media. 3) The Hipster keeps up with trends but may not have their own unique voice. 4) The Rebel designs for innovation's sake without considering objectives. 5) The Independent Consultant works alone without input from others. 6) The Copycat takes ideas from others without creating original work. 7) The Van Gogh spends too much time on visual design without testing usability. 8) The Unicorn takes on entire projects alone without focusing on any one area. 9) Each type is given a caution about potential

1. Which Designer
are You?
1
?
The
“Fortress of Solitude”
Like Chuck Norris, you are a force of one.
Once you’ve developed a concept, you just
put those headphones on and roll with it...no
matter what!
Caution - Lack of collaboration may limit
innovation.
2
Innovation
Focus
Collaboration
Organization
The
“Social Butterfly”
By 8:30 AM, you’ve already changed your
status on Facebook, retweeted some popular
blog posts, and sought inspiration from
Dribbble.
Caution - Over-exposure to other influences
may limit your point-of-view.
3
Innovation
Focus
Collaboration
Organization
The
“Hipster”
You’ve got the right influences, attitude,
fashion sense, and cultural awareness.
You are “in-the-know” about the latest
Design trends and how to apply them.
Caution - Are you Designing with your
own, true voice...or re-hashing the Design
“trend-du-jour”?
4
Organization
Innovation
Focus
Collaboration
Organization
“Rebel without a Cause”
Caution - Remember that Design, by definition aims to achieve objectives.
Innovation
Focus
Collaboration
Organization
The
“Copycat”
Like the social butterfly, you draw your
inspiration from others. Unlike the “Social
Butterfly”, however, you take it to the extreme...examining the work of others and
incorporating it entirely into your own.
Caution - You are going to get busted.
Innovation
Focus
Collaboration
Organization
The
“Van Gogh”
Although you are using modern day tools,
like Photoshop, you act like a 19th Century
painter. You spend countless hours shifting
pixels around a static representation of
interactive experiences.
Caution - You are spending too much time
thinking with your eyes, and not enough
time validating the experience.
8
Collaboration
The
You are on a mission to shake things up. You
are a “Super Creative”, and naturally veer off
of the beaten track. You are innovative, but
your innovation is for innovation’s sake...not
necessarily to deliver on project objectives.
7
Focus
“Independent Consultant”
Caution - You’ve been on your own, awhile.
What are the sources of your inspiration?
6
Innovation
The
Like the “Fortress of Solitude”, you are a lone
gunman. However, you take it to the next
level. As an independent, you don’t even
show up to an office. You’ve got your own
workflow, and you don’t need anything but a
contract.
5
?
Innovation
Focus
Collaboration
Organization
The
“Unicorn”
You can take on the entire project, from
start-to-finish, because you are master of all
things Digital...from concept, Design, and
execution. You use the latest tools, process,
and are a reference for those who work with
you.
Caution - Are you taking on too much?
Jonathan Lupo
Innovation
Focus
Collaboration
Organization
@userexperience