Flipping failure in graphic design: A design mindset method to navigate mindset loops and pathways to professional success

Design is in constant growth, and this growth runs parallel with the development of a society in which graphic designers are engaged in creative problem-solving on a day-to-day basis and is reflective of current times and the issues faced globally. Communication designers are engaged not only in creating visual output but also in their methods and process thinking, working with and through failure for clients developing craft ability and knowledge expansion. Well-defined or ill-defined (including wicked problems) are presented, such as plastics consumption and waste, global climate change, and virus pandemics. Graphic designers can use design methods and processes to create design solutions that benefit society. However, this process is not always straightforward, and many designers encounter obstacles and failures on their journey. This thesis reviews literature across multiple disciplines: graphic design, education and psychology relating to failure and mindset including the conversation surrounding these subjects. In the graphic design discipline, this thesis investigates the problem-solving processes and divergent and convergent theory, including the singular topics of failure that the designer may experience. The thesis focuses on graphic design industry work environments, identifying failure where graphic designers shared lived experiences that included social connections such as clients, art directors, account managers and colleagues. This study seeks to understand the differences between fixed, growth and creative mindsets to see how this influences graphic design practice. The thesis investigates flipping failure in graphic design by developing a Design Mindset Method prototype to assist individuals in navigating mindset loops and pathways to professional success. This includes challenging failures, which present as obstacles, avoiding effort and criticism, including missed opportunities. The research asks the following questions: What do graphic designers think of failure? Does the designer choose to work through a failure? Does the designer permit themselves to fail, grow and be creative? What type of method or process does the graphic designer use to navigate through the failure using mindsets? How do graphic designers navigate failure, and what is the process? Nine graphic design participants currently working in the design industry were interviewed (semi-structured). The interview questions were designed to reflect the fixed, growth and creative mindset characteristics, challenges, obstacles, effort, criticism, and the success of others. Graphic designers discussed failure in the design industry, sharing their lived experiences and how they problem-solve failure. The information acquired through the literature reviews and interview analysis informed the development of a novel method introduced in this work called the Design Mindset Method (DMM) prototype. The DMM prototype has the potential to be used in the graphic design industry including educating emerging designers, individuals and collaborative groups on how to approach and navigate through failure. The aim of the DMM prototype is to act as a communication tool to support emerging graphic designers in navigating through failure when working solely or in a group.