Creative director, founder, educator, artist—Arianna Orland holds many titles to her name. Across all of her work, Arianna cultivates her joy for the craft of design.

Arianna is currently Director of Product Creative for Cross Meta Design Systems. In addition to her work at Meta, Arianna is the co-founder of In/Visible Ventures—a design-led venture, investing in visionaries shaping the world. Also under the In/Visible umbrella, Arianna co-founded In/Visible Talks, a conference for creative professionals that celebrates the art of design.

Arianna's commitment to driving the design industry forward is further evident in her role as Board President at Creativity Explored, a San Francisco nonprofit nurturing the creative potential of people with developmental disabilities.

Visualist speaks with Arianna about continuous learning, the need to retreat offline, and the definition of good design.

In Arianna's own words.

No shortcuts

Complete the sentence: Design is not magic, unless ...

Design is never magic. It is a blend of hard work, expertise, craft, and strategy. Magic implies a certain effortlessness that I feel undermines the energy great practitioners invest in outcomes. Good design can feel like magic when it helps people experience the world in new and transcendent ways.

Is your "creative process" a habit or a ritual?

Neither, I don't have a one size fits all process. I think all processes should be right-sized to the team and the assignment. I view my own creative process as more of a set of conditions that I need to be successful perhaps closer to habit than ritual.

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Learning and re-learning

Which scares you more: a: a blank digital screen or a blank physical notepad?

Neither, I'm no longer afraid of beginnings. In fact, I love them. I wrote a little about my love here.

What's one thing that you were better at during the start of your career versus now?

Gosh, I can't think of anything. I had so much to learn then and still do now.

Having a sense of humility has certainly served me well over the years. I’ve always felt extremely fortunate to have a career centred on creativity.

What's one thing that you have to re-learn regularly?

That I am enough.

My imposter syndrome doesn't ever seem to go away. I've just gotten better at recognising it and understanding how to deal with it.

I also have to relearn that I need to feel inspired to better inspire others.

To grow into a better designer, do you have to develop into a better critique of design or a better acceptance of design critique?

Both. It's extremely important to develop a studied eye and the ability to think critically about not only the work of others but your own as well.

As a young designer, you will likely be in the receiving position. An important skill here is the ability to discern the difference between feedback and direction. You will need to develop muscle to be able to synthesise diverse input, defend the work when needed, and interpret the best of what you hear to fold back into the work itself.

If you find yourself in the giving position, it's really important to deliver your input in a constructive way. Ask folks what kind of feedback would be most helpful so you can meet them where they are. Focus on the goals of the work and any gaps you see in what's being presented.

How have you learnt to trust your own creative process?

This came with experience. I can't quite say when it happened but I can say the more you trust yourself, your gifts, and your own experience, the more you will be able to find your path.

Offline therapy

You work across different mediums: the mouse & keyboard, the letterpress, the pen. Which feels the most like 'self-care' for your creative mind?

Analog mediums feel more like self-care to me. I spend so much time in front of a computer that I find making physical things very restorative. In fact, this weekend I made a whole bunch of fresh tomato sauce from tomatoes I grew and feel like a million bucks.

When your creative reserve runs low, is that usually because you're topping it up too slowly, or because the reserve is draining too quickly?

Topping it up too slowly.

I can over-index on the work in front of me to the exclusion of everything else. I often have to re-learn that going to a museum, scouring magazines, and reading about anything that sparks my curiosity are all forms of self-care.

What's your #1 tried-and-tested refuelling tip? What's something you've tried that didn't work?

My number one tip is to look up. Look at the sky, look at the clouds, stare at the ocean if you can. Feel the grass under your bare feet. Close your eyes and feel every inch of the breeze on your skin. Hug a tree. Get some sleep. Meditate. Stare into the middle distance. What a gift it is to be in this world.

Things that don't work for me are watching any kind of online video content. Not because it isn't great, there's a ton of fantastic stuff out there. I just need to be away from glowing rectangles and out in the world.

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Off the Cuff

What does your 'creative flow' look like?

It feels vibrant, connected, alive and joyful.

Does good design have to be iconic? Is iconic design always good design?

No. Good design doesn't always have to be iconic.

Good design makes people's lives better. Good design helps people navigate and understand the world in new ways. Good design creates access. Good design considers how it will be experienced and strives to make that enjoyable.

I think of iconic as memorable or it can even be a little self-centred. To me, good design comes from a more humble place, a place of service.

If you had to break it down, your creative process is _% heart and _% mind. Why?

The creative process for me is more of an alchemy, than a formula.

With every project, every team, and every challenge there's always learning and growth.

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Find Arianna on Instagram and LinkedIn.

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