Constraints are a designer’s best friend. They’re signposts, not shackles. In a sense, constraints amount to the solution half-built. It is merely up to us to then realize the other half according to what these signposts indicate is appropriate. Nowhere in this concept does self-expression find any valid foothold.
A List Apart: Articles: On Creativity
While getting caught up on A List Apart, this paragraph by Andy Rutledge stuck out. I’ve always thought this without realizing it.
To many people the word “constraint” carries a negative connotation. Constraints are things like a curfew or a short budget.
But to a designer, or anyone working on a project, constraints can be godsends. They act as limitations innate to the task that narrow your focus and thus decrease the amount of overall work you have to do.
It’s like having to mow a manageable, fenced-in lawn as opposed to a sprawling field.
