Be Humble

Throughout the last ten weeks or so, and especially this week, these two words have radiated like a neon light in my mind and are resounded by professionals across the industry. I’ve already worked with a fair share of people in school and through my jobs: creatives, strategists, account managers, etc. Some people have been kind, generous, and encouraging. They’re “yes and” types of people who take part in and encourage others in the creative process. They were talented but didn’t allow their talent to blur their vision. However, I’ve also worked with some not-so-humble people; people who take and don’t give, who brag, and who shut down any ideas that aren’t their own. A humble human is a breath of fresh air compared to an egotistical one, especially in advertising.

I met so many kind, humble people this week, at large shops and small shops. Out of every location, however, one shop stuck out the most. Pentagram. Yes, Pentagram, as in the largest independently-owned design studio in the world, with offices around the world and partners who are basically celebrities in the design industry. But also, Pentagram, a shop full of talented but humble designers.

To begin with, I reached out to several staff members from Pentagram on a whim, wanting to set up a visit for a small group of Ducks interested in design. I know absolutely no one at Pentagram, and I didn’t know anyone who knew anyone there. So, I found several people on LinkedIn, Googled their email addresses, and reached out to each one of them late on a weekday night. I wasn’t sure who would respond, so I made sure that I contacted a variety of staff members. I even reached out to two of the partners, Paula Scher and Michael Bierut, who have been featured in an endless amount of articles, interviews, and podcasts throughout their careers (they’re part of the designer celebrity group I mentioned). To my complete surprise, every single person that I emailed replied to me within 16 hours or less, including Paula and Michael. They all seemed excited about setting up a visit and two Pentagram professionals welcomed seven of us with open arms on Friday.

Pentagram thrives on collaboration with each other and clients. When we were there, I didn’t hear any bragging about talent or the work (although everyone knows that it’s worthy of a little bragging). Instead, they simply shared projects and the strategy behind them. By the end of the visit, we learned that all eight of the NYC partners work in an open space with the rest of the staff members, and they work closely with the youngest designers to develop the best work. Paula and Michael are great mentors to other designers and take time to hear each one’s perspective. The professionals we met with admitted that they still don’t know everything but that half of the requirements of getting a job at Pentagram (or anywhere, really) is showing that you can learn quickly and work well with others.

I left Pentagram feeling inspired and a re-invigorated sense of humility. I started realizing it a while ago, but this confirmed that, once I’ve “made it” in the industry, I want to spend the majority of my time mentoring generations below me. I never want to become so big that I forget where I started and the people who helped me along the way.

Emily Foster

5.13.18