Unleash the Pixel Power: OuterEdit Graphic Brilliance Unveiled!

1. How should designers deal with feedback?

Looking back at our own personal experiences, the approach we take to feedback always stems from keeping an open mindset. While feedback might hit you like a harsh critique at the beginning, it could also reveal itself to be a valuable piece of advice. 

When faced with challenges, we don’t see them as roadblocks; but instead recognise them as opportunities for unlearning, relearning, and a chance to exercise our creative thinking. It also becomes a discernment process, sifting through the input to identify what would be most helpful and impactful for your work. Oftentimes, you may even get pleasantly surprised at the positive outcomes that unfold from it. 

2. How have the needs for visual design changed over the years?

To us, we see visual design not just as an outcome, but as a platform. It is a powerful tool to emotionally connect with people and that purpose has always remained true over the years. It pointed us to the heart of what it means for us to be designers & creatives in an ever-complex, fast-paced society. It’s not about what you make, but what you can make happen, that’s different, better, pushes a needle, drives new solutions and ways of thinking to make a positive impact in the lives of others.

3. What was the most difficult moment when developing your idea?

Reflecting on our experience with Christmas with Our Trees, a challenging moment was striking a balance between meeting our clients’ commercial needs and staying true to the initiative’s original intent and creative vision—both crucial for project success. A business without soul lacks depth, and creativity without a business perspective may lack direction. Ultimately, success lies in mastering both ends of the spectrum.

The Don’t Mind If Inaugural Industry Report posed its own challenges as a self-initiated project. Collaborating with the Don’t Mind If team, we eagerly crafted a brief free from client constraints. Despite navigating pandemic restrictions and working with zero budget, it became a labour of love—sifting, processing, and visually translating countless pages of raw data, all on volunteered time.

Facing another challenge, our goal was to design not just a report but a publication for and with the local communications design industry, community, and profession. It aimed to be an accomplished piece of graphic design—a true representation of our community and what graphic designers can achieve together.

4. What are some new things you learned about yourself and the users as you were designing?

Our journey with Christmas with Our Trees served as a profound learning experience because it marked a completely new and unprecedented path for us. The initiative began with a conscious effort to introduce an authentic, intentional, and local Christmas celebration by emphasising the significance of our local trees at a time typically associated with splendour and extravagance. 

The true measure of its value and impact became evident when upon the installation tear down, Millenia Walk (MW)’s shoppers not only embraced the concept of adopting a locally-made, repurposed ‘seed’ block for themselves but some even opted to double their spending efforts to secure two. This unexpected response bolstered our collective confidence in how our creative efforts can be a vehicle for imparting meaningful messages, encouraging progressive behaviour, and enriching the holiday spirit in ways that go beyond the surface of glitter and glamour.  

In shaping the Don’t Mind If Inaugural Industry Report, we placed ourselves in the shoes of a reader, reflecting on what would excite us in a publication such as this, and what would inspire us to read on till the very end. More than visually showcasing a report, we wanted to treat this as a publication in its own right, representing the values, aspirations, spirit, and philosophy of the Don’t Mind If initiative and the communications design industry. 

This vision became our guiding principle to ensure each page or spread was as “poster worthy” as it could be while maintaining an easy-to-digest format. 

We also learned how to work smart with the limitations we had, tapping on existing resources while maintaining a high standard of design and print quality. And so the publication was designed and printed with 2 colours (+black) on dead stock paper generously sponsored by RJ Paper. 

Through this process, we also realised our responsibility and accountability in being able to represent the voices, and opinions of our community, and so another pivotal learning experience for us was to look through the data through an honest and progressive lens, ensuring that the findings and sentiments of the industry remain objective, balanced and true. No sugar coating, or gas lighting. Embracing inclusivity and diversity by representing all viewpoints. 

5. What are you future plans?

The past few years have ushered in a refreshing change for us at OuterEdit, as we’ve purposefully undertaken work and projects that are truly representative of our collective belief to make meaningful matter with bold ideas and impactful stories while connecting them with communities in fresh and unexpected ways. Initiatives like Christmas with Our Trees and the Don’t Mind If Inaugural Industry Report fall into this category among others.

Looking forward, our aspiration, as creative thinkers and solution-makers in the branding, graphic design and creative experience space, is to continue pushing boundaries, explore new ways of thinking, and most importantly, impart a positive difference and meaningful change to the lives of others. 

On that note, we are thrilled to share that the second edition of Christmas with Our Trees was also launched in partnership with the MW Creative Neighbourhood in November 2023. It is gratifying to see the fruits of our labour continuing to grow, presenting new opportunities to expand the narrative and further contribute to our local ecology. 

6. What was the inspiration behind your product/design/idea?

The inspiration for our projects goes back to our ethos of making meaningful matter. Fundamentally, what propels us is not just an ability but a responsibility, if not an obligation, to ensure that the essence of every project reflects matters of the heart. This principle is strongly reflected in initiatives like Christmas with Our Trees and the design process of the Don’t Mind If Inaugural Industry Report.

7. What is the best part about your job?

The most fulfilling aspect of our work lies in working with exceptional team members and partners, turning each project into an ongoing journey of learning and growth.

A prime example is our involvement in Christmas with Our Trees, which proved to be an incredibly enlightening experience. Initially unfamiliar with local trees, our interactions with one of the last remaining sawmills in Singapore unveiled lesser-known stories that deepened our understanding and appreciation for our local ecology and resources, especially during the festive period. 

Similarly, our foray into designing the Don’t Mind If Inaugural Industry Report began with little to no knowledge of data analysis and book publishing. Yet, it is through the process that we gained invaluable insights, empowering us to bring the project to completion and that is something we would consider immensely rewarding.