Axis Confusion

Something I heard quite some times about our design studio is the following: “you guys work pretty hard, but your studio is still such a relaxed environment!”.

I would say yes. And no.

No because I think it’s a misconception to put “working hard” and “relaxed environment” on the same axis. I think the dimension is rather “anxiety” to “happiness”.

If you work hard, but you are convinced you’re doing the right thing, you understand your goals and your context and you are at the right place with the right people, you’re happy. This might look like a “relaxed environment” to outside people. You might be completely exhausted and currently going through a lot of pain, so the least thing you’d call yourself is “relaxed”. But what you’re doing makes sense, so you’re happy and people can sense that.

But if you’re working in an environment where you’re mainly being told to do things you neither understand why you should do them nor enjoy doing them, then you might actually be driven by some kind of anxiety and frustration (from the inside or the outside). You look stressed out and busy like a real workaholic, but you’re not productive at all.

I once had an enlightening conversation about “pressure”: it’s often associated with stress and compulsion (I used to conceive it that way!). But it can also mean the machine is running smoothly and effectively. You’re in the right flow.

Time constraint, for example, can impose a lot of stress and anxiety. But it can also pamper you with just the right dose of energy and motivation to fulfill your goals happily.

My name is Christophe Stoll, i’m a co-founder of precious design studio in Hamburg, Germany. We help innovators to shape meaningful products and services that people love to interact with.