Elizabeth Goodspeed Advocates for Designers Writing About Their Own Field

Elizabeth Goodspeed, US editor-at-large for It’s Nice That and an independent designer, argues that designers should write about their own work to improve understanding of the field. She notes that without such writing, design is often misinterpreted. Goodspeed reflects on her own experience, having written professionally for nearly five years while designing since 2004 or 2010, depending on when one starts counting. She observes that writing helps designers clarify their thinking and make it accessible to others, with both her design and writing stemming from a fascination with history and unresolved ideas. Goodspeed highlights examples like Ray Masaki, a Tokyo-based designer and critic who explores cultural mistranslations and Japanese visual culture, and Michael Bierut, whose writing focuses on decision-making in design projects. She emphasizes that writing forces designers to articulate ideas explicitly, unlike visual work where concepts can remain implicit. According to Goodspeed, when more designers write, it changes how design is discussed, leading to more precise and grounded conversations. She points out that much existing design discourse occurs in fleeting online formats, but sustained writing creates a durable record. This shift can counteract superficial reactions, such as those seen in debates like the Cracker Barrel rebrand, by providing context and depth. Goodspeed concludes that writing has enriched her engagement with the field, fostering connections with other professionals and moving beyond placeholder text like Lorem Ipsum.