2 mm to the left !

How often we come across the request , well the design looks brilliant and actually perfect but could we just move this text VERY VERY slightly to the left, maybe about 2 mm. Sometimes the request is even for 0.5 mm to the left or right or top or bottom and so on.

The question is , does this make a difference and if so, how much. We need to answer this as very often a lot of iterations are undertaken and a lot of time and money is spent in just these very fine adjustments. So it is important to understand if these inputs are IMPORTANT !

The perfection in design comes with a fine balance and alignment based upon some well understood design principles but very often in the eye of the beholder and more often than not in our minds. Lets examine this, if it is to ensure congruence with a well established design principle, well yes , it is then not only desired but one would say mandatory for the developer to correct the shifts and positioning in decimals of millimeters. If it is in the eye, it could be subjective but definitely needs attention, one should try to execute the recommended change and debate the rationale. If it is in the mind, the issue becomes critical, how does one establish if the recommended suggestion makes sense. More often than not, if it comes from some one very senior in the Organisation, whether with any sense of aesthetics or not, the Packaging developer just tends to give in rather ' better to surrender ' .

I define this kind of development as ' Design by Ego'. This happens all the time, a wonderful design developed is often ruined as it goes up the Organisation ladder if the principle of ' Design by Ego ' is constantly at work. Sometimes these small Millimeters shifts, shaving offs , stretching etc. can lead to not only delays but also ultimately a BAD design.

The developer needs to bear in mind that he/she holds the responsibility of not only the development but sensible development, not only output but meaningful output. To ensure that one must have logical reasons to implement these so very subtle reasons and also very logical reasons to to 'Say No' if and when required. Lets be honest to our work and to ourselves, lets be guided by the necessity and not just subjective desires and lets be able to stand up and defend our own creation.

The big danger is that there is a very fine line between ' being honest to oneself ' and being 'Close minded', let that not happen to the developer. Getting close minded could be not only detrimental to your work but also lead others to discard your defense for the design, branding you as ' Close minded '.

The big advantage of giving due attention to often the apparently ' Design by ego ' is that it could be challenging a very well established design principle and perhaps changing the rules of the game rightfully. In such a case you need to examine the 0.5 millimeter shifts as who knows there could be a breakthrough which you may completely miss out. So let that not happen to us !