Design’s Last Mile, The Most Important of, To and For All

Don't jump to the conclusions and enter into a world of assumptions, wait till The End, know the reality and live on peaceful terms for the time after completion of a project. Anuj Prasad from Desmania shares his insights about this phase, the last mile, as he calls it.

What is the Last Mile?

It's often seen that designers and clients start getting flustered when the project is on the brink of completion. This is the last mile and the toughest to handle, because at this stage mind is in an anxious state to complete the project and get on with the next one.

Most designers feel the euphoria during creative phases and lose steam as the project moves into technical and execution mode.Perhaps, the last mile is the most important mile in any passage of activity that must come to a conclusive end. It is also the most frustrating mile as one is almost there but yet not.

It is the same feeling as your plane circling around before landing or your train parked at the outer locations as it crawls to the destination.

Such situations make the virtual time expand to disproportionate dimension, creating a good likelihood of losing cool. Flaring up at this point is so obvious, while the challenge is to let the positive energies flow steadily.

Tough to Handle? Not Really!

Patience and perseverance is the answer.

It is like making a painting with a hazy idea and then evolving it into something meaningful. Yet the final strokes make all the difference. Believe it or not, but a masterpiece is differentiated from an average piece of art based on the final strokes.

The same holds good in design, sustained energy to keep improving till the end of the project, penetrating down to tweak the final details, small little modifications and refinements make all the difference.

Being open to inputs from the stakeholders, while responding in judiciously is an art that each one of us needs to master consciously as our experience grows.

After-Effects of the Last Mile

The last mile has the power to break long-lasting relationships. Primarily because it creates the slip between 'completion with contentment' and 'completion for the heck of it'.

A small advisory to the team to be prepared for this phase is a good beginning. Thereafter, project managers need to take on the mantle with a focussed aim to exceed the expectations of the client at the time of completion.

The intent should be to pair with the client and run the last mile as a true companion to touch the finishing line with aplomb and give a high five to each other!