How getting a tattoo is like working with a product team
Besides the fact that people with tattoos are the best people to hire (insert joke about being able to sit in one spot for hours while being in pain), the collaboration between client and tattoo artist is easily relatable to a designer collaborating with a product team. That being said, this is the best way to understand from the product team's perspective the variables that influences their decisions towards the final product.
First, we have to establish that in this case, I'm the product team and Wayne (the tattoo artist) is a full stack designer.
1. Submitting requirements
The idea I have for the tattoo is a dagger that relates to my Counter Strike gaming days and a script that outlines the clan I founded. The dagger of course is from the game.
Its placement is on my right forearm, and the size should take up enough space to accommodate for future tattoos (#future-proofing).
2. Discovery & Research Phase
To explain the idea, I went ahead and sketched some examples from existing tattoos I've seen on the internet. This is akin to the product team submitting requirements to the designer.
3. Prototyping Phase
Then over the course of a few days, he sent back some iterations with some colour ideas.
Ultimately we settled on a colour scheme that we were both happy with, plus it also aligned more with his personal style of custom work as well.
In the studio, the artist applies the stencil for him to trace. This also give us a last minute check on placement and orientation. Consider this a part of the high-fidelity prototype phase.
The blade was facing forward
Which is important, because upon putting the stencil on, we realised the blade was facing the wrong way. That was quickly fixed and the stencil was reapplied.
4. Execution Phase
We took a break between outlining and colouring
After it's done, Wayne then takes photos and videos for his own portfolio.
Final thoughts
Once you know where to look, the relationship between designer and product team is a lot more relatable thank you think. In both instances, the projects are high stakes in terms of budget and client impact. The only difference is that with a tattoo, it's a more permanent decision than a digital product.
Other things that were considered:
1. Budget (what I believe the tattoo is worth VS his rates for custom work)
2. Delivery timeline (scheduling the lead time)
3. Product roadmap (the other tattoos that will surround the dagger)
