Thread by @berkun

1. One of the best lessons about #design I learned from working with Steve Capps (original Mac team). We worked on a project together in the 1990s.

I was just a kid but we'd debate ideas - next day he'd show prototypes... including ones I suggested and that he didn't like.

2. He was a luminary reporting to my VP and could have ignored me for 100 different reasons. But he gave me, and my ideas, the benefit of the doubt.

By his actions he taught me if you're going to explore, you sometimes take bets against your instincts. Or in weird directions.

3. He reinforced what I learned from my better bosses - everyone should feel like the best idea wins, or at least has a chance, no matter who or where it come from.

To see his prototypes, which were often built as multi-variate playgrounds, including my ideas was thrilling.

4. This experience changed how I collaborated. And what risks I'd take in prototypes and concepts.

If *he* was willing to put in extra hours to explore *my* ideas, I had no excuse not to do the same for people on my teams.

5. We're taught some bad lessons about how "brilliant people" behave - and design culture often reinforces it. It's mostly based on fear and insecurity.

If better ideas is really the goal, shouldn't we all be exploring more? And confidently inviting people in to the process?

6. That experience with Steve 20+ years ago will stay with me forever. And I look to model it when I'm the more experienced or influential person in the room. It's what I teach designers and creatives too.

What's your big story of who influenced you creatively, first hand?