Mistakes matter
by Paul McGowan
One of the more frustrating aspects of product design is the quest to eliminate mistakes and problems. Your team works as hard as it can to squash the bugs, correct the errors, cancel the faux pas and hope for the illusion of perfection.
If you get close no one notices.
It's the mistakes we pay attention to.
I am reminded of this paradigm as my book, 99% True, sits (yet again) in the hands of another proofreader. This will mark the 3d proofing of the manuscript looking for misspelled words, grammatical missteps, and violations of the Chicago Manual of Style. And if they get it right no one will notice.
Not noticing is the point.
Intellectually we understand perfection is unachievable.
The best we can hope for is mistakes so minor or buried so deep they don't stand out like sore thumbs.
Mistakes matter. They can often offer character to a product or work. As creators, we just hope they aren't the center of attention.
Paul McGowan
Founder & CEO
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