This afternoon a few of my co-workers and I got a rare opportunity to tour Pixar Animation Studios. Big thanks to Ben Ramirez for hookin it up. Our tour guide was Randy Nelson, Dean of Pixar University (Interestingly, he is a former developer for NeXT Computer Inc. according to LinkedIn). To say the least we were all very impressed with not only the facility, but Pixar’s work flow and philosophy. Here are a few highlights of what Randy had to say about Pixar and how they work.
- The Hardest part of what Pixar does is finishing a project with one set of finger prints (one vision) that is worked on by teams of people. Getting individuals to work in teams and getting team players to be individuals.
- There is no bad idea. There are only ideas that match and don’t match the creative concept. Ideas that don’t match go into a pile to be used at another time or to be re introduced as the project evolves.
- Criticize work in front of everyone in an environment where people are physically facing the work on a screen. There should be no secrets. What you say to one person should be heard by all.
- Criticize the work, not the person. The person may be really talented, but the direction of the work could be totally wrong.
- Look at your work from an outsiders perspective. It’s easy to look at work from a experts point of view, but opinions from someone that doesn’t know how to do what you do are even more valuable.
- Extra, not excess, makes an enjoyable and friendly environment. If you do not offer enough resources, people will hoard and not share. If you offer excess resources, people will take it for granted and not take advantage of it. If you offer just a bit extra, people will share and be willing to contribute their own time and resources.
- A third of the creative process is in concepting. Two thirds are in the implementation. The back in forth interaction between the directors and the implementors is where most of the creative process is.
- “Plus” each others work. Let others now what they can do to bring it to the next level. This is an idea from Walt Disney (the person).
In addition they had three “prime directives” that they followed day to day.
- Everyone must have the freedom to communicate with anyone.
- It must be safe for everyone to offer ideas.
- We must stay close to innovations happening in the academic community.