I know it’s been said many times, but why is dyslexia such a challenging word to spell? Which cruel person came up with this?
As a Creative Director who’s dyslexic, I’ve always found this a little ironic.
Personally, I struggle to process written words. It often takes me a while to absorb the information and a little longer to be able to write things down. However, I’ve never let this hinder me.
From a young age, I realised there’s a hidden superpower behind dyslexia. While I may struggle in some areas, I’ve really got a handle on others. I can recall number plates, postcodes and telephone numbers from my early childhood. I also have unusually strong attention to detail when it comes to visual accuracy.
This is good for me and my role, as I can spot the slightest out-of-place pixel. Much to the exasperation of my team, who have become accustomed to my fastidious attention to detail.
When it comes to writing, I’ll always lean towards a copywriter, but I have a great eye (or ear) for tone of voice for the brands we work with.
Thankfully, there’s a lot out there for people like me. Audiobooks, podcasts, Grammarly and ChatGPT, to name but a few. They’ve all been transformative for my written communication.
By developing strategies and finding processes that help me navigate the daily aspects of dyslexia as a Creative Director, I feel more comfortable in my differences, and more confident in getting my opinion across.
My advice to anyone with dyslexia, whether you’re in the design sector or not, is to try new ways of thinking, embrace new tools and establish processes that can help you communicate.
The beauty of creativity is its diversity. And dyslexics are some of the most diverse thinkers out there.