It’s that happy-joy-joy time of the year again. Yes, Macworld Expo kicks off next week in San Francisco on January 15th. Steve will be delivering the keynote, and is expected to entice Apple fans with a new mouthwatering product. The rumor mills are abuzz with whispers of an overhaul to Apple’s notebook line and the launch of an ultra-portable Macbook. Sweet!

Don’t have passes yet? You can still get a free exhibit pass here.

If you can’t make it in person, check out live coverage at Mac Rumors Live.

So are you going? Do you believe the rumors? What are your predictions for MacWorld?

Photo by acaben

Until this week.

On Monday, Macworld launched a beta version of their spanking new site. For readers, it was an early holiday present. For me, it was also a surprise—my design was shelved. Denied. Rejected. Canned.

Here’s what the new site looks like

(Sorry for the giant images.)

Here’s my original design

(Sorry for the Lorem Ipsum.)

Sure, I’m a bit disappointed. Nobody likes rejection, but I’m being a good sport. I’m not sinking into a deep dark depression, I’m not fuming mad, and I don’t blame Macworld.

Why am I not pulverizing pixels in a fit of rage? Because rejection (in design) is a good thing. Two reasons why:

1. Rejection makes you tougher
   In design, rejection not only happens, it happens a lot. Designing is about editing out everything that doesn’t work. For this reason, you’ll hear “no” more than you do “yes.” Think of rejection as a process of design, and you’ll be less sensitive to next sting of rejection.

2. Rejection makes you smarter
   Rejection allows you to reexamine your work. In hindsight, I look at my version of Macworld and now cringe at the one million things I could have done differently. Why did I put that there? Why didn’t I…. okay, okay, I’m moving on. Instead of obsessing over flaws, I ask “what were the other possible options I did not think about? What issues did I not consider?” This process of discovering options helps you think smarter on the next project.

To reap the benefits of rejection, you have to:

1. Recognize that it sucks, then reframe it as an opportunity.
   I know that sounds like management training mumbo jumbo, but think about it. Why waste time dwelling on something you can’t change? Learn, then move on. Period.

2. Cut the umbilical cord to your work
   Social rejection truly does hurt, but this isn’t about that. Your portfolio is not a physical or spiritual extension of you. You are more than your work. When someone criticizes what you’ve made, they’re talking about the work, not you.

I suspect there were myriad business reasons for Macworld’s decision to develop a different design. Change in management, change in backend, change in business goals. All might have happened within the past year. Amidst these types of changes, it’s not a surprise my design failed to meet Macworld’s new and emerging needs.

I still proud of my work. I’m also proud of the team at MetaDesign that worked on it with me. No matter which design is chosen (or rejected), relaunching a large website is a feat. Sincere kudos to Macworld.