Adam Savage uses 'purple spaceship' trick to manage ego-driven bosses

Navigating the ego of the total control freak

Working under a boss who demands total control isn't just a professional hurdle; it’s a direct threat to the quality of your output. When a leader refuses constructive criticism, they often force you to use substandard techniques that result in mediocre work. I’ve seen it firsthand: the friction between a bad boss and a skilled maker can stall even the most promising project. The challenge isn't just surviving the day—it's protecting the integrity of the machine or the model you're building.

The art of the intentional error

One of the most effective tactics for handling art directors who feel the need to "do something" is the intentional flaw. Adam Savage describes a classic model-maker move: adding a "purple detail" to a spaceship. By giving a controlling boss a specific, easy-to-fix error, you provide them a target for their energy. They feel productive by spotting the mistake, they demand a change, and—most importantly—they leave the rest of your high-quality work untouched.

Seeding ideas and letting them grow

When you're dealing with a yeller or a narcissist, direct confrontation is a losing game. The goal is Inception—phrasing your best ideas as mere suggestions or leading the team so gently that the boss eventually claims the solution as their own. Sometimes, you have to sit back and watch a terrible idea play out to its logical, messy conclusion before the room is ready for the right fix. It’s a test of patience, but providing the solution after the failure is deeply satisfying.

Engineering around bad design

The same resourcefulness required for office politics applies to the workbench. Savage recalls his frustration with a Volkswagen Jetta, a machine he loves to drive but hates to repair. When the Volkswagen engineers used complex cables for windows instead of simple levers, or proprietary nylon springs for side mirrors, they created a barrier for the DIYer. Savage’s response was pure maker grit: he machined a custom approximation of an OEM tool just to snap a mirror back into place, proving that whether you're fixing a car or a workspace, you build the tools you need to bypass the nonsense.