The Young Designer’s Guide

We asked Design Professionals to provide insight for our readers from their personal, real-world experience and unique point of view. We asked them to take a moment to jot down their thoughts on the phrase, “I wish I knew then what I know now…” as it pertains to design. Here are the responses:

“As a young designer out of school I assumed I knew what my career was going to be like. But I soon found frustration as a few things happened that I did not expect. To my “amazement” I wasn’t hired on immediately as a high-paid designer to get rid of my debts I had accumulated in college. The industry is tough – and there is always someone who can create work that is aesthetically better than you. But after time I realized businesses are looking at “how it looks” second. First they want to know how it solves their marketing initiatives. And once I started listening to the clients more – and stopped designing just to my personal tastes – I found myself becoming more successful. Solve the problem first – then figure out what it needs to look like. Concept is King.

Second – not all that glitters is gold. I’ve worked for some agencies that do high-profile work. But I found myself unhappy and unfulfilled. Know yourself and find a company that fits the type of work you want to do. I had always done freelance work for non-profits – and where I usually had the chance to work on 1 or 2 projects a year within an agency – I found the rest of the time I was working on helping people sell widgets. So after about 10 years of changing jobs I went off on my own that now allows me to work directly with many non-profits all year long. This makes me happy. Companies I left are still very successful – as they do find people that have a passion for the type of work they do. And at the end of the day – that’s what it comes down to. Find a place that you have a true passion for what they do. And then you’ll love going to work – instead of waiting until 5:00 to do something that makes you happy.

Last bit of advice – get involved in the design community. AIGA, Art Directors or Ad Clubs, ICOGRADA, SEGD, etc… And most important – take the chance to talk to people before and after the events. Volunteer and really get involved. There are some wonderful people out there that can become mentors, friends, peers, etc… I’ve gotten the chance to meet some fancy folks, travel the world – and even met my wife. You’ll never know where it will lead – but not taking the chance is a missed opportunity. ”

— Stuart Alden
Idaho Stew + Ink Lounge Gallery
www.IdahoStew.com / www.InkLoungegallery.com

“Never attend a press-check immediately after an eye-exam.”

— Dave Anolik
quango design + marketing
www.quangoinc.com

“Treat your colleagues with respect; both your peers and the senior members of your team. Listen carefully, ask intelligent questions, bring something to the table. You’ll learn a lot more about your profession if you don’t come across as a snotty conceited know-it-all doofus nobody wants to work with.

Work hard. Use your brain, hands, and heart.

Your ideas will be challenged constantly by everyone, every day. Learn how to defend them gracefully. Learn how to present your work clearly, and to think on your feet. Learn how to sell your concepts.

Knowing budget and production constraints is a necessary part of the creative process in graphic design, especially if you don’t want to go broke.

Have a life; get away from the computer or whatever and do something different to recharge your batteries.”

—Sarah Aubry

“I wish i knew that my personality and ability to sell myself and convey my passion for design, were more important than the caliber of my portfolio, when interviewing for a new design job. i also wish i’d known how important it is to be persistent. The fact is that there are tons of talented designers out there who can put together an awesome portfolio… YOU have to be the one to distinguish yourself from them with your ability to show your future employer the other things you’ll bring to their office. They are looking for a “cultural fit” much more than they are looking for a talented designer.”

—Laura Ancona
Sterling Brands
www.sterlingbrands.com

“If you would have told me 10 years ago, I would be designing magazines on Alcatraz kitchen inmates or branding a John Muir museum & retail product line for the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, a non-profit, I wouldn’t have believed you! Trust that your design career will take you places you can’t possibly imagine now.

As diverse as the graphic communications profession is, there are just as many variables to the type of design job and work environment you can find. Try and align yourself, from the start, with a career path that is right for you by choosing wisely and patiently what your next career move will be. Consider, what will be the right work environment, people, job, and
advancement opportunities for you and your career goals.

Line your portfolio, resume, and skill set with the type of work you’d like to be doing, even if you have to create that work yourself for imaginary clients. Show potential employers “this is what I can do, and this is what I want to do”; NOT: “this is only what I’ve been allowed to do so far”.

Don’t be shy about creating your own opportunities to get the work you want into your portfolio and the necessary skill set into your resume. Teach workshops, offer training to business professionals, do design work for churches, or offer your design skills to your current employer or local businesses. Be creative in how you get where you want to be, after all, you
are a creative professional!

Also, keep in mind, choosing graphic communications as a career, is just that, a career. It isn’t “just a job with a check”. Your day does not end at 5 O’clock, your brain never stops working or creating, you will always need to keep up-to-date with technology and the design industry, you will always be researching “something” (personally and/or professionally), you will
always need to keep your portfolio and resume current no matter how far up the design chain you go, you will need to be active in design community participation and networking, and you should always consider what you need to learn, gain, or get in order to find your next job, especially if you want to work your way up the design ladder.

Finally, don’t forget, that your design career is more than “design”. You need to be well-versed in leadership skills, interpersonal relations, and project management. Given how small the design community is, and it is, and how many companies and people you will come in contact with on a day-to-day basis, your reputation will follow you wherever you go. Even if you only communicate with direct bosses and co-workers. So, loose the attitude, and learn to be be personable, friendly, helpful, kind, professional, dependable, and hard working. No one likes a snotty, lazy, difficult to work with, know-it-all.”

—Louise Audell
Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy
www.parksconservancy.org

We hope you have found their words to be useful and inspiring. If you have a question you would like answered EMAIL US. (submit@youngdesignersguide.com Subject title: Need Expert Advice) We’ll get some answers straight from the design world served fresh. Thank you to all who contributed!