Creative Futures Week.
I recently sat through a talk with Gareth Lawn a Graphic Designer who currently works for View Creative. I found the talk fairly interesting and definitely picked up a few good pointers to keep in mind when the time comes to get out there and GET A JOB!!!
BE DIFFERENT… How do you successfully make yourself different in order to get noticed and to essentially stand out from the crowd??
- Most candidates send their CV via email. Why not be different and send something by post as well as email, just a few of your good pieces of work, in order to let the employer get a feel of your style prior to meeting you. In Gareth lawns case he had already showed them that he knew about photography, web design, screen print and packaging before even meeting with them.
- Brand yourself give all your work a personality.
- Create a simple website to show off all your work DO NOT OVER COMPLICATE keep it simple.
- Dont send all of your best work just a few key pieces so that when it comes to the interview you still have important work to show, so employer doesn’t get bored easily.
Interview
Know your own portfolio, practice what you’re going to say, know whats coming next. Dont make it up on the spot it can be very obvious. Importantly don’t rush through your work, take your time.
Moat importantly if you don’t get the job, don’t let it dent your confidence just simply move on. Learn from the process i.e note which pieces of work people react to best.
Freelance Designer
Negatives: You have no constant income, have to do multiple jobs, can be lonely, If you make a mistake it is all your resposibility……..BUT
Positives: You have no boss, You make the rules (i.e. how to treat clients) You take home what you earn, If your good your more likely to work with clients YOU want to work with and finally if its good it’s because of you.
To be a good freelancer: Be a brand, Know how long things take, learn how to do all your invoicing and keep on top of it, make sure the price is right and charge for everything (stock libraries, corrections, printer proofs, maps and materials)
KNOW WHAT INSPIRES YOU!!!!!
What was particularly interesting during this talk was when Gareth Lawn was asked where he stands in regard to ethics in his work and what work he chooses to take on. Lawn stated that he would not be comfortable taking on a moral campaign such as NSPCC or RSPCA. Reasons being that if the designs were not accepted and failed he would not want the whole responsibility or perhaps guilt that his work has not changed lives as it was designed to do so.
“I am a designer i do not want to change the world” Gareth Lawn.
Does the designer have a role to change lives is it their responsibility to make a change?? Well considering designers have the access to all materials, softwares etc.. along with skills and expertise I think it is a designers responsibility and role to at least try to attempt to make a change as you could argue they are the best people if only people to do so!!!!!
Chris Ramsden. Charted Society of Designers.
This talk touched upon issues of the medical world and where design lies within these boundaries. The answer; Everywhere. One point Chris Ramsden made was that if you had a wheelchair that perhaps had a mobility problem or the design was not to your liking, the owner would instantly go to the manufacturer. Why not go to a designer who could completely redesign a product to fit just your needs not for a majority.
He also commented about design on medication within surgery’s and hospitals, and how important labels were in the medical realm, stating some awful facts that miss conception of a label and dosage etc.. has led to death in hospitals. Before hearing this talk i has never even thought about issues such as these. The role of the designer had completely changed in my mind, perhaps there are no boundaries as to where design is and its importance.
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