To: Graphic Designers (or alike)

Hey there good people,

After eight months travelling around I've landed back in Bristol and now the hunt is on for a job. Or closer to the truth; a career. I've no intention to go back into what I was doing before (team leader at a call centre).

Due to some experience and lots of love for the role, I want to get into Graphic Design.

I would really appreciate a PM'chat with anyone who works as a professional designer (from junior upwards, and in any sector) to get an idea of my options and expectations.

If any of you wonderful people have the time for a chat I'd love to here from you.

Thank you, thank you!

[21QUEST]

Em... can't help you really but welcome back

Cheers
Ben

right.

shal i be honest,
dont bother, there is pretty much no work available.
its not a well paid industry, and to be honest - there are far too many pro's about willing to take poor money because its the only thing they are trained to do.

pm me if you wanna ask questions or seek advice

Originally Posted by bikageboy

right.

shal i be honest,
dont bother, there is pretty much no work available.
its not a well paid industry, and to be honest - there are far too many pro's about willing to take poor money because its the only thing they are trained to do.

pm me if you wanna ask questions or seek advice

This is it. For some unknown reason I thought there was money to be made, but since looking at jobs out there I've noticed demanding roles for little pay packages.

I may PM you for further questions, thank you.

21Quest; thank you. It's sort of good to be back. I hope your well old boy?

Originally Posted by Monkey

This is it. For some unknown reason I thought there was money to be made, but since looking at jobs out there I've noticed demanding roles for little pay packages.

I may PM you for further questions, thank you.

21Quest; thank you. It's sort of good to be back. I hope your well old boy?

Ha ha, alot of kids in college also think this way. More fool them when they get out into the real world and discover they're best prospect is designing letterheads in KallKwik!

In my opinion standards have dropped with pay - it was a good career in the late 80's/nineties when, heaven forbid, you actually had to be able to use a pencil, be artisticly creative and even typset by hand.

Vast influx of people taking it as a career choice = now it seems you just need to be able to use a computer and don't even have to know what a 2B pencil is!

Which is a pity as it means the really talented people out there get lumped in with the numptys.

If you have talent, try to get into illustration. Still crap pay, but at least your generally working with more likeminded people who appreciate your actual skills.

I realise everyone these days has the mastered the basics of Photoshop, but I'd like to think I have this creative advantage along with experience using the various programs. I'd just really like to make a career from it - My main goal in life is to find a career that I will enjoy, but I'm quite willing to give something a go and see where it leads. One can always change their mind.

Above all though money is important. I truely believe money makes you happy, so I want a lot of it. Perhaps this isn't the right direction for me.

How diverse and freelance do you want to be?

Some Pharmaceutical companies have graphic design departments for their drug packets.

I believe the designers come up with a new illustration, plans go to regulatory affairs, get sent back for modification and so on until the design is nothing like the original and meets requirements

Try GSK, IVAX, Roche for starters - they have branches around the country.

Originally Posted by Daphne

How diverse and freelance do you want to be?

Some Pharmaceutical companies have graphic design departments for their drug packets.

I believe the designers come up with a new illustration, plans go to regulatory affairs, get sent back for modification and so on until the design is nothing like the original and meets requirements

Try GSK, IVAX, Roche for starters - they have branches around the country.

I did exactly that for three years, it was what finally broke my back and gave me the kick to get out and try a different career path.

Boring isn't the word... uberboring perhaps, or megafantasticalwonderboring?

It's typesetting to the nth degree of legal specifications - and then you have to tack on corporate styleing that of course, your client always seems to think is more important that the legal issues of overdoes information!

To be brutally honest, in the ten years I was a graphic designer, I've worked for big firms, small, freelance - done high end illustration, POS, packaging, typesetting, publishing, corporate styling and advertising...

... and rarely got even the sniff of a 'decent' salary.

The designers never do - if it's the money you want, then you want to get into Marketing. Be the one who tells the designers what to do (and be hated for it because you've got the artistic eye of a blind man and the talent of a retarded hamster) then take what they've done and sell it to your client - raking a nice commision in the process for doing nothing that the designer couldn't do (if they were ever let out of their little cages).

My lady works in graphic Design and its a tough old world out there for Jobs. All i can suggest is get a website up advertising all the stuff you have done and get it right then put your CV on the net on various jobsites as this worked a treat for the lady.

Originally Posted by K

Ha ha, alot of kids in college also think this way. More fool them when they get out into the real world and discover they're best prospect is designing letterheads in KallKwik!

Unfortunately true. I studied Design at college and although this my seem cynical, it is a harsh reality that out of a course of 90 people, around 10% will end up being designers.

Originally Posted by K

Vast influx of people taking it as a career choice = now it seems you just need to be able to use a computer and don't even have to know what a 2B pencil is!

I was always taught that it is ideas that count. You can teach anyone to use a computer, but you can't teach someone to have great ideas.

Originally Posted by K

Which is a pity as it means the really talented people out there get lumped in with the numptys.

Maybe, but I do believe that the very talented will alway get recognised - It's just a very small percentage

Originally Posted by K

If you have talent, try to get into illustration. Still crap pay, but at least your generally working with more likeminded people who appreciate your actual skills.

Web design as well? I have a friend who is doing fairly well designing websites - more design based than hardcore codeing. The overheads are relatively tiny and your work is always showcased on tinternet. It is also quite easy to start on a frelance basis.