April 06, 2008
Tips for budding design superstars!
Part one - I think we all forget what its like starting out as a fresh-faced junior in that scary and intimidating busy design studio. Here’s some of the tips that helped me push on.
College / University
Ask yourself this, “am I ready to unleash my powers on the world just yet?”
First off, you’re in education learning the trade. The best thing about studying is the amount of independent learning you do. You can gather a style for yourself. Your own mark that will separate yourself from the rest. Ask yourself this, “am I ready to unleash my powers on the world just yet?”. Maybe your style could do with some more tweaking and refining, Maybe your tutor is an invaluable resource and your learning so much....If so you’re in the right place...for now.
But If you think that you’re ready to jump headfirst into the design industry, Great! What’s that I hear you say? You won’t be able to find a job without a degree? Trust me, It doesn’t matter how old you are or what qualification you have If your portfolio is good enough then so are you. There are jobs out there, just waiting for you. We at Flame are looking for a junior designer and Summer Interns as I speak.
Finding a job
So you have honed your skills, have a respectable portfolio and have curved your sleeping pattern back into shape. What to do now?
- Sort your CV/Resume out, PDF’s a nice format.
- Get your portfolio online, if your a web designer make sure your code validates and it displays nicely in the main browsers on a mac and PC.
- Search the job listing boards, here are some that list jobs for the north-west of england. The Serif, thedrum
- Research the local agencies, the best in the region. Ring them up and ask for the email address for the person who’s in charge of the job openings.
Send your CV and explain a little about yourself and what you can offer. Sending in a basket of cakes always goes down a treat and will at least get the person in charge to read your email twice-over.
Hopefully you will have some interviews lined up now, if not don’t give up. Keep going, its all about pushing on. Getting yourself into the office is the most important thing you can do. The idea is to be creative, and communicate your creativeness to your potential boss. Do this and you’ll soon be working in a exciting and rewarding studio.
Soon I’ll talk about asking for help making mistakes, asking for a pay-rise, being a active voice in creative meetings and other various tips which I haven’t come up with yet.
posted in Ramblings •
said
Thanks for the comment Doug,
Thanks for putting my site in your flickr feed to!!
Haiming said
What rob me is the design thought…
Phil Thompson said
Thanks for the great information Ian.
I know when I started I did exactly the same thing (except I went to uni first) and I sent out emails/mailshots to all the agencies in and around Manchester.
Unfortunately, very few of them got back but then again, I never sent in a basket of cakes with my letters!
said
Thanks Ian for a great post. Some good tips in there. I’m beginning this process at the moment. Just finished my second year of uni (1 more left) and hoping to get a job and gain some experience during my final year.
Looking forward to reading more.
web design said
Starting out as a junior is always hard. Good tips for beginners
Nathan Beck said
This is a fantastic and very true post. I’ve recently started working with Ian at Flame Digital, an amazing opportunity I’m very lucky to have been given.
But I’m only 18 and I don’t have a single qualification in web or graphic design. I’m mainly self-taught and have simply spent many evenings and weekends over the past 2 years trying to cram in as much as web design knowledge as possible.
It just goes to show that qualifications aren’t everything. That dedication, perseverance, a good portfolio and a pinch of luck can go a long way.
Now my real education begins…
Online forex trading plaftorm said
you are very smart, i like your post it is one of the best that i read in this week, i learned from it a lot, pleas keep writing.
said
Thanks for your advice. It’s scary going out into the big bad real world.
I’m in my final year and am currently looking around the web design job boards for roles that would suit my skill level. I’m thinking maybe I should take a year out and use some of the time to develope my commerical skills.
Anyway, thanks for writing.
said
your genius man! You feed me with this great info. Thanks for sharing this.
psd to htm said
It helps me a lot. You enlighten me with this one thanks!
Canada jobs said
Very good article, Thanks! The most important thing in the job search process is not to give up. Nobody was hired with only 1 job interview.
Affordable car insurance quote said
I’m giving this link to my webmaster right away!! thanks! 
Doug Avery said
Nice write-up, I’ll be waiting for the next post in this series. One issue I ran into with my own education is the woeful lack of instruction on the web in college...I had to learn this stuff in bits and pieces from colleagues after graduation, and it took far longer than it should’ve. Do you have any tips for soon-to-be grads who want to enter the huge, daunting field of web design?