Interested in a job that could help lead to a position in graphic design

[Overground55]

Hi, I am currently unemployed and seeking a new line of work that would look good on a resume to a potential employer if I wanted to get into graphic design. Would any of you have any suggestions?

I have had plenty of retail and food service experience, but my understanding is that there is oftentimes plenty of hardware and software knowledge that can go into a graphic design job, so I'd like to seek out an opportunity that would help me get a handle on one or both of these, while having little experience in the industry. I'll admit I feel ill equipped currently to apply for a position as a graphic designer. I would guess there are opportunities out there that would train you to do what you need to do to be a graphic designer with their company, although I wouldn't have the first clue on how to find them.

Thanks all!

 

[Paul Murray]

You're going to need experience in the field so look into placements and internships. As well as experience of working in the industry, you'll also meet contacts who will likely be able to put you in touch with other contacts. The vast majority of gradates gain employment via their placements so they're a good way in. Some people may suggest looking for part-time work in a printers or somewhere, but that requires even more specialised knowledge you likely don't have, and probably isn't an ideal path to take unless you want to do artworking or print production.

You'll need a portfolio of work to present to studios as a way of getting through their door. Create a hit list of local studios you like the sound of, ask them for a portfolio critique, and once at the review ask them about a placement, or ask what you need to improve in your portfolio in order for them to consider taking you on for a week or two.

Unless you're exceptionally talented or you know somebody in the industry already, you won't be able to just walk into a position as a designer with no prior experience. Software knowledge is required but that can easily be taught. You biggest strength as a potential new employee is independent thought – what unique thing can you bring to the studio that benefit them? I suspect most studio directors would take someone with a fresh way of thinking but a clunky way of doing things, over a designer with an average portfolio but exceptional software skills.

A lad form my course was terrible at presenting his ideas using software, but his ideas were amazing and he easily got placements in some of the top Manchester agencies on the strength of the concepts alone. Ironically I think he works in a bank in Australia now though…

 

[Levi]

I have had plenty of retail and food service experience, but my understanding is that there is oftentimes plenty of hardware and software knowledge that can go into a graphic design job,

How I love how graphic design has been reduced to being about the hardware and software in the eyes of the masses....it's not just you, it just gets annoying after a while, along with the 'I'll pay you if I like it', 'I'll pay what I think it's worth' or 'can you do this for free' responses we get on an almost daily basis...

The hardware and software is basically the least important thing when you do design, they're tools like a knife in a kitchen or a till in a shop. Creativity and understanding the fundamentals of design with things like kerning or white space and even just knowing about different design styles are far more important than the hardware you use.

If you want to get into design you need to train so you can get an understanding of what makes good design, it's not just picking up a mouse and clicking a few things here and there. IMO the best way to do that is a course at a college or university, this will then potentially open up the possibility to get into a job placement etc but to put it blunty, graphic design as a whole is one of the most difficult fields to get your foot in the door because you'll have people with far more experience trying to get the lowest level of the job in a design studio.

 

[Overground55]

You're going to need experience in the field so look into placements and internships. As well as experience of working in the industry, you'll also meet contacts who will likely be able to put you in touch with other contacts. The vast majority of gradates gain employment via their placements so they're a good way in. Some people may suggest looking for part-time work in a printers or somewhere, but that requires even more specialised knowledge you likely don't have, and probably isn't an ideal path to take unless you want to do artworking or print production.

You'll need a portfolio of work to present to studios as a way of getting through their door. Create a hit list of local studios you like the sound of, ask them for a portfolio critique, and once at the review ask them about a placement, or ask what you need to improve in your portfolio in order for them to consider taking you on for a week or two.

Unless you're exceptionally talented or you know somebody in the industry already, you won't be able to just walk into a position as a designer with no prior experience. Software knowledge is required but that can easily be taught. You biggest strength as a potential new employee is independent thought – what unique thing can you bring to the studio that benefit them? I suspect most studio directors would take someone with a fresh way of thinking but a clunky way of doing things, over a designer with an average portfolio but exceptional software skills.

A lad form my course was terrible at presenting his ideas using software, but his ideas were amazing and he easily got placements in some of the top Manchester agencies on the strength of the concepts alone. Ironically I think he works in a bank in Australia now though…

Do you find that the world of art working and print production don't often coincide with what a graphic designer does? I had to actually look up what an artworker does, and it sounds like he still has a "design" job in that sense that he fixes the quirks of a design. Is a typical graphic designer working for a firm or company, large or small, usually not going to fill that role themselves?

I am interested to see what passes as an exceptional portfolio in the design world. Is there a website or resource you are aware of which displays incredible portfolios that you may go to for inspiration? I'm certain a google search could turn me up some answers, but was curious to hear from someone who is interested enough in Graphic Design to moderate a forum based around the subject.

Lastly, I was curious about your last statement. Any idea why the fellow left the design world to go work at a bank? lol

 

[Overground55]

How I love how graphic design has been reduced to being about the hardware and software in the eyes of the masses....it's not just you, it just gets annoying after a while, along with the 'I'll pay you if I like it', 'I'll pay what I think it's worth' or 'can you do this for free' responses we get on an almost daily basis...

The hardware and software is basically the least important thing when you do design, they're tools like a knife in a kitchen or a till in a shop. Creativity and understanding the fundamentals of design with things like kerning or white space and even just knowing about different design styles are far more important than the hardware you use.

If you want to get into design you need to train so you can get an understanding of what makes good design, it's not just picking up a mouse and clicking a few things here and there. IMO the best way to do that is a course at a college or university, this will then potentially open up the possibility to get into a job placement etc but to put it blunty, graphic design as a whole is one of the most difficult fields to get your foot in the door because you'll have people with far more experience trying to get the lowest level of the job in a design studio.

I apologize for giving you the wrong impression. The more I have invested time into graphic design, the more I have come to appreciate the real art behind it. I have no doubt that the skill itself is more important than the software that makes it possible. This concept actually carries over to many, many industries.

 

[Paul Murray]

Do you find that the world of art working and print production don't often coincide with what a graphic designer does? I had to actually look up what an artworker does, and it sounds like he still has a "design" job in that sense that he fixes the quirks of a design. Is a typical graphic designer working for a firm or company, large or small, usually not going to fill that role themselves?

They overlap tremendously, especially if you're working in design for print. But artworkers typically take the files designers have produced, and reproduce them ready for print. Knowing to how to produce print-ready artwork is a fantastic skill for a print designer to have, but it's quite a specialised role. Most artworkers I know only ever do artworking. They're typically not designers, nor do many want to be, but this depends on the size of the studio. Having print experience is useful but it may not be enough to get a position as a designer due to lack of actual design experience.

I am interested to see what passes as an exceptional portfolio in the design world. Is there a website or resource you are aware of which displays incredible portfolios that you may go to for inspiration? I'm certain a google search could turn me up some answers, but was curious to hear from someone who is interested enough in Graphic Design to moderate a forum based around the subject.

The trouble with curated lists and blog posts is the work included is often biased or opinionated in some way (or the designers have paid a fee to be featured). Studios typically will want to see an 'eye for design' things like being able to arrange elements in a visually pleasing and logical manner, being able to pick complimentary colour palettes and pair fonts. They don't expect a professional level from a graduate or student but you will be expected to have work in your portfolio that shows you actually know how to design to a decent level.

Lastly, I was curious about your last statement. Any idea why the fellow left the design world to go work at a bank? lol

Probably because he was moving to a new country and it was easier to just apply for a full-time job somewhere than it was to try and get into a studio with no industry contacts over in Oz.