I was asked by a college student to answer some questions about life in the design world. You might be interested to hear some of my responses.
Designer Interview Questions:
1. Have you specialized in any particular area of Graphic Design?
I specialize in web site design. We do some logo design, business cards and stationery but mostly do web sites and web graphics.
2. If so, did you choose this area or did it sort of develop over time?
I started out doing print design. I took classes in Illustrator and Photoshop, as well as DreamWeaver (for web site design). It wasn’t until about nine years ago that I started doing web sites. I’ve been trying to keep myself narrow in focusing just on web design but I find that logo design can be a good door opener for doing web sites, too.
3. What advice do you have for a graduating Graphic Designer?
I would tell a graduating graphic designer to do as many real life projects as possible, even if they are low paying or non-paying. This will start building your portfolio and give you experience. As someone who hires designers, I don’t really look at someone seriously if they don’t have a serious body of work for me to see their style and abilities. I think it’s also important to have a web site to put the portfolio onto. This can be a simple thing but it should show your abilities. You can have a friend develop it for you if you don’t have the ability right now.
I would also tell a designer to get varied experience, both in print and web sites. The more well rounded you are, the higher the likelihood of getting hired. As you gain experience and opportunities, you can start concentrating on the areas that you like the most and are better at.
4. What do you think is the most important asset of a fantastic designer?
I think the ability to look at multiply ideas and keep an open mind is one of the best features of fantastic designer. I’ve taken some training in improv and one of the things we learned was to say “Yes, and…” rather than “No, it’s really…” You take what someone has to say and then go with it. There comes a time later in the process when you evaluate ideas but the exploration stage is not when you do it. You should read the book “A Whack on the Side of the Head” for ideas on brainstorming. Or “A Kick in the Seat of the Pants” has information on the four stages of the creative process. They are both written by Roger von Oech.
I have a web site called www.ezcreativity.com that has some good information brainstorming and the creative process.
5. Some people say, “You don’t really start learning until after you graduate”. How do you feel about this?
I think this is semi-true. If a person can mix real world experience with their training, then they are way ahead of their classmates, such as getting internships and side jobs during college that incorporate design work, even if it’s just in a sign shop.
6. How much value do you place on Mentor-ship? Are you a good mentor?
I’ve never had a formal mentor in my days. I’ve had bosses who were good friends and taught me some things. But often they were more administrators than creative people. The one creative person I had was too involved in his own projects to be a good mentor. I kind of mentor the contractors I have working for me. I think I’m patient and instructive but there is nothing formal there.
7. Do you think Graphic Design and Visual Communication can be a lifelong and profitable career from a Virtual Office atmosphere?
I know people who do have a profitable career in a virtual office atmosphere. I think it takes several years of working with a team before you get to this point because you’d be too narrow in your abilities otherwise. When you have a good reputation as a great designer, easy to work with and a quick producer, than you’d have a lot of opportunities to work in a virtual workplace. I have a guy who just flew to Thailand yesterday and will be there training in martial arts. He will continue to do work for me because he’s good at what he does and is easy to work with.
8. Which do you think has served you best your formal education or your experience?
My formal education served me better because it allowed me to work on projects I wouldn’t have otherwise. I would have been reduced to just supervising designers rather than doing it myself. Now that I’m doing more supervision of design that actual design, I can understand things better and give good suggestions.
9. Do you think it a necessity to return periodically, for formal training throughout your career?
I think it’s really important to keep learning software especially. This helps you do things faster and better than struggling along with software you don’t understand well. I think having continuing training is also important with such things as drawing and photography.
10. If you could change the past, what’s the main thing you would change about the path you walked in becoming a designer?
I would have taken more design classes when I was younger and learned more about perspective. I did some of that self taught. I would have also learned more about color theory and learned how to draw better.
11. Are there additional comments you would like to add to this interview?
I have work with many designers over the years. The ones I’ve enjoyed the most are the ones who are easy to get along with and are flexible. There is something to be said about being talented but there is also something to be said about being easy to work with. I had a woman who I supervised who was a talented designer but you never knew when she was going to bit your head off or freak out. There was another woman in the group who was less talented but was so much more approachable.
Also, the great designers I’ve worked with had a good understanding of color theory and fonts. They didn’t fall in love with a certain color scheme or a certain font type.
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