A list compiled by Jamie Wieck of 50 things every graphic design student should know on leaving college. Some of these points are obvious, others less so - but all are brief, digestible nuggets of wisdom that will hopefully go some way to making the transition from graduate to designer a little bit smoother.
[some of my favorites]
4. You cannot score without a goal. - If you don’t know what you want, then how can you pursue it? Having a goal defines an end point, and subsequently, a place to start.
5. Starting anything requires energy. - It takes more energy to start than it does to stop. This is true for physics, your career, and that idea you need to work on.
9. Curate your work. - Never stop editing your portfolio. Three strong pieces are better than ten weak ones – nobody looks for quantity, just quality.
10. Listen to your instincts. - If your work doesn’t excite you, then it won’t excite anyone else. It’s hard to fake passion for mediocre work – scrap it.
17. Make friends with a printer. - A good relationship with a printer is invaluable – they will help you save money and the environment.
20. Ask questions. - Assume nothing. Ask questions, even if you think you know the answers. You’ll be surprised at how little you know.
35. The environment is not a limitation. - The environmental impact of your work isn’t a fashionable consideration – as a creative, it’s your most important consideration.
38. Do not underestimate self-initiated work. - Clients get in touch because of self-initiated work. Ironically, business is excited by ideas untouched by the concerns of business.
45. Be an auteur. - Regardless of who you’re working with, speak up if something’s not right. Take it upon yourself to be the barometer of quality.
48. Get out of the studio. - Good design is crafted from understanding the relationships between things. These connections can’t be found when locked in a studio.
There's some really great advice here, although i can't say i agree with 100% of it.
"50 things every graphic design student....."
ReplyDeleteAh, and I was expecting "50 things..." and found there to be 10, but I see now these are 10 of your favorites FROM the "50 things..."
Well of the 10 things, I can mostly relate to this:
"10. Listen to your instincts. - If your work doesn’t excite you, then it won"
As a Graphic Designer for 12 years now, I recently for the first time as such am job hunting, the hardest part of this is completing my portfolio. much of my artwork usually gets "botched". I design print ads and the clients of the company I'm employed with, usually end up changing things which result in, crowded ads, clashing colors or cheesy irrelevant imagesI I'm working on remaking the artwork how it is supposed to be. I have yet to apply for 1 job!