Journey into the design industry

Journey into the Design Industry Tips, Tricks E Free Portfolio Review So, you're looking for a career in design? You dream about working for a leading design agency. You want it to be the absolute truth when you say to people, "I'm a designer". Well, all these things can happen if you follow these simple steps. I have almost 20 years experience in the design industry. My team and I have taken junior designers and transformed them into heavyweights in few years. Recently, we've successfully put seven graduates into full time design careers in an exceptionally competitive industry in just ten weeks. a III II If you're serious about being a designer, then this guide is for you. So, read on! Start Work hard NE Work on personal projects Research the industry (1 208 Enter design competitions Be Prepared Help out family and friends with free design work 4-O Do an internship or find work experience Create a personal identity Here's a checklist of some things you should be doing right now, if you're not doing 100% of these, make it happen. Well, it all starts here doesn't it? You must absolutely BE PREPARED. Be prepared to work long and hard, be prepared for some late nights, be prepared for your work to be judged with a fine tooth comb, be prepared to get it wrong, then get it wrong again, but this time in front of a room full of people, before you then get it right. Be prepared for someone to be better than you. Be prepared to learn and move with the times. This, however, is just the start. O Research the industry O Work hard O Work on personal projects O Enter design competitions O Help out family and friends with free design work If what I've just said here worries you, then have a long think about if a career in the design industry is really for you. If you're up for it, then read on... O Create a personal identity O Do an internship or find work experience Organise your work Work on the layout A2/A3 Brief notes 2 Be passionate Build your Portfolio Range of work and skills Spruce up Uni work Quality not quantity Proof read You're nothing without a great portfolio. This is possibly your single ticket into the industry. Think about how many portfolios a Creative Director or Studio Manager sees. I've literally seen hundreds. You're up against the rest of the world here so your portfolio has to be exceptional. There are a few ways to do this so listen up. Organise your work; your portfolio should read like an emotion. Start off on a high with a great piece of work, something you're proud of - maybe something for a well known brand. Be eloquent about it. Live and breathe it. Then follow with some other work that shows variety and diversity. In the middle of your portfolio, your work should hit another high. Keep their interest. Remember they're likely to be seeing at least a dozen candidates, so you can't afford to lose their attention. Then after a few more pieces of really competent work, finish on the ultimate high. You want them to remember you, and you certainly want them to be talking about you after you've left. :******** Organise Work Size Layout Organise your work into a good order with Think about how this comes across; how Make the layout of every single piece of eight to ten pieces as a maximum. Make several people around a table can interact work consistent. Show uniformity. Show you number one amazing, make number five as with your portfolio. It should be either A2 or A3. know your craft. Also, make sure you have amazing, and make number ten the best! Use individual sheets that can easily be passed photographed your work to showcase it around and discussed. Present it in a nice at its best. clean case. Show you care and you're keen to impress. Brief Notes Spruce Up Uni Work Proof Read Make a list of key points on each project that Revisit some projects that you did months ago Common mistake of designers: I honestly have you want to get across. Learn them and that you were pleased with but can do better never met one that can spell. I think it's a articulate them well. with now. creative thing! Regardless, check your work and have someone else check it too. Be Passionate Show Variety Quality not Quantity Always show work you are passionate about Make sure you show a range of work and skills. Cliché, but this says it all! and can speak confidently about it. Vary the work. You're a designer after all, so Demonstrate to the prospective employer that you should be able to adapt your skills from you really understood the project, delivered corporate literature, to packaging, advertising what the client was looking for, and be able to and website design. Don't miss anything out. showcase the great results this work achieved! Approach all Design a CV and cover letter Apply for Work Experience/Job Hunt Research the company Don't dictate a salary Keep trying Follow up Apply for Work Experience Job Hunting strategy The whole purpose of this page is to help those of you that really want to make it. It is seriously difficult to get into the design industry, therefore you have to give yourself every chance. You're likely to be up against other designers with a year or more of experience under their belt, so you must put in the extra effort and give it We've always advised our work experience students to start gradually looking for jobs at week seven. At this time you'll be gaining confidence and have 40-50% of your portfolio ready and will be ready to implement a strategy. your all. Employers, although advertising for a junior role, (which is probably what you're going for) will still be looking for experience. This might baffle you slightly at first, as I'm sure you realise, most young people have been too immersed in their studies to have time for formal work. Additionally, getting this work to start with can be near impossible You simply cannot apply for the odd job as it pops up. Outside of the obvious jobs advertised, you'll need to devise a strategy to target every agency that you would like to work for in your chosen area and also since the employer desires previous experience. It's a catch 22! To get the work, you need experience and to get experience, you need work. further afield. However, fear not as there is genius solution! It is to offer your time for free. Many companies will happily accept your generous offer and in the process you are building valuable experience and a great portfolio. Make a list of companies you aspire to and would really like to work for. Get the correct name of the person to send your abbreviated PDF portfolio to. As I've mentioned above, we've put seven University leavers into full time design careers, each of them being awarded either the first or second job they went for. This unequivocally shows the power of good work experience. Record the date you send your CV and portfolio to them. Each of our work experience learners gave their time up for free for ten weeks. Within Have a follow up procedure. Don't just 4) rely on them calling you up. They are busy people with demanding jobs to do. this time, they got a true insight into the industry, they got to work on some leading UK and international brands, and most importantly, learnt to do it right to a commercial standard. Their ultimate reward was a job-winning portfolio and the job itself followed quickly after. It doesn't get much better than that does it? Keep trying without being a pest. Follow these simple steps and you never know where things may lead. Hopefully it will be great things! It's not unheard of for an agency to give someone a chance with a good portfolio, just because of timing. Design a creative CV and cover letter: 808 Approach all companies even if they are not advertising • Make it relevant, talk about the role you are applying for and why you would be perfect for the job Research the company • Praise the company and show you are passionate about working there and have done your research Don't dictate a salary. Say you want a chance to prove yourself Make sure you include your contact details Be yourself Know where you're going Talk with confidence Interview Strategy What to wear Follow up So, you've studied at University for three years, you've given ten weeks of your time to an agency to help build you a job-winning portfolio and now you've got an interview. Now is not the time to blow it because you're not prepared. You'll be asked what you know about the company interviewing you. You must read their website front to back, you must know their work and their clients, you must be specific and mention projects you really liked and why. of Know Where You Are Going Be Yourself What to Wear Don't be someone you're not. Always Not too casual, not too smart. This is a trendy be yourself and let your personality business so make an effort to portray this. If you're not sure, do a recce or at least give yourself plenty of time to get there in shine through. case of unforeseen circumstances. Always make provisions. How to Present Follow Up Your Portfolio Follow up if you've not heard for a couple of Know each piece of work inside out and speak weeks. If you're not successful, ask for with confidence. Present your portfolio to feedback. Learn from it, make adjustments your interviewer and talk them through the and move on. journey of your work. Get feedback EPSIR Develop & learn new skills Your First Job Work hard Be on time Stay late We have reached the end of our training! I hope you've enjoyed and have been motivated by the information in this guide. I know I had fun writing it, with the satisfaction in mind of it helping thousands of people to achieve their dreams, including you! Just by reading this through to the end, you have already taken the first step on your pathway to success. Apply the information I have taught you and you will achieve your goals. Here's my last bit of advice when you're in your first job. 1) Continually ask for feedback if you're not being told how you're doing. 2) Continue to develop and learn new skills. And lastly and most importantly Get in on time, work hard, stay late... that is all. Good luck. Written by Ollie Piddubriwnyj, Managing Director of Fifteen Design Limited Free Portfolio Review Want expert advice? We are offering free portfolio reviews to advise you on the strengths and weaknesses of your current portfolio. Simply fill in the form below and we will get in touch. Terms and Conditions: The Fifteen team will make every effort to respond to as many portfolio reviews as possible, however a critique is not 100% guaranteed. Only one portfolio submission per person. Response will be by email only, no verbal or face to face feedback will be given. A portfolio must be no more than 10 pieces of work. The review will outline main strengths and weaknesses of you portfolio. You must allow 14 days for a response.