Be A Design Cast 29 : How to Get a Job In Graphic Design
by Nate Voss, (22 comments)
We welcome our good friend Rob back to the show to throw down on a topic that has been making the rounds lately: Getting a Job in Graphic Design. For some reason this topic always makes the rounds in late winter/early spring, as near-graduates race to figure out what they’re going to do when the dorms kick them out and their parents stop buying them food. So we touch on everything including portfolio tips and pet-peeves, presentations, web vs. printed portfolios, cold-calling, resumé secrets, and much, much more. Also Rob busts out “visual tofu” on Helvetica’s ass. Not to be missed. This week’s homework: send us photos of your super-designed portfolios and we’ll post them to the blog. The email address is in the show (skip to the chapter called “This Week’s Homework”). We want to see who’s got the best!
Also check out last season’s rant/tirade Getting a Job is Like Dating for yet another spectacular view on joining the workforce of design.
Right click to download Be A Design Cast 29 to your computer (10mb), or subscribe directly from iTunes.
Comments (22)
Mike Miller said:
Poor Jimmy….
Hey, what’s B.A. Barracus’ number? And when did he start an agency? (if someone has no idea what I’m talking about, take a listen – you won’t be disappointed)
Great cast guys.
Posted on March 7, 2007
Designer said:
What is your opinion of portfolios like the ones made by Lost Luggage? http://www.lost-luggage.com/lookingglass.php
Posted on March 8, 2007
Nate Voss said:
I think they are pricey. If you are rich, totally go for it, but I’d rather have a new iPod or an Xbox for that much money. Except for the wood-grain one. That one is teh awesome.
My more opinionated take is that while portfolios like those are really nice, they still won’t make up for poor or lackluster work. Some really great portfolios can be found at art stores like Dick Blick for much, much less. I think I bought mine at Office Max or something about 6 years ago, and it works really, really well. Never caught a page in the rings, not once.
Posted on March 9, 2007
Evan said:
I haven’t had a chance to listen to the cast yet, so maybe you do cover this in it… but I come from an environmental design/architecture backround. I’ve become accustomed to making my portfolio very custom. I don’t think I’ve ever done one in 8.5”x11”. I usually have a different page proportion and have it custom bound. Is this a good thing, or a bad thing, in your opinion? I know some firms require a standard 8.5x11” portfolio, so I’d probably have to conform to that, but otherwise?
Posted on March 9, 2007
Nate Voss said:
Architecture portfolios are like a foreign language to me, man. But if you have the skill, technical ability, and creative energy, go for the custom. Just don’t let it overshadow your work.
Posted on March 9, 2007
Donovan Beery said:
None of the places I have ever interviewed at had a required portfolio size. As long as it’s easy enough to haul around and it doesn’t overshadow your work, everything else should be seen as a bonus.
Posted on March 9, 2007
Donovan Beery said:
None of the places I have ever interviewed at had a required portfolio size. As long as it’s easy enough to haul around and it doesn’t overshadow your work, everything else should be seen as a bonus.
Posted on March 9, 2007
Bill Kerr said:
I want someone to post their portfolio images as discussed in the podcast! Come on, folks!
Easily the strangest portfolio I have ever seen was in the form of a magic viewfinder. Seeing a poster in 3d separated from the wall behind it was really trippy.
Posted on March 9, 2007
Evan said:
Yah, that is definitely something that I have noticed other students having a problem with, is getting carried away with the portolio, and not letting the work speak for itself. I’ve been wondering what I should do when starting to construct my graphic design portfolio, because I have never actually seen one. I’ve kinda wondered if the portfolio becomes a piece of work in itself, or if it should be left barebones with the projects standing completely on their own. There might not/probably is not an answer to this though, I’m guessing.
Posted on March 10, 2007
John P said:
Great job on the Podcast. I’ve been enjoying this quite a bit.
Posted on March 10, 2007
Respiro, the logo designer said:
Don’t you have it as mp3 file? I would be interested in it. Thank you!
Posted on March 12, 2007
Respiro, the logo designer said:
Don’t you have it as mp3 file? I would be interested in it. Thank you!
Posted on March 12, 2007
E.---Unemployed said:
Hey all! Listened to the podcast and it is Great! Good sound advice, that helps dispel the myth that trying to make a living as a graphic designer is about the same as trying to make a living as a interpretive dancer…i.e. very narrow odds.
Which brings me to my next question. I am presently seeking a job that will initiate my career as a graphic designer, and have found that the process has taken longer then I could possibly imagine! (I’ve been forced to back home with my parents! Like George Costanza! I’m 30 also!) So far it’s seems that there are two avenues to persue. Production OR Creativity.
What is more important and what will land me a job quicker.
Is the actual creative aspect just a bi product of production work. Or are agencies really concerned with actual “creativity” and look for people focused on genuine creativity.
Should I devote my self to mastering the Adobe Software Platform, and not worry so much about creativity. Or should I maintain my emphasis on creativity.
HELP!
Posted on March 13, 2007
Nate Voss said:
E —
Adobe Suite: Yes. Learn it. You can’t become a painter without knowing how to use a paintbrush. The Adobe CS is a pretty standard industry tool. Especially if you might be headed into production.
Agencies: Every design firm or agency I’ve ever known is obsessed with creativity. As they should be. Our entire industry builds off of it.
Production work: Generally takes the half-finished, not-polished work of designers and art directors, refines the details and makes the project suitable for production. Many designers take their first steps in this type of a job and later move on and up the ladder. Others make quite a living at it and are perfectly happy to persue production work as a career.
If this is your first job in design, you may want to aim for a production position for the first year at least, then after working at it decide if you want to move into a more creative role.
Thanks for listening —
Nv
Posted on March 14, 2007
Scott Perez-Fox said:
I have a question regarding online portfolios, as I am currently in the process of re-designing my personal site. You mentioned that when presenting a book, you should end on a high note and leave them with something to remember. But does that apply to the web? Don’t people get bored and click away after they get through the first few? Should we order our on-line portfolio in a top-heavy manner or should we follow the same rule and end on a high note?
Also, I don’t want to go into web design, but at the same time, I want to show versatility and present the fact that I -can- do web work if required. What do you think is a good approach?
Also, what is your opinion about employers who demand “HTML/Flash experience a plus” for nearly every position - are they asking too much from print designers?
Love to hear your opinions. Cheers!
Posted on March 14, 2007
Donovan Beery said:
Of course HTML and Flash are listed as a plus. If one of the things the hiring company sells is web design, these are skills that allow you to be a more valuable hire.
With websites, things are not always viewed in the exact order you intend, so it probably doesn’t apply as much, if at all, especially as you won’t be there guiding them through the site.
Posted on March 14, 2007
justinpaluch said:
I just found a decent page about common resume mistakes:
http://www.lifeclever.com/the-7-deadly-sins-of-resume-design/
Found it, along with several other good links, here: http://typophile.com/node/31800
Posted on March 18, 2007
jeremy said:
This was your most useful show yet!
Question: I want to include a couple of websites that I’ve designed into my physical portfolio. What is the best way to go about this? Screenshots? Websites never look as good in print as they do on the screen, and not just because of the resolution issues.
Should I just refer people to my web portfolio to see those examples?
Posted on March 20, 2007
justinpaluch said:
Jeremy, I’m just using screen shots in my current portfolio. If you want to jazz it up a bit, try photoshopping them on to a screen on a macbook (or other computer monitor) photo; that’s something we’ve done when presenting concepts to clients.
Posted on March 20, 2007
Thomas said:
So not to say that all you dudes in this cast where like this, but assuming I get a rad job one of these days, can I sit on my high horse and command that everything I say is right now and all your opinions are wrong?
Posted on March 22, 2007
Josh R said:
So I finally got around to taking a horrible picture and stripping the personal contact info off of my portfolio. You guys asked for the designed portfolios. This is mine. It’s 7”x7” printed on epson double sided heavy weight mat paper with an epson 1280. I mount the covers to a card stock which matches the logo color.
I start by emailing the cover, resume, and 3-5 samples as a pdf. Then When I go for an interview I always bring at least two of these and at the end I leave them with one of them. If I want the job then I will fed ex them a custom box of 10 blank thank you cards and envelopes that I have designed as well as 1 handwritten thank you card.
You can check out the pdf of the portfolio and a picture of it at http://home.earthlink.net/~akiba/portfolio/
P.S. I don’t show more than 10-12 pieces but what I have uploaded right now is all the pieces I have to choose from.
Posted on April 5, 2007
Jim L. said:
I’m just now getting around to listening your design cast 29. It was going well until you flubbed the pronounciation Helvetica Neue Here’s a hint: it’s German for “new”.
Posted on July 27, 2007