For my first Professional Practise project I was asked to E-mail some questions to a graphic designer. I e-mailed someone who had only recently finished college so I was given insight into what it's like when you're just starting out.
What made you realise you wanted to pursue a career in graphic design?
Chance really, I had always been into drawing and things, I didn't really realise design was an option until I applied to art college and my port folio scored well in the design evaluation. I didn't want to do CD covers and posters and stuff which is why a lot of people pick design (and most of the people who picked design for that reason didn't make it through college). I had intended to do fine art but looking back now I see there was a practicality to my work and a clear interest in visual motifs, patterns and structures which were probably more suited to design.
What is your background? What types of degrees, skills, experiences are necessary for this field?
I have a H 2.1, which is a second class (basically I scored a B in my final year, as opposed to a first class which would mean I scored an A) honours degree in Visual Communication Design from IADT Dun Laoghaire. That's the degree, experience-wise design is so broad that a background in film making, any forms of visual arts practise, arts degrees, wood work, model making etc. are extremely helpful. Design is about the ideas you come up with, any kind of outside information or experience you can bring to a brief is very useful. Having said that I'd put a special emphasis on being good with working with your hands, mock-ups and cut and paste will help you come up with a much more developed idea every time than if you work solely on screen. You can always tell if a design was developed solely on screen, it'll look like a swanky ad for photoshop.
How did you get started in this field?
See above, but by chance. My brother an sister are both also designers and both had the same experience, applied to something else but scored better in design.
How long did it take for you to get your first job?
Since Ireland's not doing too well I've done only freelance stuff, but there's still a fair bit of design work out there, it depends how picky you are. There's jobs for snap and maintaining sites online and stuff. But not too long, most of my former class are in internships or working and the design industry is slowly growing in Ireland
What college courses have been most helpful for your career?
Well, I've only done the one, did my first pf at home on my own. So as far as design goes the course I did was pretty helpful!
Describe a typical workday and workweek. What do you do during a typical day?
Depending on where I am in a project each day is different. Generally it would be something like brainstorming / image making / copywriting or organising content / picking typeface, setting type etc. / finalising a design / contacting printers / making sure work is print ready and safe. It' very easy to procrastinate so I try set myself deadlines and work to them, often handy to do a half hour on tone thing and then move on to another.
List the most important skills that are needed for your job.
For me it's probably having done technical drawing in secondary school. Since I like or designing packaging and working with it's really handy to be good measurements and enjoy being precise. Presentation is very important so well made prototypes are really important.
Have you ever needed to work as part of a team?
Yep, sure. Not in prof practise but in college. It can be tricky having to compromise an idea for a project to suit someone else so I'd prefer each person having a particular role, like they decide on the visuals, I set the type (or visa versa), consult and integrate both you visuals. And like any design you do that over and over and over again until you've explored each option and you have a robust design.
How many hours per week do you usually work?
Sometimes not very much, sometimes up to 25. But that's part time and freelance. In full time practise it would be forty plus, and you try not to take your work home but some people are more productive at night. Sometimes you eat, sleep, take the odd break to watch a Frasier and the rest of the time you work.
Could you give me examples of the type of projects that you have worked on?
Posters for a theatre, a brochure for Visual Arts Practise in IADT, an educational website for children on what caused the recession in Ireland.
Could you describe your work settings?
Like where? I work in my room. A quiet place is best I find, wouldn't normally listen to music.
What personal qualities do you think are necessary for someone to be successful in this occupation?
That's a tricky one, a lot of designers are extremely particular and tenacious which aren't good qualities to be a designer really because you need to deal with clients and take they're advice on board and stuff, which doesn't always fit in with you idea. You should be outgoing if possible, confident and have good people skills. Communication is obviously key so you need to be able to talk to your client and set them at ease.
What is you favourite part of the job?
It's a really cool job, you get to do what you like doing, making images, setting type, making videos and animations and after you see your work out in the public domain.
What is your least favourite?
You won't always like your briefs, they can be very boring or you can have asshole clients. You can get very stressed working to deadlines though so it's probably the stress.
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