I recently had a chance to speak in the SU AIGA class. When I was preparing for my speech, I asked myself, "What is it that I have to offer to the young designers?" "What is considered a critical quality to stay competitive in the industry I am in?" Diplomas and portfolios aside, is it intelligence such as the ability to conceive insightful marketing strategies, or the skills such as proficiency and being up-to-date with all the Adobe Creative Suits and current trends? Or is the inner strength in coping with the fast-paced and high-pressured workforce such as multi-tasking and project management? I am still searching for the answers myself as well. Getting a design job is hard, but thriving in it is harder. So, I consulted the Great Internet and found the interview series by this Irish Designer—David Airy truly inspiring.
In the interview with Eric Karjaluoto, partner and creative director at smashLAB:
“Design isn’t like other jobs. In order to be any good at it, you really have to put in your time. For experienced designers, the result of doing so is typically reflected in their portfolios... I encourage you to be the first one in, the last to leave, and while you’re there, work your ass off. ”
And the interview of Simon Manchipp from SomeOne.
“Think — what’s going on right now? What is topical. What are they up to? How can I be useful? Then do it.”
There is a general misconception about choosing a career: choose a profession you love and you will never have to work a day in your life. (Is it one of your Pinterest quotes? If so, delete the pin before it messes you up.) I hate to break the news, but there is more to that. Doing what you love is not what defines work. An amateur does what he loves doing, while a business professional does what she must do when she must do it to bring value to his customers. A professional learns to love what she must do because she takes his profession seriously. Once a young designer comes to this realization, it marks the passage from an amateur to a professional.
Are you a business owner? What is the most important quality that you look for in your associates?