As I get older and rack up experience in the design field, I realize how many mistakes I made early on. And, as an instructor, I’ve seen new graduates making similar errors.
There are plenty of things that I wish I had known back when I was in design school, or just starting out after graduation. I wanted to share some of these things so that you can avoid making the same mistakes.
Every class is important
It’s easy to look at your college schedule and think that some classes are just a pure waste of time. Math? Science? English Composition?
As designers, we will put ALL of our subjects to use.
Math, business, accounting, speech, and writing skills are an absolute necessity in the design field — if you want to be successful.
As designers, we work in EVERY field.
Clients will expect you to take the time to learn about their field — to understand where their customers are coming from and what their product offers.
I’m constantly surprised by the subjects I find myself immersed in. Thanks to my clients, I’ve had to become knowledgeable in finance and investing, human interaction and psychology, skin care, publishing, engineering, distilling liquor, and so much more.
Thanks to my college classes (the ones that I thought were useless) I had some knowledge to draw from when I first started working with these clients.
The most boring parts of class are the most important parts
Now when I look back, I realize how fortunate I was. My prepress teacher owned a large printing business. My Photoshop (Photoshop 3.0!) teacher wrote some of the original Photoshop books. My business teachers ran their own agencies.
But, was I amazed by their talent and in awe of their experience? No. I was bored.
My photoshop teacher droned on about resolution and moire patterns.
My prepress teacher put me to sleep talking about bleeds and paper weights.
After graduation, I quickly found out that those parts of class that I found most intolerable were actually the most valuable.
Drawing classes were fun, but they didn’t help me the first time I got drug out to the presses and scolded for not setting up my files correctly.
Color theory was fascinating, but it couldn’t help me when I had to figure out how to get a scanned image to print well on a press.
The pen tool was hard in school. I avoided it as much as possible. Now it is my best friend and I could never survive without it.
As an instructor who works as a designer, I know what the important things are. And I try to hammer those things into my students when I teach. But, I see the bobbing heads and the rolling eyes, and I know they are thinking the same thing I was — just shut up and let me play with the filters.
I know it’s hard when you’re young and excited and impatient, but try to pay attention to the boring stuff. It will pay off later, I promise.
Electives matter — choose wisely
When you’re in school, you’re really looking for two things when it comes to electives. You want something easy and fun, and you want something that will fit into your schedule.
As an old fuddy-duddy with years of experience, I am begging you to choose your electives based on your career goals.
You are PAYING for those classes.
Don’t waste your money on Bowling 101 or Cake Decorating.
Think about what will help you as a designer.
If you want to be a web designer, pick up some extra programming languages. If you want to be an animator, find a 3-D class or Actionscript class. Even a drawing class will be useful.
Just don’t throw your time and money away on Introduction to Dinosaurs.
College isn’t a race
I was in a hurry to graduate. I finished my BFA with a minor in three years.
I loved school. I was the nerd I am now and worked hard and got good grades.
But, after I got out, I was a little disappointed. What was my hurry?
I lost one year of being inspired by fellow students, learning from amazing professionals in the field, and taking daily trips to the Art Institute.
I wish I had slowed down, graduated in four years, and enjoyed myself a little more.
If you have a family to support, or are on some sort of goal schedule, that’s different. But, if you’re just a regular kid in college, there is no reason to rush through school.
Take the time to do well in your classes and really create some beautiful portfolio pieces.
Those years fly by. Enjoy them.
Learn to type (the right way)
I didn’t miss out on this one personally, but I have many (many) friends in the design field who can’t type. We are all required to take a typing class in high school. A very (very) small percentage of us pay any attention. And, do designers need to know how to type?
YES!! You’ll type EVERY day. Some days it will just be emails, and some days you’ll be transcribing entire pages.
I know that most current students grew up with computers, and many of you CAN type.
But, for those of you who can’t, get in a typing class.
Suck it up. Be a nerd. Don’t look at your fingers or the keys.
And reap the benefits later when you’re working as a designer and cranking out emails like a machine.
Use feedback to your advantage — especially criticism
You’re not going to get through any (decent) design class without a healthy dose of criticism from your instructor and fellow students.
At a young age (highschool and college age especially) it is difficult to take criticism. You naturally think that you are right and they are wrong.
It’s even harder in design because art is so subjective. Everyone has a different opinion.
Math is easy. There is one right answer.
With design, there might be many successful solutions to any problem, so the possibility for disagreement is high.
As a student, though, you should understand that your instructor is standing in front of you for a reason. They have the experience and training to help you grow and improve as a designer. If they are giving you constructive criticism or suggesting that you make a change to your design, try to respect their advice.
I can assure you that it is MUCH easier as an instructor to pat everyone on the back and tell them that their work is great. If a teacher is taking the time to give you tips on improving your design, it is only because they want to help you.
Why is it so important that you are good at accepting criticism? There are two main reasons.
First, you should use that criticism to revise and improve your designs so they are prepped and ready for your portfolio.
Second, you’re going to spend the rest of your life being criticized and making revisions to your original designs.
And, these critiques and requests won’t be coming from professional designers with years of experience. They will be coming from your clients, most of whom have absolutely no design training whatsoever.
Get used to it.
Your job will not be to please yourself. It will be to please your clients.
And, listening to their critiques is the first step in creating designs they will love.
Take advantage of your college
Most colleges offer so many amazing things to their students. Clubs, trips, and social events are just the tip of the iceberg.
If you are having trouble paying for school, check out any work-study or student aide positions that might be available.
Take advantage of your financial adviser and get help applying for your loans.
Don’t be scared to ask questions, and make sure that you understand EVERYTHING that you sign.
After or just before graduation, meet with the job placement people. Let them help you get your resume into the right hands and set you up on some interviews.
If your college offers retraining, you have a HUGE advantage. Go back and take classes to learn the latest programming languages and updated programs.
You’ll never again be in a place with this many resources and opportunities.
Take advantage of them.
All positive experiences are worth your time
When you are in college, it’s hard to see the big picture.
There were two times I distinctly remember turning down amazing opportunities.
The first time, I was asked to present some research I had done at a conference. I had discovered something new, and my instructor was impressed enough that he asked that I continue my project and present it. It was a huge deal. What did I do? I passed. No thanks, I said. You can go ahead and use my research. I’m going to be a designer, so this really doesn’t pertain to me. Was I an idiot? Yep.
Later in my college career, we took a field trip to meet a pretty famous director of television commercials. I wanted to work in advertising, and really enjoyed the trip. My instructor was friends with the director, talked to him, and offered me an internship working with him. I turned it down. No thanks. I don’t want to work in TV. What was I thinking? Ugh!
Those stories make me sick to my stomach. How could I be so closed minded? So near sighted?
I was just a normal self-centered college student who didn’t want to put myself out for something that I didn’t think would directly impact my career. I was wrong.
If you have opportunities like these, jump at them.
A Referral is a gift — don’t take it for granted
If you ever are in the position where a teacher refers you to a friend, please realize what a huge deal this is.
Instructors and design professionals meet hundreds of people, and their reputation is everything. They will only give referrals to the best of the best students.
Don’t take it lightly.
Be thankful, be gracious, and FOLLOW UP!! Don’t let it go to waste!
Go in for the interview, make the phone call, and carry through with all of your promises. That referral could be the beginning (or end) of your career. Be sure to give it the time and attention it deserves.
Don’t take a break after college
This is probably the biggest mistake I see students make after graduation.
They worked hard in school, and they want to “take a break.” Sometimes they are just burnt out, and sometimes they want to perfect their portfolios, but 99% of the time, a break like this will lead to a career as a (insert any profession here — other than designer).
Taking time off after school is never a good idea.
You know how fast programming languages and design programs are updated. You’ll be left behind in no time.
You’ll lose touch with your instructors and other contacts. You’ll fall away from the industry, and before you know it, you will feel too lost to even try to apply for a job.
Do everything you can to work right out of school.
Even if you have to take a low-paying job or internship and then work another job at night or on the weekends (like I did) — it will be worth it in the end.
Don’t quit looking until you land a job in the design field.
