Myths: Every Job Has Them
No matter what you select as your career there are probably a number of myths or misunderstandings about what you do.

For example, people who are self-employed or work at home often hear, “You must have a lot of free time on your hands.” Of course, this is farthest from the truth as many who are self-employed often work more than a standard 40-hour workweek.

If you are a graphic designer, enrolled in graphic design school or are thinking about becoming a graphic designer, the following “mythbusters” may provide some illumination and advice on how to handle some of the misconceptions regarding a career in graphic design.

The Myths
“The Customer Is Always Right”
When Gene Roddenberry first pitched his science fiction television idea of Star Trek to programming executives, (”the customers”), at NBC in the early 60s the reception to his concept was quite less than favorable.

Executives were concerned about the show being too “cerebral” for the common television viewer. As history has demonstrated, the concept and the television show has outlasted many of the original executives whose common sense view of television programing was in direct opposition against Roddenberry’s vision.

Star Trek is syndicated around the world and still commands a loyal and growing fan base even after its first televised episode in 1966.

In a similar way there are times when prevailing “common sense” is overemphasized by graphic design clients. Graphic designers have a responsibility to give their professional feedback on projects (when warranted) to help create the best possible designs.

An observant graphic designer can point out critical flaws in an otherwise “perfect” concept. Keep this in mind when working on your graphic design projects–the customer isn’t always right.

“‘Constructive Criticism’ Is Always Beneficial”
Although this is generally true, you will run into a few clients that go overboard on this — it isn’t so much about improving a concept as much as having an obsessive need to nitpick and be in control.

As a graphic designer it helps to develop a sense of when criticism is actually valid.

Genuine constructive criticism helps you to improve, while nitpicking has the opposite effect — it demoralizes and is counterproductive. Learn to distinguish between the two and maintain open lines of communication with your clients to resolve any conflicts regarding design ideas or changes.

“Exceptional Talent Is All You Need”
A hiring manager at a graphics firm was fond of saying, “Talent can always improve; attitudes, rarely so…”

Exceptional talent is a strong calling card when applying for a graphic design position but it is rarely the only attribute that graphic design firms seek in their potential hires.

The job of a graphic designer encompasses a great deal of communication between the client, coworkers, and project managers. A design concept gone wrong is usually a design concept that was not communicated effectively among the project team.

In addition to talent and a solid education in graphic design basics from a graphic design college, you must also develop strong communication and teamwork skills.

Next Time…
In part 2 of this series we will cover misunderstandings about creativity, education and other topics related to the field of graphic design. Until then, take care and keep on designing!

Little Boxes
Package design has come a long way in the last 50 years. In the past the usual difference between one product packaging and another was simply the graphics and color schemes of the design.

Today’s walk down the many aisles of a modern supermarket or department store literally offers thousands of uniquely designed packages with amazing looking graphics or container shapes.

If you are currently attending a graphic design school or are already a graphic designer you may have been intrigued with this particular subset of graphic design work. In this article we’ll explore what this interesting field is all about and what you can do to prepare for a career as a package designer.

School First
As it is in any career area you want to pursue the usual route for obtaining proper career training is through proper education. For any field in graphic design there are many qualified graphic design colleges that can help you to earn your degree.

Generally speaking a bachelor’s degree is necessary to qualify for most entry-level positions.

If you are targeting package design as your specialty, you will need to take courses that are focused for this design field. In addition you should have a good grasp of spacial relations as it relates to designing packaging.

You can qualify for some entry-level jobs with an associate’s degree or certificate of completion earned at community colleges or two-year junior colleges. Various online education centers also offer these degrees in addition to bachelor’s degrees in graphic design.

Be sure to thoroughly investigate the graphic design schools you are considering as each one differs in its approach and curriculum. Choose the one that best matches your career and education goals.

What a Package Designer Does
A package designer has the responsibility of creating designs for various forms of packaging such as bottles, containers, cartons, boxes, and other packaging needs. The packaging design can be as simple as a logo on a beverage container or as complex as a multi-DVD case for a movie series. In each case the design must meet the specifications of the client.

Package design must be eye-catching and have the ability to entice consumers to pick up and buy the product.

A package designer should not only be well acquainted with the use of traditional design tools such as pens, paints, and pencils but must be well versed with the various graphic design/image editing software and CAD (computer assisted design) software that are commonly used in the industry.

The design process usually starts with meetings with the client and design team in order to understand and agree upon a concept. After the design is approved a number of sketches, computer generated images and a formal mock-up of the packaging is created. During the period of time between concept and final production, there are usually many changes and alterations during the design process.

These frequent changes in design concepts require an individual who is flexible and has good communication skills.

The Job Situation
Package designers usually work for manufacturing companies in the graphics departments, independent graphic design studios or companies that specialize in packaging.

While a typical workweek of 40 hours can be expected, overtime and weekend work is usually required during “crunch time” or when deadlines are shortened.

The job outlook for graphic design positions is expected to grow approximately 13% during the decade 2008-2018. Competition for available job positions will be extremely high.

The mean annual wage for professionals in the graphic design fields (including package designers) is $46,750, according to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2008).

Beauty and the Building
Are you an architecture student, a graphic designer that revels in the beauty of architecture, or someone who loves the melding of art and architecture?

If so the Art in Architecture 2010 Competition is seeking submissions from individuals or collaborative work that demonstrate the connection between the relationship of art and the exhibition place.

According to the sponsors of the contest:

“Art in Architecture” [contest theme] intends to generate ideas about the relationship and interaction between the two.

“The thematic goal is to seek images about architecture as a repository for art, revealing how art is expressed in architecture and how art and architecture affect and are affected by each other.

“In focusing on the capacity of art and architecture to be transcendent, this competition’s resulting exhibit will add special voice to the current debate between the “container” and the “contents” that has been taking place across the global art scene.”

Competition Details
Submissions must be original. All 2D art is accepted. The entry must be mounted on a 40″ x 40″ rigid foam board (3/16″ thick). Identification through a signature or other means on the face of the artwork is prohibited.

There must be two manila envelopes attached to the back of the entry. One envelope must be labeled “Statement” and include an 8 ½” x 11″ sheet of paper that describes the project in 200 words or less.

The other envelope, labeled “Identification”, should include a complete registration form and a CD/DVD with a file representing the full image. This image must be in PDF or JPG. The image dimension must be 12″ x 18″ and have a resolution of 300 dpi.

All individuals and groups are eligible for this contest but only one submission is allowed per individual/group. Members of teams may not submit work as individual entries.

A non-refundable entry fee of $75 is required.

Judging and Awards
The winning entry will be selected by a jury of professionals in art and architecture. The prizes are:

First Place: $3,000
Second Place: $2,000
Third Place: $1,000

Other Details
For a full description of contest guidelines click here. For the official registration form, click here. For the identification form for your submission, click here. The deadline for registration is April 1, 2010.

The time-line for this competition is as follows:

February 1, 2010 - Registration opens.
April 1, 2010 - Registration closes.
February 1 - April 1 - Questions regarding the competition may be submitted to
information [at] somersetart.org.
April 15, 2010 - Answers to questions will be posted at information [at] somersetart.org.
June 1, 2010 - Submissions are due.
July 2010 - Notification by mail of award winners and entries to be exhibited.
September 10, 2010 - Opening reception, announcement, and presentation of awards.
September 10 to October 31, 2010 - Exhibition of selected entries.

Jobs
According the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics graphic design jobs will increase about 13 percent in the decade 2008-2018.

The good news is that there will be available positions in advertising firms, websites, print and electronic media for graphic designers and graphic design college graduates.

However the BLS also states that the competition for these available jobs will be very high.

So what can you do to increase your chances of being noticed by prospective employers? In this three part series we’ll discuss various methods and tips on how to distinguish yourself from other job hunters and to help you qualify for more job opportunities.

School
Until the advent of the personal computer, graphic design remained relatively static as far as technological advances –if you had good talent, design skills and a good grasp of aesthetics as your foundation, a career in graphic design was accessible.

However in today’s world, there is rarely a graphic designer that isn’t familiar with at least two or three of the more popular design/image editing software programs. Understanding and using these programs is essential in graphic design work.

In order to receive the important career training you need in graphic design, methods, and computer skills, go to a graphic design school that ranks high in the quality of its curriculum and broad range of design classes and programs.

Graphic designers who have additional skills in web design and animation will have the best prospects for jobs in their field.

Presentation
Your portfolio can be one of the deciding factors that can help you land a job in graphic design. Your portfolio should be professional looking and consist of examples that not only reflect your best work, but is geared towards the firm you are applying for.

Don’t be afraid to rearrange and restructure your portfolio from job interview to job interview.

The needs of different design firms can sometimes vary. If you do your homework by finding out what each company’s particular design needs are you can emphasize this type of work in your portfolio.

Be prepared to give your interviewer an Internet link to a website that shows off your work. Put as much care into designing your website as you do in assembling your physical portfolio. First impressions really count and you want to put your best foot forward in presenting your work.

Experience
A good graphic design education is essential for learning the skills of the trade but experience in the graphic design industry can also be an important part in your real-world education.

Graphic design students will especially benefit by taking on as many internships and outside work experiences as possible to fill this gap.

Increase your chances for landing a job by getting as much job experience as you can while still in school.

Next Time…
We’ll go over some practical tips on how to establish yourself in a positive way when going to a job interview. Until next week, take care!

Different Stokes for Different Folks
If you are studying to be an artist through a graphic design school or graphic design college, there are many fields within this category that you can specialize in.

In some cases the duties of one career overlaps into another one, but this can be considered beneficial because it allows the opportunity for artists to crossover into other areas.
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What’s Out There?
The following list of artist careers can help you to understand the function and job description for each position. There are more categories but these are among the more commonly recognized:

Multi-Media Artist - Artists in this line of work are usually found in the motion picture industry, television industry, and computer-Internet industry. Multi-media artists produce animations, graphics, and images used for movies, television programs, computer games, and advertising/marketing companies. The extensive use of image design software and computer hardware is typical for artists who decide to make a career in multi-media.

Illustrator - Illustrators are usually employed by publishing or product companies to create pictures, scenes, or other images. The illustrations that are produced can be used for commercial purposes, consumer products or books and magazines. Illustrators are usually required to have a good working knowledge of digital imaging techniques and computer software and hardware.

Medical / Scientific Illustrator - Artists in this field of work use their knowledge of the sciences in the creation images for use by the medical and science disciplines. They draw pictures to illustrate human anatomy, scientific data and experiments, and other graphics for illustrative purposes. Illustrators in this field also produce images for educational and teaching purposes.

Fine Artist - This is the classic definition for a career as an artist. In this field an artist creates works of art in oil and acrylic painting, sketching, printmaking, art restoration or illustration. Fine artists specialize in portraiture, scenic, still life, or abstract art. They use a variety of medium to produce their pieces and can utilize sculpture or electronic means for their art.

Craft Artist - Artists in this career make various handmade objects and creations that are sold or displayed in art museums, craft fairs, and art galleries. They work with a variety of materials such as glass, textiles, ceramics, paper, metal or other media to produce their art.

Educational Requirements
The educational background for a career in art varies according to the field you are in. For individuals who want to go into the fine arts or crafts, a formal education is not necessarily required but it can still be of assistance in learning design theory, art techniques, and related skills.

For those who want to become art directors, illustrators, or multi-media specialists, earning a bachelor’s degree at a graphic design college is usually required for entry level positions.

Salary Ranges for Artists
Jobs for artists are expected to grow 14% - 20% from now until 2016, which is faster than average when compared to other job categories. The median annual wages for the following job categories in art are (Bureau of Statistics 2008):

Craft Artists:     $29,080
Fine Artists and Illustrators:    $42,650
Multi-Media Artists and Animators: $56,330

Next Time…
We’ll investigate what it takes to become an instructor in graphic design. We’ll see you then.