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!

Calling All Aspiring Art and Graphic Designers
Langara College and Rethink Communications are offering one $18,000 two-year scholarship to Langara’s Communication and Ideation Design program. The CID curriculum at Langara College centers on expanding the creative aspects related to graphic design, art direction, and other visual-media related fields.

The winner of this competition will also receive an internship at Rethink, a cutting edge communications-idea agency located in Canada.

The Rethink competition is open to anyone 19 years or older. You should be able to attend full-time classes starting September 2010 semester. This contest originates in Canada. If an international student wins this award, the scholarship is conditional upon the issue of a valid student visa. Participants in this contest must also have a valid high school diploma or equivalent background.

The Contest Details
This contest is announcing an open call for submissions of sketchbooks from all art and graphic designers.  According to the sponsors:

“The sketchbook can be any size in terms of width and height, but it must have a hard black cover. Also, the number of pages in the book might vary depending on where you get it, though it should not exceed 250.

“Remember not to worry about filling out the whole book, because a few brilliant ideas are always better than a huge pile of mediocre work…

“Your job is to put your most interesting ideas into that sketchbook to demonstrate what you can do. Your book should also tell us something about who you are.”

The official application form must accompany your sketchbook. The form can be downloaded by clicking here. Mail your sketchbook for this contest to:

The Rethink Scholarship
700-470 Granville St.
Vancouver, BC
V6C 1V5
Canada

Judging and Submission Tips
The judges for this contest want to be “amazed” by your work. Entries will be judged upon:

* The clarity of the ideas and how they are executed …within your sketchbook.
* The relevance in association to the scholarship program ….you are applying to.
* How “fresh” and imaginative the thinking is.
* The craft and production value of your work.
* Quality over quantity of your sketches. You don’t have to show ever idea you’ve had.

The sponsors of this contest provide the following tips regarding the submission of sketchbooks:

* Give your book an idea (or ideas) beyond your bio. If we wanted that we’d just steal your diary.
* Your application to a communication arts program should, well, communicate, artistically.
* Don’t use the entire book if there’s no reason to. Remember that a few great ideas will always …beat an entire book filled with mediocre work.
* Pen and paper aren’t your only options. Sculptures, photos, interactive, it’s all fair game.
* It never hurts to show us your thinking, we like seeing how you got to what you’re presenting.

Other Details
Complete details for this contest can be found by clicking here and here. The official application form can be downloaded as a PDF document by clicking here. Questions about his contest should be directed to questions [at] rethinkscholarship.com.

The contest deadline is June 1, 2010. There is no entry fee for this competition.

Design City Benches for Athens
Athens, Greece is well-renowned for its rich history, cultural heritage and beauty.

To further enhance the city’s picturesque setting the city officials are seeking new concepts from industrial designers for a citywide makeover of its benches. The contest is named Athens Bench Mark.

The citizens of Athens will select the top 100 entries from among all submitted works. From this group of finalists, a jury will select three winning designs. At least one design will be utilized for the production of the city’s new benches.

“bench (a) noun, a simple structure placed in open spaces (parks, bus stops etc.) and used as a seat.”

Contest Details
Since winning entries will be used as production plans for benches used throughout Athens, there are specific guidelines and design rules that must be followed to meet the city’s wishes for aesthetic and functional purposes.

According to the contest rules the submitted designs should exhibit:

* Design aesthetics and harmony - the way it is implied …by the central idea of the contest - in the relation of …the relevant proposal with the urban environment.
* Object ergonomics to suit not only the average user but as well the elder, disabled people etc.
* Quality of materials and functionality
* Innovative and sustainable design.
* Environmentally friendly and other possible materials and methods …of building the final product in an eco-friendly or energy saving …manner as a “Green product.”
* Capability of using the modern present industrial machinery and …realistic, cost efficient, mass production methods… “smart design.”
* Compact design, resistance to vandalism, endurance in time under …all environmental conditions, and ease of installation.

N. Kaklamanis, Mayor of Athens, said:

“Athens Bench Mark, is at once, a global call for creativity, an artistic event, a project that contributes to the international promotion of our city and an attempt for Athens to become a modern, high quality tourist destination.”

Photographer T. Karapanagiotis, President of “The World of Athens,” added:

“…By designing, voting, changing benches in Athens, maybe we can put our own personal touch and change our routine a little.

“To get out for lunch instead of eating it at our office, let the light breeze refresh us. To meet a friend at a bench rather than a cafeteria. To read a newspaper on a Sunday and sit at a bench rather than being confined in a house.

“We hope Athenians and others will participate in designing your own bench or vote for one of your favorite benches. Our goal is to involve the citizens in the city they live in.”

“The Athens Bench Mark is here and gives everyone the opportunity to leave their mark in Athens…”

Other Contest Details
There will be three cash awards:

* First prize: 5.000€ (6,836 USD)
* Second prize: 3.000€ (4,101 USD)
* Third prize: 2.000€ (2,734 USD)

The official rules and entry guidelines of the Athens Bench Mark contest can be found by clicking here. For the technical specifications on file format details and what is needed in your submission package, click here. The contest entry form can be seen by clicking here.

The Athens Bench Mark contest deadline is April 6, 2010.

Medical Illustration–A Closer Look
Many people are familiar with what illustrators do; they draw and create  images of things, scenes, and concepts for advertising, media, and businesses. Artists who decide to become medical illustrators receive advanced training and education in communications and the life sciences.

Medical illustrators work closely with doctors, scientists, and medical specialists in order to render images for use in research, education, public relations, and patient care. They often perform background research on the topics and subjects they are asked to illustrate.

Medical illustrators confer with science experts to validate illustration concepts  and sometimes observe laboratory techniques and surgery procedures to help in their creative process.

The Field of Medical Illustration Is Changing
In the past, medical illustration was primarily focused on anatomical drawings and related needs for the medical and educational community. While this is still an important function of the job it has expanded to other fields due to the rapid growth in science, technology, and medicine.

Medical illustrators have expanded their duties by producing computer generated images and animations to educate the public in health care, medical information, and proactive health maintenance techniques. Lawyers call on medical illustrators to produce images for juries and the court in order to explain complex ideas related to personal injury and malpractice lawsuits.

Hospitals and healthcare agencies use the services of medical illustrators to provide graphics and images for their websites to inform and educate the public on various programs, information, and services.

There are several specialties that are available in this job category such as illustration for:

* Surgery
* Veterinary medicine
* Ophthalmology
* Computer animation/three-dimensional models
* Medical publishing
* Pharmaceutical advertising
* Medical-legal work
.

Careen Training and Education
Some graphic artists start their illustration careers by attending a graphic design school. They go on to earn their bachelor’s degree in art and premed courses at qualified education centers.

Many medical illustrators have a master’s degree from accredited two-year graduate programs in medical illustration.

There are currently several specialized programs in the United States and Canada that are officially accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). The number of available positions for these programs are limited and competition for these openings is high.

If you are currently attending or are planning on enrolling at a graphic design college for your career training, check with your college counselor about what you need to do to pursue a career in medical illustration.

The Job Market for Medical Illustrators
In general, the prospects for artist  jobs will grow approximately 12 percent thorough 2018 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2008). Competition for these openings will be high.

Medical illustrators should experience a constant demand for their services due to the relatively small number of professionals in this area of work.

Since medical illustration has a broad career path, the salary range for this job group is varied. In 2006 medical illustrators who worked for universities or institutions made a yearly salary of $44,000 to $55,000 including benefits. Medical illustrators who have extended experience in multimedia, computer graphics, multimedia and animation should command higher salaries.

The mean annual salary for artists and related workers was $51,600 in 2008  (BLS May 2008).

All Animators Welcome
The 4^th Annual Aniboom Awards, sponsored by Sesame Street, is an open international competition that offers animators the opportunity to win development deals and cash for their winning entries.

What the Contest Wants
The sponsors are seeking animation content that is geared towards specific categories. According to Sesame Street there are five:

1. School readiness skills: Numbers, Letters and Shapes
Sample videos: Numbers - Ten Tiny Turtles
Letters - Plain White T’s Song
Shape - The BridgeKeeper Triangle

2. Pro-Social (emphasizing socialization aspects for children)
Sample video: TJ Meets Margarita

3. Pinball (new animation set to at least 30 seconds of a music soundtrack, you can use the original track or mix it to create a new version)
Sample video: Pinball Count Animation
Sample soundtrack: Pinball Count soundtrack

4. “Sky’s the Limit” (open category that is up to the animator’s imagination)

5. Community Favorite (chosen using Aniboom’s unique ranking system)

Other Details
This contest is offering awards totaling $50,000 in prizes and development deals. There will be five category winners plus one overall Grand Prize winner. For the complete rules and guidelines for this contest, click here.

To submit your entries a free account must be opened at Aniboom. Click here to register.

All entrants must agree to and read the submission agreement. Click here for the complete details. The deadline for this contest is April 26^th, 2010.

Frogs Are Our Friends
Frogs can be found, virtually everywhere, throughout the Earth in jungles, lakes, ponds, waterways, marshes, forests and other natural habitats.

Frogs are not only interesting and unique creatures that are able to live on land or in the water; they serve an important role in balancing the ecosystem by eating various insects, small animals or pests.

Frogs also serve as a source of nutrition for larger animals in the food chain.

Frog Population Declining
According to various studies the population and health of frogs are declining due to deforestation, climate change, and pollution. The organization, Save the Frogs, is an international group of scientists, naturalists, educators and policymakers whose goal is to help protect amphibious creatures by educating the public and through legislation efforts.

The Contest
Save the Frogs is holding its 2nd Annual Save the Frogs Art Contest. The competition is especially calling for entries from art students and teachers, however amateur and professional graphic designers are welcome to enter as well.

The contest is international and artists from any country can enter. There is no entry fee for this contest.

The sponsor of the contest is asking for submissions that have graphic elements that feature images of amphibians, the text Save the Frogs!, Save the Frogs.com or both texts.

The winning artwork will be used on various Save the Frog items such as t-shirts, mugs, hats, posters, and stickers. The money raised from the sale of these items will be used for conservation efforts by Save the Frogs, a public funded charity.

Contest Guidelines
A Grand Prize Winner will be selected from one of the following age categories:

* Under 10 years old
* 10-13 years old
* 13-17 years old
* 18 years and older

Submissions for this contest may include artwork that is either hand-drawn or produced through a computer graphics program.

The theme of the image may include pictures of frogs, toads, salamanders, caecilians or newts. The artwork may be in color or black and white.

According to the contest sponsors, artwork entered to this contest must be original and not be based upon the artwork of others. All artwork must refer to the theme Save the Frogs by including one of the following elements in a clear and legible form by showing:

– the phrase SAVE THE FROGS! (capitalized, with an exclamation point!)
– the phrase savethefrogs.com (lowercase with NO exclamation point)
– both SAVE THE FROGS! and savethefrogs.com (as in a logo)

These two phrases can appear on the same design, or alternatively you could put one phrase each on two related pieces of artwork which could work well as the front and back of a t-shirt, or on the outside and inside of greeting cards, for example.

For complete instructions on image format, resolution settings and submission guidelines click here. For questions concerning this contest that are not covered on the official website, send your emails to: art [at] savethefrogs.com

Awards
Each age category winner will receive $35 in cash and a $30 credit to the Save the Frogs gift center. The Grand Prize Winner and category winners may have their artwork featured on products and items sold by the Save the Frogs gift center.

Contest winners and honorable mentions will be acknowledged on the Save the Frogs website along with images of their artwork.

Other Info
For those who wish to submit their entries via regular mail, click here for the contest entry form. Complete contest rules can be found by clicking here. The art contest terms and condition can be found by clicking here.

The deadline for entries is September 29, 2010.