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 serieswe 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.
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 andunique 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.
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 designerhas 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).
It’s a Jungle Out There
In today’s economy it can be difficult to land a job but it doesn’t mean that you can’t get the job. The “trick” is to be persistent and have a positive attitude while going on your job hunts.
Patience and You
There’s a story of a man who had very little patience with others and inconvenient situations. He realized his predicament and decided to ask God for some help. He prayed, “God, help me to be more patient.”
During the next several days he found himself in traffic jams, delayed airplane schedules, and long lines at the supermarket. He complained to God and said, “I asked for patience and there has been nothing but problems since I asked you for help.” God chuckled and said, “Well, you learned how to deal with traffic jams, late airplane schedules, and long lines. You’ve become a better person and I think your prayer have been answered….”
Job hunting can be frustrating and somewhat discouraging at times but just like the man in the story, a good deal of patience is necessary to deal with adversity and delays.
If you are flustered and negative about how your job search is going you’ll reflect this attitude and mood during your job interviews. Your interviewer will pick up on this and wonder why you are so bothered and will take note of this in the final analysis of you.
Things may get frustrating during your job search, but try to let off some steam before you go job hunting.
Social Networking and You
Never underestimate the power of networking with others. If you are attending graphic design school this is a very crucial time for you to develop contacts in the graphic design industry. Your teachers, the people from the internship you are working at and friends that are already in the industry may be the link for inside information about job opportunities.
If you are already a graphic designer and are seeking new career opportunities, the clients you work with and your fellow co-workers are a good source for job leads. In some cases those company “meet and greet” events are not just about showing your loyalty to the company–they can also be very crucial occasions for you to make important contacts for future use.
Persistence and You
When Thomas Edison was in the process of inventing the light bulb his main obstacle was finding a suitable filament that would burn brightly and not burn out quickly. He tried 1,500 different materials–all of them failures until he happened upon the element tungsten. This metal was exactly what he was looking for in order to make his invention work.
When Edison was asked about all the failures that he experienced while doing research on his inventions he replied, “I haven’t failed, I’ve found 10,000 ways that don’t work.”
Now that’s persistence…and wisdom.
Job hunting can be a very stressful situation. You are faced with uncertainty, doubt, and frustration. But if we may rephrase Thomas Edison’s quote, “I haven’t failed at getting a graphic design job, I’ve found several jobs where I don’t want to work.”
Job Hunting: The Journey and the Process
The job interview is the device that employers use to sift through various applicants in order to select the right person for the job.
You may have been to dozens of job interviews and the whole process may have worn you down around the edges, but it is imperative to always show up to your interviews fresh and expectant.
When you don’t land the job you want, try to turn this into a positive and see it as a momentary delay in finding the right job. Job hunting is a process and if you understand this, you’ll be better adapted to take on the pressures that go along with looking for a job.
Calling All Aspiring Graphic Artists and Illustrators There are always graphic design contests and competitions for adults, but this one, to borrow a phrase, is just for kids.
The Doodle 4 Google contest is open to students from the grades of kindergarten to 12th. In order to enter you must do so through an officially registered school. Click here for details and the registration form. The aim of the competition is to select a winning Google homepage logo that reflects the theme of “If I Could Do Anything I Would…”
So what would you do…
Find a cure for cancer?
Become an astronaut?
Invent a supercomputer?
The ideas for your entry are endless.
Submissions should be drawn on 8.5″x11″ paper and tell a visual story of the vision they have of what they would do if anything were possible. The PDF contest template can be found by clicking here.
The Judging
A group of illustrators, cartoonists and animators from Sesame Street Workshop, Charles M. Schulz Creative Associates and Peanuts, and Pixar Animation Studios will help select 40 finalists.
400 State Finalists
40 Regional Finalists from the United States
4 National Finalists
1 National Winner ………. Awards
According to Google the prizes for each category are:
National Winner - College Scholarship
“The National Winner will win a $15,000 college scholarship to be used at the school of his/her choice, a trip to the Google New York office for an event on May 26, 2010, a laptop computer, a Wacom digital design tablet, and a t-shirt printed with his/her doodle on it. We’ll also award the winner’s school a $25,000 technology grant towards the establishment/improvement of a computer lab.”
Three National Finalists - Laptop Computers
“Each of the other three National Finalists will win a trip to the Google New York office for an event on May 26, 2010, a laptop computer, a Wacom digital design tablet, and a t-shirt printed with their doodle on it.”
40 Regional Finalists - Smithsonian Exhibit and Trip to New York
“Each of the other 40 Regional Finalists will win a trip to the Google New York office for an event on May 26, 2010 and a t-shirt printed with their doodles on it. All 40 Regional Finalists will also have their doodle displayed in a public exhibit at the Smithsonian’s, Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum for 6 weeks after the announcement event.”
State Finalists - Doodles Published on the Web site
“Each of the other 400 State Finalists will receive a “Doodle 4 Google” official winner’s certificate and will be featured on the Doodle 4 Google contest web site.”
Extra Credit - Technology Booster Awards
“This year, we are giving out eight (8) Technology Booster awards for schools who submit their doodles by March 10, 2010. The awards consist of 20 netbook computers for public or private schools or 2 netbook computers for homeschools who submit the maximum amount of doodles for their school by March 10, 2010 (doodles must be received by this date).
“Schools who are eligible to win this award are those who submit either six (6) doodles if they are a public or private school or two (2) doodles if they are a homeschool. These schools must also have a student selected as one of the 400 State Finalists. We will also be looking at the highest cumulative quality scores of the State Finalists doodles as part of the awards criteria. Awards will be announced on May 17, 2010 when we post the 400 State Winners.”
Other Contest Details
The deadline for schools to register their students in this contest is March 17, 2010. For the complete guidelines for this contest, click here. For an explanation of why this contest is being run, click here.
See the video below for an overview of the Doodle 4 Google Contest:
Myths: Every Job Has Them
“The Customer Is Always Right”
“‘Constructive Criticism’ Is Always Beneficial”
“Exceptional Talent Is All You Need”
