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).

Take the Open Door
In last week’s article we presented various tips and advice on how to prepare for a job as a graphic designer.

There were three things that were identified as being important for qualifying for a graphic design job—education through a qualified graphic design school, a good portfolio of your work and a variety of work/intern job experience.

In part two of How to Get Noticed When Applying for Graphic Design Jobs, we’ll go over some practical advice on how to handle a job interview.

Simple Rules for Your Job Interview
Hiring managers see many individuals for job interviews. After a time applicants start to all look the same. This is not a good thing if you are one of the many who are applying for that specific graphic design position.

Here are a few tips on how to stand out and prepare for your job interview:

* Do Something Memorable - Since there are a good number of people applying for the same position you are applying for, it is a good idea to do something that will make your interview memorable for the hiring manager. At the conclusion of your interview you can give the interviewer your business card or something that you designed, a pen or pencil with some graphics you created for the barrels for instance, as an attention getter.
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* Groom Properly - This should be a given but not everyone takes this advice to heart. When you show up for a job interview be certain to dress properly. Each firm will have its own style or dress code but take the safe route and don’t dress too informally. When in doubt, dress neatly.
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* Be Prepared - In virtually every interview you will be asked the question, “Why do you want to work for this company?” The reason that you do not want to give is, “I need to find a job.” What you can do is to emphasize what you can do for the company–how you would be an asset to the overall operation, how you can contribute, and what you want to accomplish while working there.
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* Be Yourself - An old-school comedian once said, “If you can fake sincerity, you’ve got it made.” Although the statement was made cynically, the truth of the matter is that being sincere and being yourself is better than trying to be overly confident or aggressive. Many job interviewers are highly tuned to the situation that job applicants often “embellish” upon their accomplishments. Be straightforward about your abilities and talent. If you have limited work experience emphasize what you have learned while going to graphic design college.
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* Communicate Freely - Be sure to answer all questions in a thorough and concise manner. If there are periods of silence during the interview while you struggle to answer questions, this is a red flag to the interviewer that you may not be able to work in a team situation where lots of communication between co-workers is needed.

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Next Time
In the conclusion to this series we’ll delve into what sort of mindset you should have while seeking employment such as how to handle discouragement and maintain a positive attitude. Until next time, take care.

Design a Book Cover
An often overlooked source of art is found on the humble book cover. The book cover art must not only be visually interesting it must also somehow covey a message of the contents of the book–no small matter.

If you are a graphic designer, illustrator or someone who is attuned to the fine art of creating and designing images, you may be interested in the Icon Book Cover Art Competition.

The Contest
This competition is open to everyone 18 years or older. The contest is sponsored by the author of the book, “The Unfastened Heart“.

The re-publication of the novel needs new cover art and the author is announcing an open call to all designers to enter this contest.

Paintings, photographs, graphic art, collage or other visual media are eligible in this competition and may be submitted in a digital representation through a JPEG file to this email address: theiconprize [at] gmail.com.

All entries must be original in nature and must not be defamatory or offensive. Submitted material must be totally original and created by the artist.

If you do not win the contest you may have the option of making your artwork available for sale. The sponsor states:

“This competition is being organized to support and nurture the work and careers of other artists who gather together around a common literary work.

“If your submission does not win the competition but you nevertheless wish to make your original work available for sale, the author may choose to assist you by creating gallery showings of your work, either online or otherwise, at a price you select, with the profit to be realized solely by you.

“If you wish, the author and publisher may also elect, in their sole discretion, to include your submission in a “gallery” of submissions interior to the pages of the book, allowing the book’s readers to see your work, read a brief biography about you, and link to websites displaying more of your work.”

The Awards
The winner of this contest will receive:

* The 2010 Icon Prize
* $1500 in Cash

In addition selected finalist’s artwork may be displayed in the book.

Other Details
There is no limit to the number of submissions you may enter. The deadline for this contest is December 31, 2010. The winner will be announced via email between June 2010 and December 2010. For the complete details about this contest, click here.

Design a Shipping Box Graphic
Colissimo, a leader of shipping and packaging in France, is launching a contest for new designs for its “Collisimo” shipping box.

The winning design will be sold throughout France in its post offices during the 2010 holidays.

The Contest Details
According to the sponsors:
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“Create the new design/ packaging, which will be sold in all postal offices and used by the whole French population in 2010 for every holiday! It’s up to you to bring your «festive, celebration, present, holiday » spirit to this design!

“Be imaginative, trendy, sober, off beat… Make sure we want to send and receive your package and that it reflects the desire to make people happy. Create the exterior design, but also don’t hesitate to imagine its interior (see guidelines)!

“Beware do not focus your creative proposition solely on the Christmas theme, but create on original design, that can be used for all gift occasions during the year!”

The winner of the contest will have his/her design and name printed on the tens of thousands of packages sold throughout the post offices of France.

For the complete rules and guidelines for this contest, download them by clicking here. A complete description of the contest can be downloaded by clicking here.

What to Submit
In order to participate and enter this contest you must first open a free account on the eYeka website. Click here to register.

Create your graphic design for the shipping box by downloading the official template by clicking here.

Make sure that your submission for a holiday design isn’t exclusive just for the Christmas season. Ideally, your design should encompass any gift occasions during the entire year.

The exact dimensions for the package designs are described in the official rules. The design should be in a hi-resolution PSD, AI, or CMJN colors. The design you submit must be entire original and created by you.

Entries should be submitted to either http://en.eyeka.com/login or http://www.imagine-colissimo.fr/.  To see contest entries of others click here.

Judging and Prizes
A panel of judges will critique all entries for creativity, uniqueness, and overall design. There will be two prizes in this contest:

* First Prize: 3,000 € (approximately 4,120.29 USD) and a five year exclusive rights contract for the printed      design.

* Voters Choice: 10 prizes of 300 € (approximately 412.00 USD)

Other Information
Do not submit “simple” designs such as logos or icons. Do not submit the same design multiple times with different color motifs.

The deadline for this contest is March 29, 2010.

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!

The List Goes On
We continue our list of Top Characteristics of Creative Designers according to the opinions of those within the industry.

Not everyone has all of these traits, but we can all learn from the list to understand what design companies look for in their staff.

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Here are the rest of the traits that design firms would like to see in potential hires:

• Care about clients. If a design job is nothing more than a product to the graphic artist, it takes on an impersonal feeling and disconnect from the client. A recognition and understanding that the final creation is for people helps to provide added impetus to do a better job.

• Be able to multitask & juggle projects. In the perfect world, a graphic designer should be able to concentrate on one job without distractions or additional duties not directly related to project at hand. But this rarely, if ever, happens. Being able to intently focus is a good thing, but the ability to multitask is virtually indispensable for successful designers.

• Be deadline oriented. Imagine a graphic design firm where everyone could turn in their work whenever they felt like it. This would not only be a formula for instant failure for the business, it communicates a lack of professionalism. Design firms are driven by deadlines, and so should you.

• Find ways to “break through the clutter. In a design job, there are lots of things to do, but not everything has to be done. The ability to sift through the unnecessary or less important tasks is often the difference between meeting deadlines and missing them. A good designer knows what needs to be done and what needs to be put on the back burner.

• Keep an open mind about things. If the art world maintained that realism was the only way to paint, Picasso, Monet, Dali and many other artists could not have created their unique styles of work. Design is also like this–there is more than one way to approach a solution.

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Desirable Traits and the Real Job World
The attributes that professional designers feel should be inherent in people who work in the industry is varied but can be broken down into these categories: teamwork, professionalism, communication, and work ethics.

Graphic design schools educate graphic arts students on how to design, create, compose, and use various tools for illustration, graphic design, or other fields in design work. But the traits that set a successful graphic designer from a mediocre one sometimes boils down to the personal characteristics of the individual.

Design firms need to hire qualified people for their art departments, but as was stated in the Top Characteristics of Creative Designers articles, employers are looking beyond talent and towards potential hires that have many of the traits that make a designer truly successful.