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.

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
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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).

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).

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.

In this final installment of this series of How to Get Noticed When Applying for Graphic Design Jobs we’ll go into the real nuts and bolts of what it takes to remain focused and determined while looking for a job.

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.

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.