Recently in Words of Wisdom Category

What About Freelancing?

You're Not the Boss of Me! 10 Ways to Help Start a Freelance Career

Awesome Advice:

"Don't Be A D*ck"

Okay, those aren't our words exactly, but it's a good rule to follow, courtesy of typographer/illustrator Jessica Hische. Yes, we've featured her before. Many times. What can we say ... we're head-over heels in love with Jessica and her super-honest yet helpful advice. We've featured her insightful list of FAQs before, as well as her recent "Should I Work for Free?" Flowchart like most of the design blog world, not to mention her Daily Drop Cap blog, so really, if you haven't already seen this link we're about to give ya, then you're not paying attention.

Yesterday on her blog, Jessica answered the common question "How do I get freelance work?", and while her advice is spot-on for aspiring freelancers, it's also essential for full-time job hunters. Aside from some awesomely practical words of wisdom, the big takeaway in our own more conservative wording: Be Nice to Work With.

Working for Free, Take 2

Hopefully you enjoyed Jessica Hische's "Should I Work For Free?" flowchart that we posted the other day. But if it got you thinking, "hey, wait a minute! what about all these unpaid internships I'm applying for?", then head over to David Airey's blog post on the topic to see him argue the pros and cons. Be sure to read the comments there too, for a fuller perspective on the topic.

Good Advice: Do Your Own Thing

Over on A Photo Editor, there's a recent post about photographers using the iPad as their portfolio. While the post itself is great reading for photographers and designers alike, it was a comment to the post from Mike Moss that really caught our attention:

The worst advice I've heard in my time in photography has always been in regard to portfolios. If there are any young people reading this blog, just do whatever you want. NO matter how bad you may be at photography, there is always somebody out there that will hire you. And no matter how good you are at photography, there is always somebody out there that will think you suck. So just do your thing and go out and find the people that click with you.

Good Advice: Presentation is Everything

Following up on last Tuesday's post courtesy of designer David Airey, we found another great piece of advice within his terrific brand-identity blog, LogoDesignLove. In an interview with Sagi Haviv, a partner at design firm Cherymayeff & Geismar, Airey asked about the lessons he's learned. Haviv's reply is great advice for all designers...

When Georgio Armani was first shown the new A/X logo we designed in 2008, he rejected it outright. However, we found out that the new mark had been presented to him between meetings in a rush on a white piece of paper. The A/X people then suggested approaching him a second time (which they almost never do) with our entire presentation showing the logo in applications such as magazine ads, store fronts and billboards. He then immediately approved it. This near-failure taught me that in our business, presentation is everything.

Check out the full interview here.

Good Advice: Your Success (and Failure) Is In Your Own Hands

Earlier this summer, Chris Arnold (founder of Creative Orchestra and former creative director at Saatchi & Saatchi) shared some of his advice for design students and recent grads with designer David Airey.  Read on for a few highlights from the post, and if you have advice of your own, please share! Our comments section would love to have you.  … MORE

More from Marian Bantjes

Whether you were lucky enough to attend last night's AIGA talk featuring designer/artist Marian Bantjes or not, you'll still get a lot out of perusing her website. And whether you like her work or not, her page of student questions is definitely worth reading. If you get anything out of it, it should at least be these 2 things ... … MORE

Good Advice: Know the Product You Are Pitching To

The talented folks at Wonderful Machine (they represent select photographers) did a great Q&A with James Mullinger, Photo Editor at GQ magazine. Whether you're looking to become an art director, a photo editor or a photographer, it's a very worthwhile read about what he looks for in potential photographers. Perhaps the best piece of advice for all of us, whether applying for a design job or trying to get illustration or photography work:

What annoys you the most? Photographers sending in grossly inappropriate work for us to see. Look at the magazine before you send your work in. If you can see it on the pages of GQ, we'd love to hear from you. Otherwise don't bother. Know and understand the product you are pitching to.

More Job-Hunt Advice

To build on Sarah Garcea's advice from our recent Help Wanted event, fellow panelist John Walker shares some advice of his own:

Give yourself assignments for your portfolio to fill in any areas that might be weak or which you don't have enough examples. Want to do publication design? Design some spreads! Web design? Homepages! You get the clue. Get a friend to do the same, for encouragement and critiquing. Do one a week, and in six weeks you'll have SIX new portfolio pieces! Anyone looking at your portfolio will then be impressed that you have done extra work, and that you really want to work! --John Walker, Walker Design

Did You Miss Our "Help Wanted" Event?

A few weeks back, we held a speaker panel event to help answer some of your job-hunt questions. If you missed it, check out one of our panelists' advice below, and mark your calendars for another career advice event on March 15 ... keep reading for all the details.

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