Week 5 - Reading

This Thursday is Hari Raya Holidays, so our lecturer has given us an assignment to do during the holidays. She asked us to read about “How to be a graphic designer, without losing your soul”. It is one of the chapters in a book. After reading, I try to list out some part which I think are interesting or important.

So… based on my understanding, this chapter has taught us about how to become a graphics designer who have his/her own personality/value. There are a few main points are mentioned in this chapter:

1. Getting noticed

• It mentioned that we have to be confident and start within the design world. We can’t just stay there, and expect that the client will come and find us.

2. Work done for the portfolio, not the bank balance

• Most of us like to create self-initiated projects. However, the clients are simply not as impressed with the initiated project. We are encouraged to try and find a client who can let us do some boundary-defying work, and it will be more beneficial to our reputation than a self-initiated project.

3. Self-promotion

• Self promotion is important, it can help us to find the client and good for our reputation as well. There are a few method which has mentioned in the chapter:

a. Design Competition - If we win the competition, we are given an invaluable promotional opportunity.

b. Professional organisations

c. Attending conferences and lectures - lectures are an essential part of a designer as it may provide invaluable insight into the creative process.

d. Maintaining relationships with art colleges - gain in practical terms from associations with educational establishments; when you give a talk or show some works at the art school, you may get others perspectives from the next generation; you can give something to them

e. Dealing with the design press - exposure is an important step in design. It is desirable and worthwhile; develop the habit of sending magazine details of your latest work so that the editors and journalists can see you when they’re looking for fresh voices and new faces; decided which section in magazine would suit your projects, don't just simply put your work; if you’re really hot, don't be shy when someone come and contact with you; designers need regular injections of exposure, but don't let it become a fixation

At the end of the chapter, the author has interviewed a designer, Corvey Holms. Corvey Holms is an art director at Crew in Los Angeles. He worked on posters, ad campaigns and print media. This is an interesting interview. Through the interview, I know more about Corvey Holms and I have also learned something new. The question which I think is very impressive is the last question, “ What do you say to a young designer starting out today?”. Corvey Holms mentioned that we have to pay attention, stop talking, and start watching and listening. He advises us that we should listen to the comments that others are making. It doesn’t mean that we should let go of our ideas, but just listen and watch. We may learn something through the others’ comments.

In fact, I really agree with what he says. As a year 3 graphic design student (although our lecturer asked us to call ourselves a designer), I believe that I am still new in the design world, and there's a lot of new things I have to learn. Yes, maybe sometimes we may think that our ideas are good or excellent, but we need to be humble. Stop talking, just listen and watch. You may learn something through the others’ comments. Every person has different perspectives. It is good for us to learn and listen to other's comments.