Scaling the Design Summit

It has long been the dream of many a designer to own their own design agency that services prestigious brands such as Nike, Coca-cola, and Sony.  The mistake that many beginning designers make is focusing on these dreams without concern for what is being done today in order to get there.  Don’t get me wrong, aiming to the top is the best that one can do, no matter what industry you belong to.  The problem is that people forget that to attain this future, you must first conquer your now.  Remember to always keep the term “now” in mind when amidst all the aggravation of a job that you are not happy with. Most importantly, remind yourself that “now” does not last forever and that every job you have teaches you something.

Start at the Bottom

My first design job definitely opened my eyes to the industry I was entering.   This job made me realize how much of a factor work atmosphere impacts my quality of work.  This company had the designers (myself and the person who hired me) gloriously placed in the furthest corner of the building as to ensure that we did not see or hear anyone that came in through the front door.  As with many design agencies, deadlines were unrealistic and project time lines were misrepresented to the client.  Unfortunately, being that I was inexperienced and my voice didn’t quite count yet, I had to suck it up and produce work as if I were a machine.

As time progresses you tend to get better at recognizing the type of company you will be working for from the moment you step into the office for an interview.  When interviewing I have always tried to trust my gut feeling.  If you are not comfortable with a company when you walk in the door, chances are that 6 months down the road things will likely not have changed.

Seek Positions of Power

As I started learning more about the design industry, I also started landing better jobs and internships.  One of the best, and probably the most valuable, jobs I obtained up to now was becoming the tutor at the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale.  While this job did not have me designing amazing works of art, it did make my name known and make me a much more valuable.  This position let me teach a variety of students whether they were from the Interactive Media program or not.  Flexibility was key while working as a tutor since I would often have students from a variety of departments ranging from graphic and web design all the way to industrial design and culinary arts.  What did this do for me?  This made me recognized by students and faculty at the school as the “go to” person.  Soon I was no longer just a student in my classes, but an assistant to the professors.  After graduating, this position was THE biggest selling point on my resume as employers automatically recognized project management skills were essential for me as a tutor.

Once you realize what your niche is, make sure to push yourself to be the best at it.  I honestly believe that there is no better way to learn than to teach what you know to someone else.  By teaching you are forced to look at things from various angles and figure out which approach fits best for the person/people you are working with.  This ultimately makes you more versatile and efficient when working with clients or when managing a design team.

Build Your Portfolio

One of the last positions I had while still attending school was with Beasley Broadcast Group, a company that owns more than 40 radio stations nationwide.  On paper, my selling point was being a tutor, when it came to my portfolio, Beasley was king.  This company gave me the opportunity to work, at least indirectly, with brands such as Old Navy, Outback Steakhouse, and Burger King.  There was a constant flow of contests and competitions from these brands and many others that needed a place to live within each radio station’s website.  While at this position, I also let my experience as a tutor shine by always introducing new and upcoming technologies into projects and by pushing the design team to use these new technologies.

Often times people can talk their way out of any possible situation or problem.  Unfortunately, the design industry does not work that way.  As good as someone may look on paper, the final deciding factor is always what you have done.  I’m guilty, just like other designers, of often forgetting that my portfolio even exists.  Typically, this is due to already having a position with another company, as is my case.  More often than not, designers are afraid that their employers will believe that they are looking to leave the company if they actively update their portfolio, which definitely is not always the case.  In my case, having a strong portfolio not only reflects me as a designer, but also reflects the company I work for.  My personal portfolio shows clients that Equisolve does not settle for just anyone, but that they seek people who are forward-looking and will keep clients up with current standards.

Don’t Get Discouraged

In the end what matters most is that you push yourself beyond what you believe you are capable of.  You’d be surprised at how many times people have told me they didn’t know they could do something until they were pushed outside their comfort zone.  Innovation comes from doing what you normally would not.  Once again, remember that “now” is only temporary, so don’t get discouraged.