WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNT SINCE WORKING AS A GRAPHIC DESIGNER?
That it isn’t about me, it is all about servicing the client.
WHAT IS AN AVERAGE DAY IN THIS JOB REALLY LIKE?
There isn’t an average day really.
WHAT KIND OF PROJECT WILL ALWAYS BE YOUR FAVOURITE?
One where a client appreciates our input, and gives us the space to carry through our ideas without watering them down.
HOW MUCH CREATIVE FREEDOM DO YOU GET WHEN WORKING ON PROJECTS?
There are always boundaries that you have to contend with, and actually the best work can happen under difficult circumstances. Freedom can lead to complacency.
WHAT WAS THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE GIVEN TO YOU BY ANOTHER DESIGNER?
Leave your ego at the door.
WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN 3.5 YEARS TIME?
3.5 years is an odd timeframe, however we are on the path to becoming a top 5 digital marketing agency in Manchester, and I expect us to be there within that time frame.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO ASPIRING DESIGNERS?
It’s not all about you. It’s about your client’s needs.
WHAT WILL BE THE NEXT DESIGN EVENT THAT YOU WILL ATTEND?
Alexander Singleton, studio owner of Hunting Town, http://www.huntingtown.co.uk/, responds to our questionnaire.
Whilst at Uni I was working as an illustrator on the student newspaper - from that I managed to get myself a job working as an Art Director on a start-up magazine. I met a lot of bands doing that job, and ended up designing some of their album artwork on the side. I really really enjoyed it, so I decide to leave and go freelance.
WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNT SINCE WORKING AS A GRAPHIC DESIGNER?
Everything! I've learnt tonnes of stuff about running a business and marketing and stuff like that. That was really brand new knowledge to me that came directly out of starting out as a Graphic Designer. Stuff like dealing with clients too - that's a really important skill and a fine art to master.
I'm currently teaching myself web development as it's what my clients are asking for more and more. I try not to refuse work, and instead treat unusual requests as a challenge to learn new skills.
WHAT IS AN AVERAGE DAY IN THIS JOB REALLY LIKE?
Well, I wake up and check my emails on my phone. Then I make some breakfast and read a few articles about freelancing or design or something like that. I listen to design podcasts like Unfinished Business, Adventures in Design and Design Matters on the way to and from work too.
When I reach the office I make a huge cup of coffee and answer any emails that I didn't respond to in bed. Then I take a look at my to do list and just start slogging through it.
I'm a pretty slow starter in the mornings, so I try and start off with easy or enjoyable stuff first, and work up to the more challenging and creative stuff in the afternoon. I generally don't have a finish time, and end up working quite late most days. I tend to stop when the work is done, rather than at a specific time.
Also I don't break for lunch which is really bad - I just munch and work.
WHAT KIND OF PROJECT WILL ALWAYS BE YOUR FAVOURITE?
Probably illustration. I've always loved drawing, and although I can get burnt out on it pretty quick when I look back at my portfolio, those are always the pieces I'm really proud off.
HOW MUCH CREATIVE FREEDOM DO YOU GET WHEN WORKING ON PROJECTS?
It differs from client to client. Some clients only want you as a 'hand' to do what they can't and tell you EXACTLY what they want. That's fine and it's good work to do in the morning when I'm not feeling totally creative yet - it's never my best work though - client really need to trust designers more and realise that they are paying for their creativity as much as their skill.
That said though, I do have some amazing clients who really do give me full reign to do whatever I want and those are always my very best works. I recently had a huge illustration project working with a massive IP that I was just able to go to town with and both I and the client are super happy with the results.
WHAT WAS THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE GIVEN TO YOU BY ANOTHER DESIGNER?
Man, that's a tough one. I've been lucky enough to receive some great advice by a tonne of fantastic designers.
"Under Promise and over deliver" is a really good one by Bill Beachy. I think a lot of advice boils down to be a nice guy. You can be the best designer in the world, but if you're a dick nobody will want to work with you. So much of our income as designers comes from referals, so just be a nice guy to everyone. You never know who knows who and where work might come from.
WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN 3.5 YEARS TIME?
I see two roads in front of me right now.
I can either jack up my prices and go down the one man freelancer route and really build a name for myself personally, or I can start hiring on new staff and lay down the seeds of a new design agency. I keep flitting between the two futures at the moment and I haven't totally decided, so in 3.5 years time I could really be in either place.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO ASPIRING DESIGNERS?
Keep learning. You WILL NOT learn everything from a degree. You can be working as a designer for 30 years and not know everything. Trends are always changing, technology is always emerging. Stay on top of your game and don't get complacent. Spend an hour reading about new things every single day - it will pay off.
WHAT WILL BE THE NEXT DESIGN EVENT THAT YOU WILL ATTEND?
I think the next one in my calendar is actually a Shopify conference in Manchester. A lot of my clients are looking for eCommerce solutions and it's something I'm a little rusty on, so I'm booking myself into conferences and workshops to learn new techniques until I find something I'm happy with.
Neil Ramsbottom, studio owner of Studio eNaR, http://www.studioenar.co.uk/, responds to our questionnaire.
HOW DID YOUR PASSION TURN INTO A PROFESSION?
It became a passion once it became my profession.
WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNT SINCE WORKING AS A GRAPHIC DESIGNER?
As a designer : Always keep learning. As the owner of a studio : Graphic Design is a business. Budgets, cash flow, scheduling and client communications are just as important as the ability to kern type correctly. The tricky part is balancing both.
WHAT IS AN AVERAGE DAY IN THIS JOB REALLY LIKE?
It's hard work – there's no getting away from that, and an average day will typically not consist of what you think it will when you're on your way to work in the morning.
WHAT KIND OF PROJECT WILL ALWAYS BE YOUR FAVOURITE?
I don't have a favourite, I find it very difficult to rate my own work.
HOW MUCH CREATIVE FREEDOM DO YOU GET WHEN WORKING ON PROJECTS?
Graphic designers don't have 'creative freedom'. You work within the boundaries of the brief/budget/client requirements and push as far as you can.
I know of very few designers who get the sort of mythological freedom that Peter Saville enjoyed, and I think most prefer it that way. I personally find it very difficult to work to open briefs or to my own brief – it is the restrictions that bring out the best in you.
If you crave total freedom you're probably better off becoming an artist.
WHAT WAS THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE GIVEN TO YOU BY ANOTHER DESIGNER?
It's not one particular piece of advice but I have taken something from every person I have worked with – sometimes seeing how something shouldn't be done is as invaluable as seeing how it should be done.
WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN 3.5 YEARS TIME?
The same place as I am now – but maybe with some more company!
PS – why 3.5 years?
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO ASPIRING DESIGNERS?
Work hard, be passionate, learn the craft, grow a thick skin, and don't mention how you take your tea/coffee on your CV, portfolio or website...I HATE that!
WHAT WILL BE THE NEXT DESIGN EVENT THAT YOU WILL ATTEND?
I tend not to attend many design community events these days, but for young designers it is probably essential to get yourself 'known' to a certain degree.
Richard Lowes, a creative from Punch Creative, http://www.punch-creative.co.uk, responds to our questionnaire.
HOW DID YOUR PASSION TURN INTO A PROFESSION?
Stubborn perseverance. Its a difficult industry to get into, and even more difficult to make headway in.
WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNT SINCE WORKING AS A GRAPHIC DESIGNER?
I have learnt that it is only partly to do with talent and ability. It is just as much to do with personality, patience and communication skills.
WHAT IS AN AVERAGE DAY IN THIS JOB REALLY LIKE?
At Punch it is very varied. We are a full service agency so our production sheet includes all manner of design work - plus a fair bit of studio grunt work that everyone needs to muck in with.
WHAT KIND OF PROJECT WILL ALWAYS BE YOUR FAVOURITE?
The kind where we are given more creative freedom. Budgets will always be tight but if your client trusts you to get on with your ideas that is a good place to be.
HOW MUCH CREATIVE FREEDOM DO YOU GET WHEN WORKING ON PROJECTS?
You get more as the reputation of you / your company grows. Some clients will always want to lead a brief purely because everyone thinks they are creative. Its a funny trend in our line of work - you wouldn't get a plumber round your house then tell him which pipes to shift would you?
WHAT WAS THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE GIVEN TO YOU BY ANOTHER DESIGNER?
Apple S.
IF YOU COULD HAVE WORKED ON ANY COMMERCIAL PROJECT IN THE PAST YEAR WHICH WOULD IT BE AND WHY?
I guess the Olympics, purely from an egotistical point of view.
WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN 3.5 YEARS TIME?
Hopefully still pushing Punch forward. We dont want to take over the world but it would be nice to be still in a position where interesting opportunities were presenting themselves and we are not just focused on people management.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO ASPIRING DESIGNERS?
Dont be a dick - people spend a lot of their waking life at work, so I want to think I could get on with you 9 - 5.
WHAT WILL BE THE NEXT DESIGN EVENT THAT YOU WILL ATTEND?
Russ, from PDC Manchester, http://www.pdc-manchester.co.uk, responds to our questionnaire.
HOW DID YOUR PASSION TURN INTO A PROFESSION?
I took a modern apprenticeship after leaving school with part time education. I started producing powerpoint presentations and moved upward from there.
WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNT SINCE WORKING AS A GRAPHIC DESIGNER?
You can work on a lot of boring jobs in between the really exciting ones. Experience is more valuable than qualifications - get as much experience as you can.
WHAT IS AN AVERAGE DAY IN THIS JOB REALLY LIKE?
Working with other designers is a great laugh and essential for bouncing ideas around. Deadlines can sometimes be tough or downright impossible.
WHAT KIND OF PROJECT WILL ALWAYS BE YOUR FAVOURITE?
Logo / web design.
HOW MUCH CREATIVE FREEDOM DO YOU GET WHEN WORKING ON PROJECTS?
Some customers have a very precise idea of what they want and sometimes it's just easier to do that than fight your corner. Some customers have no idea what they want until they see it.
WHAT WAS THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE GIVEN TO YOU BY ANOTHER DESIGNER?
To go a bit slower and check the details of your work. It's no good having a fantastic looking leaflet if it's full of spelling mistakes. Get the essentials right first.
IF YOU COULD HAVE WORKED ON ANY COMMERCIAL PROJECT IN THE PAST YEAR WHICH WOULD IT BE AND WHY?
Can't think of any - sorry!
WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN 3.5 YEARS TIME?
Still here hopefully! This is the best team I've worked with and the work is hugely varied.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO ASPIRING DESIGNERS?
Try to understand your customers and work to their tastes. If you're designing for print, get a good grounding in what's possible and bear in mind he budgets before designing.
WHAT WILL BE THE NEXT DESIGN EVENT THAT YOU WILL ATTEND?
