Have you a soul?

[tommysoul]

Dear all,

I'm graduating from School of Design in a Singapore university soon, and I'm still kind of searching....

Yeah, I am surrounded with a class of communications designers who are top notch in creating the styles and directions that the commercial world wants, who are seasoned in negotating with clients, compromising with them, obliging to the authorities and obliging to any censorship and authorities (well, this is Singapore). In other words, being a slave to the commercial world, with lots of styles, lots of 'real-world' skills but not much identity.

My classmates have everything it takes to make a true blue commercial designer. But being in this commercialised world where economics overrides aesthetics, style, and sometimes compromises functions, where can I find my soul as a designer?

How do you find what motivates you? How can I be a earnest designer and still keep my soul motivated?

Show me your soul please. :confused:

[D-Frag]

thats a give and take. if you freelance, you have more of an option to take on certain types of projects that can satisfy your soul so to speak. but in the corporate world, your going to have to bend over and take it up the rear end by nasty clients on a daily basis, after all, they are the paying customer and you have to satisfy there needs.

[Thomas51471]

That is something you will find as you work professionally. It is like anything, at first you just have to do what ya have to do the ya have to do it, but after a while you will find your soul. Just give it time and hang in there.

[1ooScreamingTrees]

Haha - the way in which you worded your question is the perfect setup - it almost makes this seem like a marketing ploy ;)

I'm currently in the middle of this book, which is aimed primarily at students and recent graduates entering the design field:

"how to be a graphic designer without losing your soul" (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1568985592/sr=8-1/qid=1141153247/ref=pd_bbs_1/102-3464595-6539300?%5Fencoding=UTF8)

It has a great intro by Sagmeister...I rented it from my university's fine arts library, so check there first.

[Navian]

No soul for you! Come back 3 months. :p

[greyghost]

I had no soul while working commercially at a corporate job.

In fact, I think I am only just beginning to find my soul, nearly four years out of the corporate world.

[Logo-Mechanix]

I sold my soul for rock 'n roll.

[twogun]

i sold my soul to santa.......well i am dyslexic

[PersonasBinar]

By remaining broke for the rest of your days..kj'ing..or by giving up some probono work to charities and causes close to your heart and/or your community. Local shelters, missions, etc always needs some help in the communication end of the business.

[fiend]

Work is work, you need to have a life outside of work. That is where you will find your soul, and your creativity.