Graphic Designer?......How Did You Start?

[jreid]

Hi All,

I'm interested in the experience of graphic designers and how they turned their skills into a profitable business.

I'm carrying out some research for a University report, and would really like to know what challenges you faced and the skills you had to learn along the way.
And if you're just starting out, what do you expect along the creative path you've chosen to pursue.

All the information I gather will be posted back here, I'm sure I'm not the only one who'd like to know how it is for other designers, or perhaps you're struggling and could learn from the experience of other people.

To take part, here's a questionnaire that won't take long at all, feel free to answer them in any order.

here's the link: http://jevanreid.wordpress.com/2012/...ext-questions/

If you take part I will appreciate it sooo very much.. got a lot riding on the success of this..

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I'm a student at Ravensbourne University London (Specialist in Digital Media and Design), completing my first year in BA Graphic Design. In accordance with Ravensbourne's ethical policy, participants are entitled to enquire further or withdraw their answers at any point. If you wish to contact me, please email me at: j.reid.students.rave.ac.uk

[foidesigns]

i filled it out for ya buddy

[PrintDriver]

Your questionaire doesn't ask the right questions for your outline.
1. you assume that freelancing is the way to make a profit in this business.
2. you only ask about benefits of freelancing or working with a team.

I don't ever recommend that a student start out freelancing fresh out of school. Most of them think they can freelance if they can't find a job. What makes them think that if they aren't hireable, they have the chops to be out there freelancing. There is a lot to learn about this industry if you want to rise above the level of bar-flyers and nightclub street teams.

A major part of freelancing is knowing how to run a business. You spend about 30% of your time designing when freelancing. The rest is about running your business. You have to know the laws and have a business plan. A little starting captal helps too. The second part of freelancing is having the skills you need to get the clients what they need. I truly believe the proliferation of online gang printers is due simply to the fact that today's 'designer' simply just does not know any other type of print process. Know about foils and letter press and the difference between offset and digital, the differences between standard press printing and wide format, how to incorporate new media into multi-focused design, develop industry outsources so you don't have to learn it all. And that's just scratching the surface. If you want to be successful in this industry it's all about knowing more resources than the guy next to you. And knowing how to market it.

[Cre8tivDirector]

completed.

[sully1251]

Survey completed.

I have to agree with PrintDriver to some extent. Your survey should ask more pointed questions, covering a wider range of graphic design and the essential skills needed.

[jreid]

@ PrintDriver & Sully1251, you're right in saying the way I worded the questionnaire is comes across quite biased towards freelancing, I did try and divert the attention away from it with the last question but I see where the issue is. Thanks for being honest and pointing that out

Thanks to all who have completed my questionnaire so far... people have really taken the time to answer honestly.. it shows that they have a passion for what they do and its very encouraging to read. *tingly motivated feeling*
I will be back to show the responses soon. I may make a new thread/ topic (forgive me if the terms are wrong - I'm new here). I'll post a link soon..

[Yearnful]

I'm not a full time or otherwise freelance graphic designer (yet), so I can't take part in your Questionnaire. I'd like to share a few things though, in hope that others who are interested in following this career path, won't get off on the wrong foot like I did.

A few years back, I got my Certificate in Computer Tech Support & Multimedia. Among other things, in class we had courses in Photoshop and QuarkXpress as well. I really liked working on those programs and by the time I finished the academy, I developed a strong interest in Graphic Design. I mistakenly thought though that since I had good experience working with this kind of software and because my field was pretty close to the field of GD, I should give it a shot. That made me go out looking for a suitable position, without the necessary degree or the proper qualifications. Needless to say, I didn't go far. My lack of background design knowledge and other software expertise was clearly visible, and the two jobs I did manage to get, had me limited only to the few things I Knew how to do (with whatever impact that had on the money I earned). The whole situation didn't exactly help me make a name for myself either.

So yeah, for anyone who wants to become a Graphic Designer, it's really important not to get over his/her head and go to school right away. That's the first step really. No degree gets you nothing and there's much more revolving around design than someone would think (I'm only in my first semester and find that to be true). It seems that because the field of computers is so vast and has so many affiliated branches, people think they'll manage to provide services they shouldn't have had in the first place. But that's far from the truth.