14. Khoi Vinh
www.subtraction.com
“I wish someone had told me that the secret to design is selling, and that every great designer is also a great sales person, someone who knows how to market him/herself to the world. The ability to design without the ability to sell is the definition of futility.”
15. Jennifer Visocky O’Grady
www.enspacedesign.com
“I like to tell my students this story: I landed at Cleveland State, bright and shiny at the end of my graduate studies, as a part-time instructor. Naturally, I applied for the first job opening I encountered: Assistant Professor of Graphic Design (they already knew me, neat!). I didn’t even warrant an interview… that is until three other candidates turned down the offer. I like to remind my students of this, as they’re struggling to build their own resumes. We all start somewhere. It’s rarely a glamorous reception.
“Thirteen years later, I’m the Chair of the Department. (Even neater.)”
16. Petrula Vrontikis
www.35k.com
“Make sure to balance work and life. Without balance you may experience early career burn out or create undue emotional strain on yourself and the ones you love.
“Connect with nature. Get out of your head and into your body. Nature reminds us to listen, think, and feel in ways that feed our intuition.
“Travel. It enriches your life on every level. But there’s more to it because it takes us out of the context of what we know. It challenges us to exercise muscles that we don’t normally use.
“There’s so much to learn from immersion in the unfamiliar. The benefit is a heightened sense of empathy and compassion — along with a sprinkling of humility. Chance invites spontaneity and play, which fuel creativity. Being open to chance — wherever you are — is a fearless act.”
17. David Young
www.inventinginteractive.com
“The most important inspirations and influences in your life and career will come from places other than the design world. Get away from the design scene and cultivate other interests, skills, and experiences. Those are the things that will give you passion and distinguish you.”
Do you have advice to share? Please leave a comment below.
Career Resources for Designers
- Enroll Now: Web Design For Beginners Series.
- 2012 Creative Professional’s Marketing Plan Bundle.
- The Designer’s Career Collection.
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“Will I ever know what I’m doing?” On average it takes 10 years to become a competent, everyday, think-on-your-feet, problem-solving designer. Some it takes six, others thirteen. And a mentor can help shorten that learning curve. What does that mean? In the first 10 years of any career, not just creative ones, you are learning to work with and understand people, and how to solve problems. So, don’t beat yourself up if in your eighth year, you’re wondering if you’ll ever get it. And good news: if you are switching careers into or out of a creative field, those people and problem-solving skills go with you. Welcome to your career! Now, relax.
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