On the Job

Any level of designer in any type of atmosphere—whether it’s a design firm, in-house department, freelance business, virtual office or internship—will find that each setting presents unique on-the-job challenges. Find tips and articles for being successful in your design career.

3 Sticky Salary Situations

Are you looking for a job, or trying to figure out how to negotiate a better salary in 2012? Here are 3 sticky salary situations you may encounter in your career and how to handle each one with diplomacy. More

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12-Month Career-Boosting Guide

Need a game plan for moving your in-house design career forward during the new year? Take the following 12 steps to help maximize your work potential. By making one new change each month, you can boost your career outlook—and add a little fun to your job! More

Categories: In-House, January 2012 HOW Magazine, On the Job, Résumé & Portfolio | Tags: , , , , , | Leave a comment

Top 5 Tech Etiquette Tips

Today’s high-tech world calls for vigilance, good judgment and excellent etiquette. Here are five tips for avoiding some of the most common digital protocol pitfalls. More

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6 Secrets from the Etsy Design Team

While you may not actually work at Etsy, you can make it feel like you do with these tips from their in-house design team for instilling inspiration into any office. More

Categories: Design Career, Get Inspired, HOW Magazine, In-House, November 2011 HOW Magazine, On the Job | Tags: , | Leave a comment

Guide to Socializing with Co-Workers

According to The Creative Group, 64% of executives polled say that employees who socialize outside of the office enjoy more productive working relationships. See how to socialize with co-workers in a manner that is appropriate and not destructive. More

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Missed Promotions

While missing out on a promotion is disappointing, there may be an upside: You may emerge from the situation with a clearer sense of where you want to go, as well as how to get there. These tips can help you learn from the setback and increase your chances of landing a promotion in the future. More

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5 Things to Consider Before You Quit

Are you thinking about quitting your design job? Before you say “so long” and head out the door in a heated moment, consider these points before making a decision you may later regret. Or, decide if maybe you are ready for greener grass. More

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Do You Suck at Selling Your Ideas?

Phenomenal ideas, like that for the Dyson vacuum cleaner, are sometimes the hardest ideas to sell. Take tips from James Dyson on selling your next big idea to decision makers. More

Categories: Business Issues, Clients, Creative Exercises, Design + Creativity, Featured, Get Inspired, On the Job | Tags: , , | Leave a comment

Be an “Unofficial” Creative Team Leader

It’s a classic catch-22: You’re given responsibility for a design project for a client, but no formal authority over the other players who will assist you in the assignment. How do you exert your influence in such a situation? Consider the following 5 tips More

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The Empathic Designer: 5 Tips for Better Collaborative Relationships

Design success is as often as much the result of the quality of the relationships formed with clients, as it is the quality of the design. David Holston, author of “The Strategic Designer,” offers 5 tips for better collaborative design relationships with clients. More

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