On the Job: Advice & Tips for Designers

Any level of designer in any type of atmosphere — whether it’s a design firm, in-house design department, freelance design 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. Plus, read in-the-trenches stories from designers, like yourself, and the lessons that they’ve gleaned from their experiences.

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: Design Business Clients: Communication & Management, Design Business: Industry Issues & Advice, Design Exercises for Inspired Designers, Design Inspiration: Creative Ideas for Designers, Design Inspiration: Ideas for Designers, Featured, On the Job: Advice & Tips for Designers | 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

Categories: Design Careers: Industry Advice & Job Search Tips, Featured, In-House Design: Careers & Advice, On the Job: Advice & Tips for Designers | Tags: , , , | Leave a comment

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

Categories: Design Business & The Industry of Design, Design Business Clients: Communication & Management, Design Business: Industry Issues & Advice, Featured, On the Job: Advice & Tips for Designers | Tags: , , , , | 1 Comment

10 Ways to Boost Your Office Popularity

You may have thought popularity contests ended after high school. That’s not always the case if you work in an office.
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Categories: Design Careers: Industry Advice & Job Search Tips, Design Inspiration: Ideas & How-to Advice for Designers, On the Job: Advice & Tips for Designers | Leave a comment

Values Assessment

In this assessment, you’ll first identify all the values that are important to you. Then you’ll narrow down the list to your 10 most important values. Last, you’ll identify which of your top 10 values are satisfied in your current work situation. This process will help you understand what’s missing now so that you can be clear about what you’re not willing to be without in the new work you choose. More

Categories: Design Careers: Industry Advice & Job Search Tips, In-House Design: Careers & Advice, On the Job: Advice & Tips for Designers | Leave a comment

Sell Your Ideas to Decision Makers

Arm yourself with the skills to sell your best ideas to decision makers.
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Categories: Design Business: Industry Issues & Advice, Design Ideas: Inspiration for Designers, Design Inspiration: Creative Ideas for Designers, On the Job: Advice & Tips for Designers | Tags: , , , | Leave a comment

Surviving as a Creative in Corporate Environments

Check out this exclusive interview with author Andy Epstein, and find out why he compares client management to "herding cats" in the new book The Corporate Creative. More

Categories: Design Careers: Industry Advice & Job Search Tips, Design Management: The Process & Business of Design, HOW Books: Exclusive Excerpts & Design Book Reviews, In-House Design: Careers & Advice, On the Job: Advice & Tips for Designers | Leave a comment

Retain Your Best Employees

As the economy begins to improve, retaining key members of your team will be critical—and more challenging. Now is the time to ensure you’re keeping your team engaged and inspired. More

Categories: Design Careers: Industry Advice & Job Search Tips, In-House Design: Careers & Advice, On the Job: Advice & Tips for Designers | Leave a comment

Six Mistakes to Avoid When Asking for a Promotion

Requesting a design promotion or raise can be a tricky proposition. Don’t make the following mistakes that can derail your chances of scoring a new job title. More

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Keep Your Firm and Clients, But Ditch the Office

Technology makes it increasingly easy for designers to work just about anywhere. Meet Dustin W Design, an interactive design agency in Los Angeles, that closed doors to their physical office and made the virtual transition—a decision that leaves Leslie Pollock, vice president of client services and strategic planning, with no regrets. More

Categories: Design Business & The Industry of Design, Design Careers: Industry Advice & Job Search Tips, Design Management: The Process & Business of Design, On the Job: Advice & Tips for Designers | 1 Comment