First Job - Sole In House Designer

[rachilders]

Hello! I just got my first official design job about a month ago. I'm working at a fabric company as an in house graphic designer, which is great. But, I am replacing a design firm that they used to outsource to and I am all alone. My whole goal when I was doing my job search was to obtain something where I would be able to learn. I know that I am learning by being in the professional environment - but I never expected to be literally on my own. Any suggestions on how I can keep learning? I am excited that I have a job and I don't want to complain - but there's so much I don't know about the design world that I won't learn here. I am signing up for a night class starting next month and have been to local events for designers, but I still have the 9-5 hours to figure out.

Happy Holidays!

[lefty]

Hi --

I'm alone too. I am in the communications office of a private school, and I create school magazines, theme logos for each year and event logos, wall calendar, do work for the website, play posters/programs, quarterly newsletter, brochures, invitations, etc. I have found that by needing to be a "jack of all trades" I am learning a great deal. While my boss is wonderful and has overall a great eye for design, there are times when I am looking for input from others as well. That's why I'm starting to look here.

I'm hoping to take some classes on lynda.com this year (really need to learn more about coding) -- wish I could go to conventions or take classes, but there isn't money in the school (or my personal) budget for that. Time is an issue as well. Our office is very busy, I have some projects on the side, and I have my kids and their activities.

I'll be interested to see if anyone else has any suggestions. Just wanted to let you know that there are others who understand your situation!

[LostSense]

Being solo on the job and trying to better your design skills is pretty tough. If it's not possible to study under an experienced designer in the work place than maybe you could try to find a way of doing it outside the job. You could try to find an experienced, known designer within a design firm and approach them to see if they'd be willing to show you the ropes for a little pay. Or maybe offer to pay them a small amount to critique your current work in-depth (sometimes you can even find workshops for these kinds of things and it would be well worth it).

The cheaper option is to compare your work to highly praised or successful work of other designers. Look at what you create vs what the big design firms in your area are producing. Ask yourself why does their piece work and examine it in detail. Why did they choose those specific fonts, colors, imagery, placement, elements. You'll see quick what they are doing right and what you could do better.

[shurik]

Maybe try and get an internship in a design company. Your boss may give you some house/days off, since at the end of the day, you are going to do more and better at your company. Courses would prob be the best, you learn and mingle with other designers, but as others said - not everyone can afford them.

At least it gives you room to experiment, learn and try everything you can without anyone telling you how to do it