A huge thank you to Phil Jones for coming out to Stout a few weeks ago.
You asked... Phil answered. Here are all the questions students had after Phil came:
AIGA: What was your biggest challenge after graduating from college?
Phil: My biggest challenge was that I was completely unprepared for a career in graphic design. I didn't know how to work most of the programs so I had to find lessons online and check out books from the library to teach myself. I would get an assignment and work half the night just teaching myself how to do it. I always had the ideas I just didn't know how to create what was in my head. The thing was I was never afraid to ask questions. I asked my boss to give me homework at my internship. I asked him a question a day and he would teach me how something was made or how to get that effect. By showing that desire I got jobs I had no business getting and was put on projects I had no business being on. Because they knew I wouldn't settle they gave me things to push me. You have to be like that or nobody will spend time with you. They want to know that you are listening and trying to improve.
AIGA: What advice do you have for graduating seniors looking for a job?
Phil: Don't be to picky. Everyone is looking for something bigger, better or different. I would guarantee you that you will find people at the best design shops in the world looking to move on or do something that excites them more. You cannot believe that the job you have defines you as a designer. You need to look inside yourself for constant motivation. If your job isn't giving you the work you want to do, then go find it. If you can't find it create it. The only way you get ahead in this business is by challenging yourself outside of what is brought to your desk. If you only do the work that is given to you by your teacher you will look like a student. If you reach out into the community while in school you could come out looking like a professional. I got my first job because I went out in the community and told everyone I would design something for them and the crazy thing was, people took me up on it and some even paid me for it. If you wait for the perfect project or the perfect creative brief to do brilliant work, you will be waiting your entire life.
AIGA: When looking through portfolios what stands out?
Phil: Fresh thinking. I want to open up a portfolio and see projects that make me think, why didn't I think of that. Here is a good test to see if your idea is unique. Tell the design problem to someone who you feel isn't very creative. If they answer the question the way you did, then it is safe to say that is a very easy solution. What you want to do is craft an idea into a brilliant visual or set of visuals. Work hard to make your idea smart and your approach innovative. What I find all to often is young people look very quickly to develop a "style". This is a very bad thing unless you are an illustrator. As a graphic designer you never want to assign each brand your style. Great graphic designers may refine their approach but always allow for the style to emerge from the client or the project they are working on. This is important because this is what we look for in a good portfolio, the ability to interpret the message or brand in a way that speaks loud and clear for them - not you.
AIGA: How important is social media? Do i really need to Tweet or twittered or whatever?
Phil: Social media is a must have in the market today. I am not saying that you have to have it to survive but you do have to understand it. As the internet evolves graphic design is ever more important. We are in charge of decoding information and making the internet enjoyable just as we did for many years outdoors on posters and billboards. Outside of a knowledge of the internet it is very easy to get involved with communities that will help you search out job openings, opportunities, new projects, new clients and friends within the graphic design community. It is called networking for a reason. What you need to do early on is build a huge net of people and contacts. The more people that know you, know your work, like you and know you are looking for a job the better your chances are of getting what you need. Be a part of the community online and make yourself known. Share your work and praise others great work. It goes a long way in building a career.
AIGA: In many of your projects you thought of an idea and then went to the client to pitch it. How common is this?
Phil: It is extremely common to do this. I talked about my process because this is exactly what you need to be doing to get out there and get seen by people. I have worked at some great places but I wasn't always getting the projects that I wanted to be working on. So when I went home at night I worked on projects that I wanted to work on. I did things for clients I thought I wanted to work with. Some people say visualize your success and it will happen, or dress for the position you want, or even fake it til you make it. These all are basically what I did. I worked really hard on projects and then called them up and tried to find someone who would listen to me or look at my work. It worked for me. Trust me it isn't all luck. I have heard a ton of no's but once I heard that first one I realized it wasn't that bad so I kept trying. Each time I learned and built on that experience and alot of those experiences are what put me where I am today. Like I said before if you only do what comes across your desk you will only grow that fast. If you demand better work and push to be heard I think you would be surprised who will listen.
AIGA: In freelancing, how do you manage your time?
Phil: Freelancing is a constant battle of time management. You have to make investments in time to meet with clients, meet with agencies and produce work that pays. It is not an easy thing to do. You have to understand that the majority of your time in freelance work is spent promoting yourself. That is why social networking and things like twitter become so vital. Once you have the business you have to create timelines and estimates to make sure that you stay on track with your clients needs and budget. Then once that is all taken care of you have to produce good work. Good work means good business. When you make the client happy they will be more than happy to pass your name along. That equals less time promoting and more time doing what you love - designing.
AIGA: What is the best way to get freelance gigs?
Phil: Tell everyone you know, you design. Tell everyone you meet, you design. My biggest tool in getting freelance gigs is meeting up with people and doing good work. Doing good work will always get you more work. People will always remember the wonderful designer they hired to do their work and will always gladly pass along your name.
AIGA: How important is knowing web design if I want to do print?
Phil: It is a rare place this day and age that you will only need to know one area of design work. You really need to know the web even if you would rather only work in print. Another way to keep clients happy is to provide them with a large scope of design knowledge. You might not build their whole website but it would be good if you design their identity system that you know enough to show them what would look best on their website. Everything is moving towards the web and interactive. If you don't know it you really need to learn it because you job will require knowledge of it at some point in time I promise you that.
AIGA: Where do you draw inspiration from and how do you incorporate it in your designs?
Phil: My inspiration comes from everything. I am constantly writing in my little notebook. I am constantly thinking and creating in my head. I usually try to avoid design annuals and communication arts magazines they only make you design along current trends. What I like to do is dig into the clients business. I like to learn things about their business that they might even find fascinating. I love the library and old books. I like vintage sign typography and watching my nephews draw. I think you pull from things that you love and if it makes sense for a client then use it, but if not then don't force it. What I would tell you to do is take that funny thing that happened on the bus or the way your fry landed in the ketchup and create something you want to see. If it works for a client that is great but if not create to learn and keep pushing yourself as a designer and more importantly an artist.
AIGA: What are the pros of working freelance vs. working for a firm?
Phil: I think everyone should experience doing both at one point in their career. Early on I would recommend you work at a firm especially one you are able to learn at. Firms can be a wonderful environment full of creative energy. That is a great place to find out why your ideas work or why they don't. Being around seasoned pros they will be able to tell you what works and what doesn't about your idea. These are things you have to learn to be a great creative. It is really important to have an understanding of people's creative process and see how others work through problems.
On the flip side working for yourself allows you to be the boss and set your own guidelines. You need to be confident in your decisions because your clients depend on you to be the knowledgeable party. They expect you to know how to set things up for print and why they should use offset printing instead of digital. It is much more pressure to perform but when you have the knowledge of a few years in the field the problem solving becomes second nature and you can really explore things that you may not get the opportunity to if you are working as a designer for an agency or design firm.
AIGA: How do you learn more about the programs like illustrator and photoshop? Do you look at tutorials?
Phil: I learn new things all the time. I get on places like lynda.com and other tutorial sites and re-teach myself things all the time - just to see if I am doing it right. If you stop learning you could very well fall into bad habits. Those sites are out there to help you get better as a designer. There is a ton of information out there and I still find myself trying out new programs or new approaches to the same old problems. Early on I lived by tutorials but you can't ever be satisfied. The software companies keep tweaking and perfecting their programs we should all be updating our skills to stay up with the technology.
AIGA: How often do you do projects like threadless ts?
Phil: I love threadless. I am not the best illustrator and my style isn't always what they are looking for but it allows me to think within a different realm. I don't always get the chance to design tshirts so it is fun to try and give it a shot. If it isn't threadless it needs to be something. You have to constantly try things and push yourself. If you want a package design in your portfolio then create a package design. If you need a website then create one. The only thing preventing you from reinventing your portfolio every month is you. As a young designer you have the ability to experiment and try things you may have no business trying. When you get older they look to see what has been produced or what awards you have but when you are young they don't care about any of that. All we want to see is a yearning for more and a constant striving to create something different.
Students can email Phil some of their work for feedback. He kind of likes us Stout kids :)
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