What do you wish you knew when you graduated?

Here's the discussion post Staci and I were talking about at the meeting on Tuesday.


If you are on linked-in you can join the AIGA discussion group that is then e-mailed to you when updated (daily). Awhile ago this post came up:

What do you wish you knew when you graduated that you know now?

The first important insight item that I would like younger designers and even seasoned professionals to understand is exactly what we are doing here. Networking. Its a huge advantage to know someone, to have worked with them in the past and to have done a good job while working with them. Long story short :: Network to get ahead. And be a cool, talented, down to Earth person while doing it. - Todd Bricker, Owner of Design Refresh

 

If a strong-willed client comes to you with a lot of terrible ideas for the design project you are working on for them, don't waste your time and energy trying to talk them out of it. It takes much less time and effort to make a quick comp giving them exactly what they think they want, and then present it side-by-side with the piece that they actually need. 98% of the time they will immediately see the error of their ways and start treating you like the expert they hired you to be. - Lynne Kelly, Managing Owner and Creative Director of Design Metamorphosis

Learn how to write. Learn how to articulate your point impressively and like an adult. So many people in my age group (most of whom are coming out of school right now) can't even put a proper sentence together or spell correctly. When you have to describe yourself on paper, write a cover letter, write copy, or write a proposal, your writing ability WILL say something to its reader about your level of professionalism and education. - Gabrielle Gozo, Freelance Graphic Designer at L.F. O'Connell Associates, Inc

 

Relationships are the most important thing in your career. Call it networking, call it friendship, but people will make the difference in your career. Mentors, co-workers and clients. Find those kindred spirits and build those relationships.

Give more than you get. Your job as a young designer is to prove yourself and improve in the process. You will be exploited; that's good business. You should make more money for your bosses than what they pay you. In turn, you help build a mentor's business and you learn and grow as a mature professional. All early jobs are in a sense paid apprenticeships.

Choose your employers wisely. If you're going to work for another designer make sure that you can learn from them. If you aren't learning from them, it's not a balanced relationship. If there isn't mutual respect, quit. Find people who are worthy of your trust and your time. When you've proven yourself, your employer should trust you to meet with clients and maintain those relationships. If your employer is threatened by you, it's an unhealthy relationship.

Client relationships are tricky. They are first professional. They can be friendly, but this is business. You must respect them, their aesthetics, likes and dislikes, their ownership of your ideas. Cultivate that mutual respect, earn their trust. If a client relationship becomes adversarial, you're in trouble. Practice honest self-evaluation. If you've been accommodating and professional but are being treated poorly- negotiate, compromise and complete the job. Next time they try to hire you, make sure you're too busy to take on their project.

Maintain your sense of play. Creativity is manifest in playful juggling of ideas and concepts. Always envision your creative source as infinite; you will have access to a bottomless well of ideas in your creative life. When you're stuck, go out and play. - Bill Dawson, XK9 Design

 

You can find the rest of the post here: http://www.linkedin.com/groupAnswers?viewQuestionAndAnswers=&gid=95409&discussionID=12166065&split_page=1

Check our our Members

Jake Anderson - blog
Lindsey Bock -  site blog linkedin
Phillip Cahall - blog
Jessica Cihon - site linkedin
Kelli Fox - site linkedin
Ross Harried - blog linkedin twitter youtube
Ashley Hohnstein - site flickr
Laura Howard - site blog linkedin
Derek Huber - linkedin twitter
Jesse Lindhorst - site blog linkedin
Elizabeth Kruse - blog
Kayd Mustonen - site blog twitter linkedin
Staci Paul - site linkedin blog
Colin Schye - site twitter linkedin
Christen Shepard - site
Sam - blog
Sharon Stickney - site
Caitlin Teague - site 
Jenna Wojan - site blog



*please message us if you are not listed or have more information

Need A...

Help Spread the Word... AIGA can design just about anything for you or your business.

Posters designed by Kayd Mustonen, Graphic Design Senior and AIGA Marketing Director

AIGA Members

Congratulations to our New, Old and Renewed AIGA National Members
It's very exciting that we have 96 members in our Graphic Design group, 52 of them are National AIGA members.  

Alyssa Miller, Amanda Harder, Andrea Manor, Anna Reseburg,Annie Kressin, Ashley Hohnstein, Brian Hildman, Brittany Kluz, Brittany Sweney, Caitlin Teague, Christen Shepard, Collin Syche, David Schreiber, Dena Hoewisch, Diane Witcher, Emily Brownson, Hannah Bergan, Hannah Helgerson, Hannah Hess, Jenna Lang, Jenna Wojan, Jennifer Traxler, Jesse Lindhorst, Jessica Brunette, Jessica Cihon, Jessica Donahoe, Jessica Thelen, Jessica Wilson, Joe Aliotto, Jon Daniels, Justine Goodrich, Kathleen Tolmie, Katie Wolff, Katy Verbrugge, Kayd Mustonen, Kayla Langhans, Kelli Fox, Kelsey Hansen, Kristie Wilson, Laura Howard, Lenn Soderlund, Lindsey Bock, Maddi Wichert, Megan Koschak, Melissa, Allen, Nate Koehler, Phillip Cahall, Sara Koller, Sara Pokorny, Staci Paul, Tegan Moersfelder, Tiffany Kroll

Competion: Flux 09

Check out AIGA's Flux competition. Entry fee is cheap. Submit things and make us proud!

AIGA at the Backyard Bash

It was great meeting so many new students and catching up with friends at the Backyard Bash tonight. In case you missed our booth our first meeting is Tuesday, September 15th at 5:45 in Applied Arts Lecture Hall 210

AIGA Membership

Welcome to the blog for the graphic design group at the University of Wisconsin Stout!

Whether your an incoming student or have only a semester of courses left, becoming a member of AIGA will bring you opportunities you wouldn't otherwise get without this organization behind you.


AIGA, the professional association for design, is the premier place for design—to discover it, discuss it, understand it, appreciate it, be inspired by it. It is the place designers turn to first to exchange ideas and information, participate in critical analysis, and research and advance education and ethical practices.

AIGA (American Institute for Graphic Arts) is a nationally recognized organization. Stout's student group is part of AIGA Minnesota.


UW-STOUT LEVEL:
Stout's AIGA student group had over 100 members last year, either with a national membership or with a university membership. We have expanded our scope to specialize in graphic design events, multi-media design events, speakers and workshops to bring our organization every opportunity to learn and to expand their skills.

Meetings will be every other week and will focus on getting more involved with design outside of the classroom and allow students to interact with each other to learn. Freelance opportunities will be available for those interested and internship opportunities will be passed on to AIGA members. Subscribe to the blog for future events.

In the past, alumni and professional designers have spoken with the students to share insights regarding job hunting, portfolio building and reviews, freelance work, animation and personal branding. We have also taken part in the Homecoming parade, screen printed t-shirts and had a social BBQ.


PROFESSIONAL AIGA MINNESOTA:
Stout's Student Group works with AIGA Minnesota to coordinate events available to students.
AIGA Minnesota offers events such as Design Camp, Cocktails with Creatives, Studio Tours and Portfolio Reviews. These are for students and professionals alike and are GREAT ways to network with other students as well as professionals to get more information about the design profession.

With an AIGA membership, students can access the designer's directory and job postings and receive discounts on events. Members also can set up a profile on the national website and upload their portfolio and resume to pass onto potential employers.

BECOMING A MEMBER:
National Level: $70 if you mail a check to AIGA UW-Stout Student Group

• Discounts on AIGA events
  
• Design Annual
  
• On-Line portfolio
  
• Access to job opportunities
  
• Access to Designers Directory
  
• Attend meetings for free
  
• Receive e-mails about job opportunities
  
• Able to attend University Funded events and workshops
  
• Network with other students in the organization
  
• Learn outside of the classroom
• much much more!

University Level: $10/semester.

• Attend meetings for free
  
• Receive e-mails about job opportunities
  
• Able to attend University Funded events and workshops
  
• Network with other students in the organization
  
• Learn outside of the classroom.

CHECKS CAN BE MAILED TO:
AIGA UW-Stout Student Group
Applied Arts Building
712 S. Broadway
Menomonie, WI 54751

Please include the student's name, year and UW-Stout email address

Membership fees can also be handed to an officer during the first meeting. First meeting TBA.

For further announcements, news, events, speakers, resources and highlights you can subscribe to this blog. E-mail announcements and meeting minutes will only be sent out to members.


If you have additional questions please e-mail AIGA@uwstout.edu

AIGA Aquent Salary Survey

Take a look at the Aquent Salary Survey from AIGA: http://www.aiga.org/content.cfm/salary-survey

It lists the salaries and benefits for various jobs in various locations.

"An entry-level designer is one to two years out of school and requires mentoring in all aspects of design conception and implementation." Based on the survey, the salary is pretty much the same for entry-level designers no matter where you are in the US. The average in Minneapolis is $33,000.

Check out the other locations and job titles... who knows you may find a new calling to be an art director or a copywriter.

You can also fill in the boxes at Design Salaries to find your idea situation.

enjoy

AIGA benefits

There are countless benefits with an AIGA membership and right now I'm really diggin' the yearly publication of outstanding design. This 367 page book is delivered to members at the end of each year with categories including promotional design and advertising, brand identity, typography, and packaging design. The AIGA jury reviewed more than 4,700 entries and narrowed the samples down to 255. A book like this could cost $30-$60 and is a great addition for your inspiration library. Get a membership today!