what a bfa gets you
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- kyl30
put a cover page and some info on the pdf. Your work is nice but edgy and cold. You need to break the ice with some personal words. the small type on the last page needs to be bigger for this web version.
- dablammit0
I know this isn't nearly as cool, but I use it and it gets my foot in the door.
http://thegoodname.theSampler.pd…
I want to work at a cool place that would let me paint pictures of unicorns banging clowns all day, but in reality, those places don't exist. So I do the boring coporate thing.
- prodigalslacker0
yeah kyle i actually took out the first page for the web version because this is my leave-behind for job interviews, and the first page was a photo of me with contact information. it felt a little awkward to put a photo fo me on a web version, simply because i wanted the work to speak for itself, whereas in an interview situation i usually come off as fun and quirky, which is what i wanted people to take into consideration after interviews.
- Woolhouse0
Definitely try hardy son.
You deserve more.
As I remember it Portlad
had a thriving scene.Just try to find the bestt studios and gorilla blast them them with your work resume and portfolio. Sometimes it's just a matter of a good fit.
Yeah it may cost a few buck and
plent of cheap weekends but the payoff is much greater in the long run.Good experience at a great studio excelerates your knowledge.
So don't let yourself get down,
proactivate your work with a
little extra hard knocks work.Good luck buddy.
- dablammit0
it'd probably help if i put the .blomb
- exador10
i dig your work prodigal
have you made a detailed list of the different types of companies you could work for?
sometimes that helps.
fer'instance...
magazines:
what magazines are published in your city..there's gotta be a few...from trade magazines on down..anything will do....start sending your book to them...ya never know when an inhouse art-dept might be looking for a new designer on staff...Consulting firms:
thats what i do.
wasn't always that way, i used to work in advertising back in the day, but took an interview at an IT consulting firm years ago and never looked back..
in IT, a lot of the work is obviously back end, coding and stuff...but they do need a designer on staff (if they can afford it) to help keep their front end design looking sharp (for web related projects) as well as to help in sales...nothing can sweeten a potential IT sale (example, say the consulting firm has a gig doing a dashboard type of program for a banking institution..it's gonna need a front end..the bank will love to see examples of such things at the first sales meeting...gets em excited)
anyhow, thats the sort of thing i do...
IT consulting firms (if you're lucky) can pay very well...usually a lot higher than junior or even mid level ad agency jobs)Inhouse designer for a big company:
places like Banks, Financial institutions, or hell even some big chain stores will have an inhouse design dept.
it can be boring, it can be lame..
but it is design, and it pays better than gig you have right now...anyhow, those are just a few ideas of someplaces you may not have thought to apply to..
a lot of times, young designers will just send their books out to ad agencies or design firms without realizing that those places often don't hire very often....and totally forget that their are TONS of other places that higher designers.anyhow, hope that longass post helps out a bit...
cheers
ex
- prodigalslacker0
haha thats a bit of a post but i did read it and thanks.
i did a lot of this in school. i was selected to go to the ADC student portfolio review. i made some contacts in NYC but honestly that town annoys me beyond a weekend visit. cultural hub of the world yes, but it and i have difference of opinions when it comes to baseball teams.
san fran is very appealing to me but i was too scared to just jump into the most expensive place in the US to live unemployed, so i came to portland because it's an amazing city and fairly easy on the wallet. i'd consider moving again if the right opportunity came along, but i really do love it here. i had heard from people in NYC that there was a bustling design scene, i just can't seem to find it. maybe i'll just make one up, at least that's what i'm hoping at this point.
but thank you all for the kind words & suggestions. this was only a random complainers thread but i'm glad to see the folks here are so kind.
- arthur0
Do you have an web portfolio besides your pdf and your personal site? If not, that may help.
- renaphuah0
i like your works, colin.
- exador10
cheers man...
everyone starts out at the bottom..i know i sure did...
felt like i couldn't even get arrested, ya know?..no one was interested...
was working doing EXACTLY what you're doing now, at a crappy little place (fortunately not in a mall) that was (fortunately) located next door to an ad agency...
the photo place was slowing down and they thought they'd have to cut my hours down to 10 a week (i was fucked..how can you pay rent with that?)
but the manager their was a good buddy, and he took me next door to the ad agency and hooked me up with them..simple as that...we walked over, he introduced me to the girls in client services, then to the production manager and we all had a smoke, dude just said' this kid knows his stuff, and we would love to keep him, but we're slowing down...if you're looking for a great designer.....etc
had an interview the next day and was hired a few days later...ya just NEVER know whats gonna happen..
and you better believe i bought dudes beer for like, a month after that out of major gratitude...
:)your work is tight Prodigal...
you'll make it...just keep plugging away, and you'll make it happen...
don't be afraid to get out there and meet these folks..
find out what bars the local ad agencies hang out at (believe me, there will be one) and make it a point to be there too
ive gotten more interviews from hanging out at designer hangouts and bars than from coldcalling studios...
- horton0
my response in :53 seconds or less:
- kyl30
keep trying and get out and meet as many people as you can. Everything I've done is word of mouth so the more people the larger the client base.
and if you move to SF live in oakland, cheaper and very convenient.
- horton0
my response in :53 seconds or less:
(Oct 26 05, 19:50)
hmm.. will try once again, otherwise forget it.
- dablammit0
I loved it, Horton.
Fuck college.
Unless of course you want to attend!
- prodigalslacker0
going to school was a blast. i went to scad, which is kind of on and off as far as whether or not it's worth a shit, but i met so many great people who were sort of above the caliber of market that scad aims for that i made some really great friends who i think will change art and design in the future. sure, there's the meatwads who go so they can learn how to properly match pantone colors, but there's a lot of great kids in school (and i know at least a few who frequent newstoday)... i think it's more preference. i had an opportunity to go and i'm not one to give up opportunities.
but i also feel like i can't even get arrested, that's ag reat way to put it.
- NonSeff0
go pound some pavement.
i remember when i graduated back in the day, for like a week straight i packed all my work in a bigass black portfolio and just popped in on every design shop/ad firm in town. god it must have been like 25 of em.
it was a pride swallowing experience. looking back on it now it was really cool how all those people gave me their time. and i did land a gig. it was shit but things moved quick after that.get your stuff together and go visit people.
good luck chief
- seed0
Motivation is the main factor. Keep trying. I got my first high paying job while I was still in college. I had 2 kids though so I had to be motivated. Also, almost every good web related job I see in my area requires a B.A.
- horton0
i had an instructor at art school/ college tell us that the first job you get after graduating will be the most important..
and i still believe this statement to be very true.
taking the wrong job right outta college can quickly spoil your spirit and a future career.
you got the skills.. choose wisely.
- horton0
btw... i'm neither for or against a design education.. all depends on the individual.
the above advice is valid to all entering the work force, diploma or not.
- NonSeff0
im against my student loan pmt