help getting out of sme corp trap
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- trooper
so for the last 8 years ive been stuck doing corporate work for sme businesses who have as much design sense as a donkeys arse and who only ever seem to want 'something like company x's thing' and if you even attempt originality you get comments like 'no thats not what i had in my head... can you make it more like company x's thing'
anyone any tips on getting out of this rutt and finding better clients?
should i re-work projects as portfolio only pieces?
any help greatly accepted.
- slappy0
Im in same boat, just starting to freeleance again so I can build a folio.
- trooper0
...and why is it that even tho you wait 4 months for the content it always lets the project down ;(
- Dancer0
Show rejected ideas as well.
One of the best designers I know has half of his book as rejected ideas
- moth0
I found myself in a similar rut a couple of years ago - stuck in a horrid job. I whored myself out to more creative clients (via moonlighting - not quitting) and got some creative work under my belt.
If you can't get the jobs, what I found useful was doing something for yourself on the side that can act as portfolio piece. I designed and built myself a nice stock photography site - sold fuck all - but it got me interviews.
- when is launch date... i've sold fuck all by the way.skt
- uncle_helv0
(and I'm NOT busting your chops)
If you believe in the ideas in your work, stand up for ithem, I'm sure I speak on behalf of most creative folk when I say most of the great ideas have been a struggle to get their clients to buy into (unless they are an open minded client who understand the power of being different and the usefulness of good ideas and design) clients although they say they want to be original/forward thinking/different, what they really mean is we want to fit in and be like as you say 'company x' you have to fight tooth and nail to get them to say "okay I love it, do it!!!"What's your set up? do you have someone who can market you? if not why not try a PR agency?
If you want more dynamic clients then, I think you need a more dynamic website, it doesn't really scream creativity, it looks clean, but safe and dare I say a bit dull, if you want to turn the heads of Marketing Managers/desicion makers then you have to engage them!
On the subject of re-working projects yes put anything you liked, think worked well, but got rejected, put it in, I know a lot of people who use the rejected pitches and concept work in their folio, I remember working at agencies and when they entered work for awards they would take copy, call to actions, all stuff they felt was unnecessary off adverts etc, to make the work look less cluttered, and back to the original thought (before all the client input) again I see nothing wrong with that! or do self initiated projects and add them to your folio!
- scribbler0
I agree with Moth and am pretty much doing the same at the moment. Stuck in a shit boring job I'm getting some freelance under my belt, evenings and weekends to get a wider body of work. It's hard work and I'm knackered alot of the time but it's starting to pay off... slowly!