Making the jump
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- mographed
How do you know you're ready for the jump from Jr Designer to Art director ?
- brains0
After you've spent some time as a Senior Designer.
Unless you work in an agency that doesn't use the "Senior Designer" position. Other than that, you shouldn't be questioning it. You should basically be self-motivating to do the jobs that position will hold for you and have the Creative Director see that you really stand out as a leader.
- goldieboy0
Once you've gone though the ranks of mid-weight/senior designer and know what you're talking about. How can you jump from jr to AD? Seriously WTF?
- CALLES0
Senior Designer
- brains0
Yeah, but Jeff — That's a rare case.
- monospaced0
Unfortunately, making the jump usually requires changing companies. Yes, it's always great to rise through the ranks in one place, but that's not always possible when you need to jump. That being said, start building out your work so it's more than just an execution here and there; start designing systems. Junior designers rarely get to work on the big picture like the AD, so you kind of have to just wing it unless you're picking up some decent freelance work. Once you have a great portfolio, keep your eye out for a position.
- CALLES0
- a jr. calles.akrokdesign
- hahahaabettertomorrow
- swiss style.akrokdesign
- so by default, unfortunately, it stays.TheBlueOne
- JSK0
I didnt change company
I started at production artist and some how became a designer and some how became an ACD.
- somehow...monospaced
- some how indeed.JSK
- sometimes they raise your titles but not your salary...vaxorcist
- Thats the best. So you can jump ship after you get the title.JSK
- very true JSKmonospaced
- abettertomorrow0
Aim for the stars
- vaxorcist0
If you have to ask....
but really, sometimes at some agencies, if you do a couple of late nights on a pitch for a new client, and come up some great ideas while remaining non-egotistic about it, you may be bumped up to AD.... but whatever.... don't get all weird about it or you'll alienate people...
- goldieboy0
Actually, if you have to ask you're not ready
- JSK0
Ladies got some tires on their belly
- CALLES0
oh yeah and probably some office politics games that you know nothing about
- JSK0
Give you self that title. If you tell it to enough people, you will be that person.
- abettertomorrow0
A younger designer at a company I used at used to do that. He would insist on calling himself "user experience designer" even though he just did Flash production work.
- *used to work atabettertomorrow
- never make fun of my grammar again in the political thread... ;)chilamont
- JSK0
^ my method works.