Graphic designer / Illustrator job in Amsterdam

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  • Chmr89

    I moved to Amsterdam about three months ago and I am trying to find a in-house job in a studio or agency etc. My website contains a selection of homegrown graphic design and illustration projects and reflects my skills and experience but its difficult to find a job without firm / studio experience. Has anyone any suggestions? Thanx in advance..

  • monospaced0

    When you say homegrown, do you mean stuff you come up with on your own, or work done in an art/design school? Agencies and firms are usually looking for indications that you have a strong grasp of fundamentals that would be taught in a school, stuff such as typography, scale and hierarchy. Sometimes you can learn those areas on your own, but from my experience, its best learned from the more experienced (school, mentor, etc.).

    Without seeing your work it's hard to tell where you land. I once tried to apply for design jobs before I had design training, and I was basically laughed out of the interviews. Fast forward a couple of years and a degree, and jobs were offered to me.

  • breadlegz0

    Show us your work.

  • Chmr891

    When I say homegrown I mean basicaly freelance stuff. You can check my website at www.chimera89.com .The design university I graduated and my own research gave me the knowledge and understanding in design fundamentals.I moved to improve those fundamentals and my own experience as a designer.

    • Why did you change my cursor?

      Please don't do that, this was a bad idea in the late 90s, it's a bad idea now.
      detritus
    • I dont think that cursor specifically is a bad idea. Its a simplified version of a mouse cursor and I think it works better than the classic in my website :)Chmr89
    • I'd switch the cursor back. When it was over your images I was trying to click and advance, but couldn't. It was confusing and annoying.mrpt
    • I didn't even notice the cursor. I prefer the illustration work to the logos. That lion is the best piece. You should be able to get freelance at least.CyBrainX
    • I agree with detritus, the cursor change feels like a trick from 15 years ago, and even then was a bad ideareanimate
    • i like that cursor better than the standarddocpoz
    • Ran well on the android. Cool illustrations, nice workgilgamush
  • detritus0

    I suspect you'll have a hard time getting an in-house job as a graphic designer, at least at a level you'd enjoy, as your skills seem to be squarely focused on the illustrative side of things.

    In my perspective at least, decent in-house Illustrator jobs are rare and I think you'll be more likely tasked towards freelance or short-contract work.

    I'd try and pair up with a graphic, as in print or web, designer, so that you can benefit from each others skills.

    • or try and find work within a design-centric sector, like a company that 'does t-fashion prints' or 'does album covers' etc.detritus
    • I agree, he could get a job as a designer, but he'd be competing for entry-level with the type of work he has.monospaced
  • Chmr890

    Thanks for your advices. Im focused on logo design, pattern and illustration. I have some basic editorial skills but lately I had to deal with the stuff you saw.

  • Hayoth1

    Your work is nice but the problem is...

    How can the studio or agency use your talents, do they have clients that utilize your style? Probably not.

    Where is your commercial homegrown work, ie; Brochure for a college, Ads or event poster for a financial institution.

    The agency needs to see that your work can translates to their current client roster.

    Develop more commercially acceptable work and break your portfolio into 2 camps. Experimental and Commercial or something like that.

    • Need more commercial versatilityHayoth
    • Solid advice and totally agree. You have solid skills Chmr89, but will need to show more agency friendly work.mrpt
    • Brochures are lame. You need more types of work. Apply your style to things like posters, labels, business cards, etc. and hustle.bainbridge
    • Not all agencies deal with colleges and financial institutions.bainbridge
    • ^ I was just using those as examplesHayoth
  • bainbridge1

    Your work is good, but If you want a big agency job, you need more commercial work and more examples of branding / system design, websites, and so on. They look for more versatility and capability to work on a massive campaign.

    You could look for in-house positions at smaller companies or look for a placement?

  • CyBrainX0

    I love the illustration work but it is very niche. For now, I think your next step should be adding some color into your work and taking more steps towards diverse projects.

  • doesnotexist1

    your work is great—i think a lot of what everyone else is saying is bullshit, really.

    it might be your presentation, it's hard to see your skill sets with everything so compartmentalized. it always helps to show more process and background info on the project as well.

    you just haven't found the right place, keep looking!

    • helps to show illustrations on comps/part of a system as well, and not just the illustration. are they flags? magazine cover? comp it up/fake it.doesnotexist
    • < this. My response was just remarking about most studios. Find the right studio / agency / company and you'll do splendid.bainbridge
    • Be humble but don't let people tell you that college brochure design is the only way to get a job. There's always someone out there who wants more unique work.bainbridge