Getting older and working in design
Out of context: Reply #124
- Started
- Last post
- 129 Responses
- slappy6
I wrote a bit of history on my journey but it was too long and who cares, so I'm starting again. I have been a digital designer for just on 20 years and instead of chasing money, I have chased working with good people (clients and colleagues).
I don't fear the younger/cheaper/better designers as design is only one of the things I do. How I stay relevant is I leverage this experience to plan successful digital projects. I get to know everything about the businesses I work for, what their challenges are, who their competitors are, where their business model isn't working and I create a strategy for them to work towards their goals, using research.
I then create a roadmap and assemble a team to roll out the plan, starting with fixing their brand (a different side of our studio). Typically we will hire a copywriter (comes from brand work), photographer, sometimes film /production, 3D vis, development / coding, SEO & Marketing and sometimes PR.
If I'm doing a site or app and they don't want to resolve any brand issues, pay for high level copywriting or create their own imagery, chances are they don't have any money and are never going to achieve want they are looking for, so better letting those jobs through to the keeper.
I think age comes with the experience required to be in more of a producer role, if you are tired of keeping up with trends then hire a young designer. Working with cool people who are experts in their field inspires you and shares the load.
- Sorry still too long, skip to the last paragraph.slappy
- This is where Im finding myself too. Its almost a suit/production but coming in from a creative/problem solving angle.thumb_screws