what's in a job title
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- tonestar
thought this might be interesting after an earlier string I was involved in...
According the AIGA|AQUENT link on NT
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Solo designer
A freelance or self-employed design professional works independently of a company and has no employees.Owner, partner, or principal
An owner, partner, principal holds an equity position and has major business responsibility for a firm having employees.Creative/design director
A creative director or design director is the creative head of a design firm, advertising agency, or an in-house corporate design department. In all of these areas, key responsibilities can include the development of graphic design, advertising, communications, and industrial design publications.Art director
The art director establishes the conceptual and stylistic direction for design staff and orchestrates their work, as well as the work of production artists, photographers, illustrators, prepress technicians, printers, and anyone else who is involved in the development of a project. The art director generally selects vendors and, if there isn't a creative director on staff, has final creative authority.Senior designer
The senior designer is responsible for conceptualization and design of solutions from concept to completion. In some firms, a senior designer directs the work of one or more junior designers who generate comps and create layouts and final art. In some cases, senior designers do not manage staff but are designated "senior" because of their authority in design decision-making.Designer
A designer is responsible for conceptualization and design of graphic applications such as collateral material, environmental graphics, books and magazines, corporate identity, film titling, and multimedia interfaces, from concept to completion.Entry-level designer
An entry-level designer is one to two years out of school and requires mentoring in all aspects of design conception and implementation.
- honest0
I dunno, I sometimes feel uncomfortable telling people "I'm a designer" as it projects an image of anal retentive, snobbish, perfectionism. I once met a few fellow designers in a bar in London once who announced to me that there were "Creatives". I almost spilt my pint and fought hard not to laugh in their face. How can you say: "I'm a Creative" and not smirk?
- tonestar0
funny that - embarressmen about calling ourselves designers or creatives.
I see my self first and foremost as a problem solver and a communicator. These two things are at the crux of everything we do as designers - from the actual physical work, to the pitch of the work, to the envolvment in a team process. It's all problems solving and communication...
- jamble0
I'm a web designer.
- honest0
problem solving and communicating are what designers do, but these tasks are performed by other people in other industries too.
- UndoUndo0
depends on what company and the size of the company. an art director in one may have less reposibilities than a designer in another.
I agree with honest, I aviod saying designer around certain types as some people get all defensive about what they do incomparison.
- tonestar0
I think the way we realise our problems indicates that we are as you put it visual people - but as Creative Director some of the problems encountered within my professional environment are always strictly viusal ones.
The word designer is obviously to vague hence graphic designer, web designer, web designer - though web designer again can be a misleading desciption...
It's interesting though to find out how people see themselves within the world of design.
As a Creative Director I find on the whole my position is abut Creative Direction, steering, focusing and giving direction within a creative environment - and being anal is all part of that LOL
I thinn Graphic Designers should be proud of who they are - and the qualities they posses to do their jobs well.
- tonestar0
I have experienced that in all kinds of ways - from working on cool projects that people are all, that's soooo cool about. But it's all relative, I feel some of the jealousy comes from the fact that at the bottom of it most designers/creatives are doing something they actually liike to do.
There career haven't been mapped out by mistake or on the basis of what their best accademic subject was when they were 16!!
I feel very lucky to be able to say that I love my job - and love my profession - what annoys me the most are so called designers/creatives who don't actually have a passion for creativity and are essentially Mac operators with Designer job titles.
Many people with designer in there job title do little creative thinking or decsion making on a day to day basis.
- UndoUndo0
that's true tonestar I'm here bcos I wanted to be and it wasn't the path I chose because of success in a certain subject or bcos of the money!!
we are very lucky people for that.
- Chimp0
Hi Tone,
I think classification of "designers" is hard because roles differe from job to job. There seems to be no standard in the industry.
There seems be more demand for mac operatos and programers.
I get quite frustrated by the way the industry seems to be fractured in to so many different types of designers. I agree with your problem solver comment.
- tonestar0
It is hard for sure - I think the important thing is how see you see yourself within the industry.
I think most geuine job titles or descriptions sum up a level of responsibility within the process of a design practise rather an assesment of an individuals creative talent.
This is where it's hard for graphic designers starting out in there careers.
It is also hard in the assesment of a one's ability to manage as we work in an industry where seniority is still more often that not determind by the number of years served and not ones ability to actually manage. The career ladder dictates that service should still equal renumeration and that comes by way of promotion and more responsibility - often I have found that designers can make quite poor people managers.
Though good problem solvers should be good managers as it follows that their ability to solve problems should be transferrable to other situation - though it doens't always happen this way!
- ********0
d*mn, I have no idea what I am.
Project Manager/Developer/Tech Writer/Flash Designer/XML Programmer
blah blah, it's all relative
- tkmeister0
yeah, same here.
i am like web/marketing everything. it's sad to be a jack of all trades. i don't fit in anywhere.
- honest0
When I were a kid, people told me that I'd enjoy loads of sex, drugs, and booze if I became a designer. I am happy to say I am living the dream.
- tonestar0
I thought you called yourself honest
LOL...
- canuck0
I think my title would be..
accountant/web designer/ web developer/ receptionist/ print production bitch.
Not sure I saw that on the aiga description list.
- tonestar0
I guess they need to add one man studio - or is that solo designer...
can you play the drums???
One man band...
I think whatever a designers role and regardless there situation the juggling of responsiblities is part and parcle of what makes a good designer...
Maybe we are all jugglers - or CLOWNS
LOL
- canuck0
Maybe we are all jugglers - or CLOWNS
LOL
tonestar
(Jun 15 05, 06:52)I think I am a sucker.