How do you get a design job in London
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- 39 Responses
- yol0
I have a clone site, which shows more of the kind of work i am good at... but I think it needs redesigning :/
- site times outmonospaced
- about as meaningless as your other one...doesnotexist
- detritus0
Baskerville makes some excellent points.
Additionally, and I don't mean this as a reflection of your abilities, rather an interpretation of your proposition - your portfolio doesn't scream 'commercially relevant'.
Whilst you've got some nice graphiccy things on there, I (in the role of potential employer) see nothing of the rationale behind them, nor how the competence they speak of would translate to my needs.
- yol0
can you show an example of what a good commercial site looks like?
- lessfloor0
Simple. Have a nice site. Show good work. Speak to Digital Gurus & Ecom.
- fredddddd0
Stop using the word "commercial". All design work serves clients. A bank could want interesting work done.
Designers who work on things for art clients usually work alone or with one person. They get work by meeting people.
You can get work by meeting people too. You're interested in a small sector of design. The only way to get a client or a job is to get out there and network in person.
- fredddddd0
Your site has three projects? How is someone supposed to trust you with a big chunk of their workload?
- yol0
I know, but other projects belong to the studios i have freelanced at so it not really my work. The three projects on my site are the only commissions I have had.
Does having a business card make any difference these days... is it still relevant to have one?
- it's a detail. if you want projects, earn them.albums
- if you worked on the projects surely you can show something and explainmonospaced
- yep just explain your role, and show work you had a hand in. not the entire campaign.doesnotexist
- lessfloor0
freelance
- ukit20
Not sure this is the best project to lead things off with:
http://www.graphicsbymass.com/in…
Honestly if I was in your position I would try to create some self-initiated projects along the lines of the work you want to do. Nothing too weird or experimental...just aim for solid, competent work.
- detritus0
yol, i didn't mean what the site looks like, more what it contains.
- fredddddd0
Small studios don't use recruiters. If a studio is good, they get more than enough applicants.
Email a studio and ask to come in to show your portfolio. If they like your work they can give you some suggestions or some refererals if you're lucky.
- Nutter0
Sorry to hear about your troubles getting a job in London. Though its not much help saying this, having a job makes it easier to find one. I know the following isn't a job but it could be a start, getting your foot in one place often leads to somewhere else.
Anyway I saw that Multiadaptor ( http://multiadaptor.com/ ) posted the following on twitter the 17th of April
"Little reminder we're looking for grads to join us for a 3 month paid internship".also saw that SEA Design http://www.seadesign.co.uk/ twitted:
"SEA are looking for mid weight designers 2-3 years experience. Please apply to but that was the 18th of march, could still check it out though.I usually retweet job openings / intern oppurtunaties if I hear of any, hate promoting like this but you can follow me at https://twitter.com/Morten_Elgaa… if you want
- I spoke to SEA... long story short, I was ill and missed the boat :(yol
- matski0
You have some nice work. Like everyone has said, you do need to bulk it out with projects (can be self initiated) of equal or if possible (better) standard.
You can also look here...
http://www.ycn.org/opportunities…
- yol0
Ok, I had to leave London as Im in deep shit, but Im working like a nutter to beef up my folio with extra projects. Will post on here in about a week with updates. Thanks for help guys :)
- Chimp0
It looks like your really missing a lot of work in your folio.
Research the companies you'd like to work for and their clients.
Do a project for that would appeal to their client base, i.e. branding for an art gallery then design all the material associated with this to show that your ideas have depth. This should help your portfolio.
At the end of the day if your work is good enough you'll pull through.
Its tough out there these days with so much competition.Good luck and don't give up.
- Morning_star0
For what it's worth.
You need more work of variety and depth. Agencies these days will employ those most valuable to them i.e. those who can show talent AND a breadth of experience in a variety of disciplines and clients.
If I were you I would spend a good year or two freelancing to build up your portfolio and breadth of experience.
Also, why London?- +1 Don't rush your folio, do spend some time on getting it right!matski
- animatedgif0
Your work isn't commercial enough for big studios, and isn't good enough to get you hired in the area you want to work in (Most going into that area at your level are already widely featured in design publications).
Stop designing for designers.
If you're desperate to actually be employed as a designer you need to show some more commercially viable work and then maybe work on this sort of thing in your free time while building up gallery/curator contacts in London to do cheap/free work for to actually flesh the work you want to do out/prove its not just a bunch of wankey student projects.
- Junior designers widely featured in design publications?fredddddd
- Yes of course, based on their degree shows etcanimatedgif
- For the sort of studios Yol would be aiming at to do that work I meananimatedgif
