Where is the good work? Is everything shit?
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- Raybandana
So I've worked as a digital designer for about 8 years. Worked at many different big name agencies and a few smaller ones. 90% of my work has always been freelance but never getting hired on full time. It has nothing to do with my personality or being bad at what I do. Its simply just really really bad luck. Always getting laid off - never a full time position opening. Last year I was offered a full time position at large well known ad agency but in a different country. So I took the position. It took me 8 years before this happened! I'm happy to have a full time job but most of the work isn't that great. Even though its a big name agency.
My question is - has anyone else gone through this? Why can't I just work on great stuff and build a great portfolio? Should I just be more proactive and make my own work, rather then waiting for good work to come? Is most work out there garbage? Where is the good work? How do you get it?
- sem0
What is stopping you from doing both? can you not work on your own stuff outside of your regular job? I think thats what a lot of people do until their personal stuff really jumps off.
- Yea I guess I should just be doing more proactive work.Raybandana
- matski0
Welcome to the real world. Wow, its taken you eight years to find this out?
Good work won't find you, you'll have to seek it out. Find clients who will give you the freedom to do great work, and target them by tailoring your folio, sending 'warm' emails, that sorta thing.
- hahaha well didn't take me 8 years... but I thought someone would have good clients eventually - I guess I have to just find them myself.Raybandana
- find themRaybandana
- I've been trying to MAKE good work all these years and now you tell it's already out there only waiting to be FOUND?ORAZAL
- formed0
Have you looked around you? Most everything creative kinda sucks - cars, architecture, industrial design, etc., etc. It takes a nice culmination of project, client and budget to get a great design done. Much of the drive to do your own thing is you can control some of the variables, at least a little. Also why many companies enter competitions and to design exercises/marketing efforts w/ o a client (or put more time into a potentially good project that exceeds the budget, that's what I tend to do - assign a marketing valuation to something and invest more to make it better).
Every company is also only gong to show their best work, which leaves most to be forgotten. I only use a small percentage for marketing or presentation pieces.Luck is also a part of it, but we can't really control that.
- True.Raybandana
- This is the truth. The world is shit.reanimate
- hahah yea - fuck the world eh boysRaybandana
- matski0
I've been a designer (digital and print) for a while, I've worked at several high profile design agencies and I can say may be one or two projects a year are fun. The rest pays the bills.
- I wonder what percentage of designers, say the same thing 99%?Raybandana
- breadlegz0
Someone somewhere once said you should create the work that you want to be working on.
How much time do you spend working on your own projects?
- I use to do ALOT.. but then it just became a game of survival.. I need to get my personal stuff going again.Raybandana
- Raybandana0
I've just been trying to survive and pay off student debt and the huge cost of living. I should just be making my own side projects and putting that work out there - trying to attract clients. But I was too busy trying to stay a float..
- yurimon0
There are different aspects to this I think. Usually people or clients will say I want something different and new, great, cutting edge, never been done, etc, but when it comes down to it, nobody wants to take the risk that comes with that type of work. so in essence it comes to making it look like something they are familiar or comfortable with. and if you get statistics or proven strategies, case studies involved, then you are basically working off of past success n staying within those safety confines of proven safety so that what you are creating will monetized for the client. nobody wants a hot piece of work that doesn't deliver the money back to their business so.
If you want to treat what you are doing as fine art then you might want to find clients that would be willing to give you more freedom. either that comes from choosing clients or getting less money for more freedom of expression perhaps. I'm not sure or find another venue of expression?
- Raybandana0
Do you think building a portfolio of made up work will attract clients? Like I could just make amazing work - but its not real. And after 8 years you'd expect to have amazing work. I have solid, good work... but Its taken sooo long - just to get a few pieces. I feel making up work wont sound as good when you speak about it and client / agencies wont take you seriously.
- start with using correct punctuation before you start faking that you do good work for clientsmonospaced
- haha back at it eh - policing random people on QBN... So lame... so you have anything else better to do - like love your wife.Raybandana
- wife. http://oi41.tinypic.…Raybandana
- < lol ...the police is here...yurimon
- first off, learn to take a fucking joke you tubby bitch, and finally own up that you're Claymantis because it's already obvious.monospaced
- Who? And I'm not learning anything from you but your a big asshole who bullies people online.Raybandana
- you're - your - you are - a - an - asdjasfjhsda;ofijsdo...Raybandana
- I am certainly not a big bully.monospaced
- Tell yourself whatever you want.Raybandana
- yurimon0
have you thought of taking on painting? or legos?
- monospaced0
Hey Claymantis! Long time, buddy.
- Raybandana0
this is my old painting work - http://postimg.org/image/pxki7a5…
- reanimate0
I don't see anything wrong with self-initiated work, since it shows what you are capable of without the client messing it up.
One of my design professors once said "I always know what is best for the client." To be honest his work was kind of shit, but this may be true for many people.
- reanimate0
Also self initiated doesn't have to mean made up. Maybe there is a project or business idea that you've always wanted to pursue. If you are serious about it, take steps to make your life less busy or move to a more low cost environment to give yourself more free time.
- Yea good advice. I'm living in a city thats insanely expensive tho.Raybandana
- Toronto is insanely expensive?monospaced
- I'm in Dubai now - sucka.Raybandana
- What a fucking coincidence. SO IS CLAYMANTIS! What are the chances? http://www.qbn.com/t…monospaced
- http://www.qbn.com/t…monospaced
- I don't know who that is? What are you talking aboutRaybandana
- How the guy you say isn't you also happens to have moved to Dubai in the same exact week as you from Toronto. Uncanny.monospaced
- Life is weird. I dunno - lots of people move to dubai.Claymantis
- Oh, so I see you are now logged in on your other account. Surprised to see Clay found this side thread.monospaced
- I dont know who claymantis isClaymantis
- dude... c'mon, if you're gonna reply at least do it with your other accountmonospaced
- obviously you meant to write that as Raybandana... LOLmonospaced
- monospaced0
I don't think it's wrong to at least show the unchosen directions, the ones you presented to the client that were the best design you could do. It's not a bad idea to show the one they chose too, and how they compare, like a case study. This way you show how you are capable of good design, and how you are able to meet a client's needs.
- Thanks mono. Good advice. I'm surprised - you didnt tell me to go fuck myself and jump of a bridge.Raybandana
- that copy is flawless. dyam.yurimon
- Yea its beautiful. Bravo. Amazing.Raybandana
- That last comma was arguably unnecessaryreanimate
- Go fuck yourself and jump off a bridgecannonball1978
- breadlegz0
This might be useful:
- organicgrid0
If you really would like to great exceptional if not great work, you will need to do one of the following and or both:
• Self-Initiated Projects
• Pitch Projects
Great projects will more than likely never fall upon your lap, until you have a track record of creating beautiful work.Self-Initiated Design Projects
http://www.flygirlblog.com/2014/…How to pitch for design work, and win it!
http://www.creativebloq.com/how-…
- omahadesigns0
What's a "digital designer" exactly?
Large clients play it safe more often and require bigger teams but have bigger budgets.
Unless you're well known for a cool style, most clients aren't going to come to you for your "unique vision".
- also need a track record for breaking the rule while making bank. u needs to be like banskyyurimon
- omahadesigns0
What "great stuff" do you want to work on? What's your dream job?
- doesnotexist0
gotta show good work to get good work
- Maaku0
First year in a big ad agency?
Cannes season is around the corner, have a sit and enjoy the show.Hopefully you'll get to work on case studies and see for yourself how full of shit that industry is :)
- hahah no not my first - just first full time at a big agency.Raybandana