So you are just about to graduate or will be graduating as a graphic designer. You probably took some classes on branding, maybe some typography classes and how to organize pages in InDesign, maybe you made a style guide and created a logo for yourself. All of these things are fantastic and I hope you can relate to them but there are a few things that I wish I had learned after I left design school. Find that Google docs tab you have somewhere in that mess above and let’s take some notes.
1. Be Fast or Learn how to be fast! (How to I grow as a designer)
Clients do not have time for 3 revisions and a class critique. Sure there are larger projects and campaigns that will require special time set to work and brainstorm but oftentimes, clients need the work by yesterday. Learn how to not always be perfect but be efficient with how long a design is taking and use whatever creative assets you can.
- Store assets in organized files in Drive or backup SSD
- Use Adobe Libraries to keep assets organized in all Adobe programs
- Don’t be perfect, be effective by using your previously created assets.
2. You are a business, so act like it (How do I gain clients?)
Often times a graduating graphic designer will leave design school with little interest or knowledge of the world of marketing. No I dont mean how to design billboards and Instagram ads, I am talking about how to market yourself, how does your website look and is that look effective in its call to action and bringing in new clients? You will have to send contracts and proposals and emails and on and on, each of these needs to be cohesive and work to bring in and retain clients.
- Watch Youtube, The Futur, Flux, Nathaniel Drew, Philip VanDusen, Roberto Blake, just to name a few. Watch and learn how to grow.
- Use Programs like Monday, Trello, To-Doist, and Shift to stay organized and keep all clients emails, docs, and workstations separate and controlled
For sending Contracts and Proposals: Design them in Illustrator or Indesign and bring into Adobe Acrobat, use the Fill & Sign feature to mark where on the document you need a signature. It will send it off and let you know with a downloadable copy when it has been signed.
For Collecting Money: The easiest way to manage this is by sending final payment invoices over PayPal business. Create a business account and use the Invoice feature to directly email clients with the bill. You will be notified when paid and it goes directly into your account. The only con is that there is a small fee that PayPal takes off the top.
3. Market yourself till the cows come home (How do I market myself?)
When they say it’s all about who you know, they are telling the truth. The biggest thing you can do for yourself is to muster up all of the extrovertedness you can and talk to people, as many as you can. Build relationships with designers, business owners, CEOs, Janitors, get your name known, and when the time comes where they need work, who are they going to go to? YOU!!
How do I do that? I can’t just go up and talk to random people!
4. LinkedIn is your best friend!
Of course not, but here is what you can do. Go on LinkedIn (you better have a LinkedIn) and look at places you dream of working or places that you would like to work at. Look at the employee list and find people that you have a shared connection with. Reach out to your connection and see if it would be possible to meet them and learn more about what they do. (people love talking about themselves) No strings attached, you want nothing more than to talk, maybe even offer to buy coffee. Get to know these people and start building up that list of connections.
5. Organize your connections with your contacts app.
It’s as easy as the phone app. Instead of just adding a name and number for their contact, use the notes feature in contacts to write where they work, what they do, and the level of connection you have, and any needs they might have in the future. This can act as a catalog or digital Rolodex of all the connections you have made and will be a lifesaver when they or you need help.
These were just a few tips that I have found extremely helpful and things I wish I was taught as a designer. I hope this list has helped you and if so, share this banging list with all your designer pals and friends and let’s help each other be better designers.
So you’re graduating as a graphic designer, want to get a job? Finden Marketing is always hiring. Want to learn more about Finden Marketing? Finden Marketing is Duluth, Minnesota’s leading Gen Z & Millennial marketing agency. With years of experience, hundreds of thousands of dollars managed, and a dedicated team we can help grow your business to its true potential. Our team offers a wide range of services, including PR, Branding, Content Creation, Paid Media, Graphic Design, as well as Web Development. Also with over 30 projects in the bag, Finden Marketing is becoming a staple marketing agency in Duluth, Minnesota. To learn more about Finden Marketing, check us out here, or visit us at our office in Duluth, Minnesota.
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