A Short Statement from The Ministry of the Bleeding Obvious
May 26th, 2009
In a few week’s time several thousand design and advertising students will graduate and be competing against each other for book crits, placements and jobs. And there aren’t many out there at the moment.
We get contacted by a fair number of students, all with different styles and approaches, so it puts us in a good position to let you know what works (for us) and what doesn’t. What follows should be common sense, and we really shouldn’t have to write it, but sadly it seems common sense is no longer quite so common.
DON’T be nervous.
DO be courteous and polite.
DON’T expect other people to make all the effort. That’s your job.
DO believe Newton’s third law of motion: for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. If you put in a lot of effort, you’ll get out a lot.
DON’T cut & paste the same letter into several different emails.
DO make it personal. Think of ways that will get you noticed from the other 15,000 students.
DON’T send all your work in one pdf.
DO save something for the actual meeting.
DON’T ask for feedback on your work via email – it takes too long.
DO make an appointment to see them. Talk to them face-to-face.
DON’T expect an instant response from hello@ addresses.
DO remember that even the most well-meaning of agencies mess up sometimes.
DON’T get arsey/ disappointed with this. It’s life.
DO send them a polite reminder after a few days. If you don’t hear anything after three efforts, they’re probably trying to tell you something.
DON’T expect to get a placement after your first book crit.
DO try harder.
DON’T go around for 6 months with the same portfolio, waiting for someone to like it and give you a job.
DO change your portfolio for different agencies. All agencies are different, so why would you expect them to all like the same portfolio?
DON’T think that people are right or wrong.
DO remember that it’s just their opinion.
DON’T put awards work in your portfolio unless it actually won.
DO put it in a separate section at the back if you’re really desperate.
DON’T expect all the advice given here to be correct.
DO feel free to add your own advice.
DON’T worry.
Be happy.
May 26th, 2009 at 3:39 pm
DO read ‘How to be a graphic designer without losing your soul’
says much of the same thing here but expands it into a book of valuable information. Shaughnessey knows his shit.
May 26th, 2009 at 5:44 pm
DON’T think you are ‘too talented/good’ to make the brews, do the photocopying, run the errands, and put the extra hours in, it won’t go unnoticed.
May 28th, 2009 at 9:25 am
And if you are going to make brews, get them right. I have sugar in my coffee, but not in my tea – it’s not difficult Steve. coffee – sugar, tea – none.
May 28th, 2009 at 11:36 am
do remember the £30,000 you just spent on your education.
do realise these things arent always that obvious considering you dont get told this kind of stuff in the two hours a month you get with your arrogant design lecturer.
don’t expect to be paid one penny in the five years after graduation despite being perfectly capable of doing the job (being able to pay rent is an added luxury remember)
don’t make yourself sick with worry.
Don’t get really disappointed when you meet your idle and realise he is also an arrogant swine. you can be like this one day too.
and remember thats life and you are worth nothing despite all the free work you do
May 28th, 2009 at 3:26 pm
Abi: If it was easy everyone would do it. Yeah it’s hard but you’ll get paid more than the average wage in less than 5 years and you get to do a very enjoyable job if you do it well. Leave your cynicism at the door.
May 28th, 2009 at 3:28 pm
don’t work at love…
May 28th, 2009 at 5:05 pm
Don’t expect to get work in your local area/city. Venturing further a field is a must.
May 29th, 2009 at 12:42 pm
DONT give up
May 29th, 2009 at 12:44 pm
DO use an apostrophe where appropriate
May 29th, 2009 at 3:25 pm
DO cut the grass before 5pm
May 30th, 2009 at 4:45 pm
DON’T tie your shoelace in a revolving door …
May 31st, 2009 at 12:37 am
DO the du
May 31st, 2009 at 3:46 pm
DON’T look back in anger
DO the hustle
DON’T fear the reaper
DO add more cowbell
June 1st, 2009 at 11:35 pm
Don’t ever be good at what you don’t want to do.
July 4th, 2009 at 10:35 pm
Don’t lose your cool. It is counter productive if you do.