Will you do me a favor? I’d like to ask you two questions about your walk as a creative. First…
How are you doing?
Are you busy, motivated, optimistic, learning new things? In other words, what is your state of mind about the state of your craft (graphic design, marketing, illustration, photography, writing—whichever part of the creative field you represent)?
What is the most challenging part of your?
Maybe it’s something that has always been a challenge or maybe it’s a distinct change in the landscape. Tell us where the roadblock is, or if you’ve already found the path around it, what the solution was.
Why these questions? Because it will be interesting to know if there are any common threads that run among us. And it might be encouraging to others to hear about the issues colleagues are dealing with—positive and negative.
There are no rules—just share what moves you and we’ll see what happens.
Going into 2012 I am very optimistic. 2011 was my first full-time year with my design studio. I had been working part-time at it for many years while I had a full time job. 2011 was much better than I thought it would be. So with a year under my belt and the great clients and projects I secured in 2011, I am sure 2012 will be amazing. When the economy does turn around, it’s really going to take off.
My biggest challenge is the feast or famine way projects are coming in. I am also looking for larger projects instead of many, many smaller projects. I plan to promote a little more in 2012 and follow up on my promotions. Follow-up has been lacking in my business in the past.
How am I doing? I am between jobs, but most likely, between career paths. Wanting to pursue more creative pursuits (mine is writing, which also includes doing newsletters for others), rather than the rat-race of the commercial real estate industry I’ve just left. So, yes! I am busy, motivated and optimistic that I’ll find just the ‘write’ starting point to begin this new journey ahead!
What is the most challenging part of my ‘job’ at this point in my career “pursuit”? Identifying and reformulating/reorienting the skills and talents I have into just the right presentation that will direct me to and help me to acquire that special position.
Time’s a tickin’ and I cannot adequately express how important it is to me, personally, to be able to contribute myself, my gifts, and my experience in just the right way, place, and environment. I want to make a difference–no matter how small–that is significant to myself, as well as to others. Being a writer at heart and a people-person at core, I am sure that the way ahead will open for me.
I appreciate your newsletters and they spark my imagination of what I could be learning and doing, if and when the opportunity arises. I have many websites of my own–all of which would be greatly enhanced by implementing and applying the great ideas you share with all of us. Thank you, Chuck!
I AM busy, motivated, etc. I love learning and that is what keeps me going. There are some things that are harder for me to embrace than others…social media is hard for me to love. I have not found a path around it. I do graphic, web, illustration, photography, writing, marketing…whatever I need to do to remain competitive.
Looking back on the book Future Shock, I laugh when I think of how exponential Future Shock has become in trying to remain current!
I love making people happy with the results of my work. I have fun. Therefore I work!
How are you doing?
We have always been busy and this time is no different.
I have planed our projects around the seasons. Outside work for the warmer months and inside for the colder, or we just find project in the climate that is good. I do plan work 6-10 months in advance so the weather is always a factor.
With the state of the economy and other smaller studios closing, we are fortunate to be picking up the extra work. I would rather not, being in favor of keeping the small studio in business, but the clients still need the work completed. Granted there are not as many clients to go around but there are still enough.
What is the most challenging part of your job at this point in your career?
I just celebrated my 40th in business and we are expanding into a new direction of work. That requires new computer programs to learn, machines to control and product finishing, as well as the marketing.
It is exciting and it takes all my waking hours, and some of my sleeping moments.
I look forward to an even more creative year and hopefully new and different project will present themselves.
http://www.mezalick.com
http://www.carveddetails.com
How are you doing? Extremely Frustrated!
Been reading far too many articles about Web Design, Online Marketing and Writing for the Web from “creatives” – who are up their own fundamentals – just as – Art about Art – is Art now. When surely it should be about “Life”?
Web Design articles, before we know it, veer off into denigrating graphic design, and indeed ANY “design” contribution to websites – as mere “Eye Candy” – and of course, undetectable by Search Engines, therefore “irrelevant”. Consequently, morphing into technical web development – Valid Programming Code, SEO, Eye-Tracking, etc.
Marketing articles are almost totally about ‘literal’ content, and its “link-building” to social media, Facebook, Twitter, etc. to gain higher search engine ranking, and
Writing for the Web is being re-directed away from ‘humans’ to that of ‘keyword analysis’ for search engine ‘robots’.
Meanwhile:
whilst “Life” gets more complicated, the basic ‘fundamental’s become more and more fogged or ignored.
Show me the number of articles concerned with good, simple, clear, or proven ‘visual communication’ – compared to the volumes on the above? The myths about designing ‘visually’ with WYSIWYG editors?
The old, established, well-proven marketing methodology of KISS? Or likewise the writing methodology of AIDA? To para-phrase Paul Gauguin – How did we get here? – Why are we here? – Where are we going?
What is the most challenging part of your job at this point in your career?
Where are WYSIWYG web editors compared? Which are the most popular for image-heavy websites? Which WYSIWYG editors are ‘easiest’ to use? Do we really need a PhD in HTML, CSS, Perl, SEO, Photoshop, Dreamweaver, Adobe Illustrator, etc etc. etc. to create a well designed, viable website ?
“Give us a ( practical ) break” from all this technological brainwashing “con job” – please!
I would say I am busy and optimistic about the future of design. Learning new things can be a challenge itself. The amount of “new things” a graphic designer needs to know can be overwhelming these days. Clients want a designer to be an expert in print, web, multimedia, social media, etc., not to mention skilled in various software programs. I am art director at a large international and wealthy company but we are asked to pare down and become leaner each year. With fewer and fewer designers, finding time to learn new things, even keeping abreast of current trends can be non-existent some weeks.
One challenge I see for designers is Branding. A company/product needs strong branding but when it’s not flexible enough it can hamper creativity. Many companies lock down design at all levels and cause the good designers to stagnate or to leave. I would like to see Branding that keeps consistency in the message and design but leaves room for creativity. Not many brand designers can do this well. A lot of times a company will hire a design firm and they create good branding but it falls apart after the design firm leaves or is dropped.
Hi there folks,
After a “creative break” (as a matter of fact I have been axed in the 2008 recession in Germany) I have started my second career as graphic facilitator and graphic recorder by mid last year. In 2012 I will become 58 and I am “electrically” motivated and in best mood. You might feel my optimism and enthusiasm about the way I decided to go. Coming from the profane world of special alloys I have “re-programmed” myself to the creative world – a huge learning process which is still continuing.
The 2012 challenge is to spread the word about and to bring visual techniques to my home country – Austria.
Looking forward to seeing comments from your part of the world, where graphic facilitation and graphic recording was founded.
Thankful for hints, which you might send to info@gedanken-zeichnen.at
I do remain with the very best regards
Paul H. Tontur
P.S.: Following Chuck’s blog and adoring his newsletter I have to say thank you for this creative input.
Hi Chuck,
I really appreciate your work.
I’ve had my small studio for 21 years. Went through bad burnout several years ago but I’m back on track again. I am so excited about learning new things and looking at design from a myriad of sources. Some of my favorite ways to generate ideas are to look at interesting covers in the bookstore and to view different design blogs like yours. One thing to note: I’d like to see more work featured from women designers.
Roadblocks for me are staying current with software updates and finding the work itself. I’m very upbeat and love people but I find myself procrastinating when it comes to cold-calling.
Sources that I read on the net say that small businesses are a major source of economic growth. I’ve had very positive results in developing new design projects by networking with other small business owners.
– I am busy, demotivated and confused. But why is that? Here’s why. I am busy doing things that are not my stuff. Demotivated because of the boredom and frustration it creates within myself. And confused because I don’t know how to have a good transition in my career. You’re getting confused also? I will share my experience and give you some glimpse in my career.
I am working as a media assistant in a number one advertising agency in the Philippines. But sadly, it was in media. I was not fortunate enough to land a job in the creative advertising agency maybe because I didn’t obtain a course related to arts and has no past experiences. I know I have talent in drawing and I have a taste in art. But just like what they say, talent is not enough. Although I know how to draw, I didn’t produce any creative portfolio for the past several years. I know you know what life in media is. It’s not that exciting compared to creatives. I don’t want to give a negative connotation with media, but it is actually true. Usually I am bored dealing with running data for planners’ requirements.
I have plans in having a transition from media to creatives.
Since I don’t know how to use different softwares such as in design, photoshop and illustrator, I am starting to self-study. That’s why I find your blog very helpful, useful and informational.
I have interest in varied art mediums, such as graphic design, illustration, typography, and photography. So, might as well stretch myself hard. 🙂 Positivism and focus!!!
I also like fashion design too! 🙂 OK, it’s out of advertising. It’s my second calling. Just treat it as our pretty little secret. 🙂
– The challenge in my job as a media professional is to fight frustration and boredom. Everyday was a challenge because I have to make myself motivated and I have to stay that way. And I also don’t want to lose my hope. You know, I need to turn my hopes up. I don’t want to give up that someday, somehow, I will learn designing, and other visual communication stuff. Creative advertising is my goal.
I am extremely busy! I see my calling as a facilitator, bringing fan produced works to fans – all strictly amateur and supportive of the professionals who created the original works but at the same time allowing fans to maximise their experience of the shows they love.
The biggest challenge that I see for fan productions is to take advantage of digital media without losing the “hand-crafted” charm of hard-copy work. For us to aim for commercial production values, to learn the ‘tools of the trade’ and to take stylistic inspiration from professional trends without compromising our own creative message. However most of all we need to create a supportive atmosphere between professional and amateur where each will survive and prosper.
Kirok of L’Stok
Director of media
TrekUnited
How am I doing? A healthy mix of very busy and very bored, with a soupcon of excitement here and there. I manage a small, very successful in-house creative department, with expanding skillsets and a fairly predictable workflow. The boredom part is probably due to lack of light, Canada having long winters and all. Or it’s because I’m very easily bored and always need to learn new stuff. But all in all, I have it very good.
My biggest challenge so far, since we’ve reach a certain “cruising speed”, is managing steadiness. I’m awful at that – I’m only happy when I’m building something. So I guess what I’m saying is that this year, I have to push growth a little harder to make it happen. Fine by me.
How am I doing? A healthy mix of very busy and very bored, with a soupcon of excitement here and there. I manage a small, very successful in-house creative department, with expanding skillsets and a fairly predictable workflow. The boredom part is probably due to lack of light, Canada having long winters and all. Or it’s because I’m very easily bored and always need to learn new stuff. But all in all, I have it very good.
My biggest challenge so far, since we’ve reach a certain “cruising speed”, is managing steadiness. I’m awful at that – I’m only happy when I’m building something. So I guess what I’m saying is that this year, I have to push growth a little harder to make it happen. Fine by me.
I’d add that on my to-do list this year is “growing thicker skin”. For all it’s rewards, our field unfortunately also includes dealing with every type of condescendence one could imagine dealing with in a workplace. Am I the only one who gets affected by it?
2012 has started off very slow for me, not that 2008-2011 was a whole lot different. It’s a combination of things that is making it this way. First of all, I’ve been in graphic design for going on 35 years now and I’m finding that clients and potential clients are finding my long background a bit irrelevant. I’m competing with young kids fresh out of design school that are more versed in the new technology and cutting edge design (not that I’m a dinosaur when it comes to either) and the competition between these new kids on the block for work makes it so that my experience doesn’t account for a great deal. I’m also in the Silicon Valley so cutting edge seems to be the way businesses out here go. And don’t even get me started on pricing design services, let me just say Cost is King.
Outlook for me for the rest of 2012 I’m afraid doesn’t look very rosy.
You’re falling into a trap. I suggest that the quality of your work and whether it delivers results for you clients has nothing to do with age. Here, for example, is a list of AIGA fellows — mature designers. Think they have lots of trouble finding work? I bet not.
http://www.aiga.org/general/search/?taxid=54
I’ve been doing this longer than you have and have no intention of stopping. Yes, we sometimes need a refresh. Yes, we sometimes need to abandon tools, techniques, and approaches that no longer work in new circumstances. But, to me, being a designer is about learning new things, applying new approaches, and separating yourself and your clients from the momentum of convention.
The only one who can insist that you’re too old or out of touch to be a vibrant, effective designer is you.
In 2010 my mantra and mission was to “Be Better”. It drove my decision and the direction of my business—and the results were awesome. So what’s next? This year I went with “Be The Best” as my tagline for 2012 and so far this year is off to a roarin’ start. I suggest you pick a rally cry for the year and then live it, breathe it, do it.
Great idea Lee. I’ll work on my own.