Not sure which of those two categories I fall into, but I’m more than happy to add my list of grievances to those of my fellow graphic artists. Especially whilst I’m facing certain job elimination after 6 years in my position, and scrambling like a madwoman to find a new job in a bad economy. So here are my complaints about the industry:

The time and energy involved: Designing your own promotional materials (branding/logo, stationery, resume, business card, brochure or other leave-behind, interview folder, online portfolio, hardcopy portfolio); Learning new software, tools, tricks, coding languages, web standards, etc.; Applying to jobs, writing proposals/contracts, doing side-work for little to no compensation so you can have those “WOW” pieces in your portfolio that your regular 9-5 doesn’t give you the creative freedom to produce; Trying to stay motivated/creative under pressure in a highly competitive field; Staying up and working for over 24 hours straight to keep up your momentum on a project that inspires you (or frustrates you)

The costs involved: All those promotional materials I listed above? Gotta get them all printed! Employers and clients want to see high-quality print on high-quality stock. That’s $$$ right there, all out of pocket. And although times are hard for everyone, and they want you to find cost-effective solutions for THEM, they don’t want to see any cutting-corners from us; Fonts. Gotta buy fonts so you aren’t using the same old tired ones. Even if you create a font, you need the software to do it; Stock art; Camera; Scanner; Computer,; Internet Service; Software; Web-hosting; The work we do for free or chump-change for those “WOW” pieces I mentioned; All the costs of doing business if you’re a freelancer.

And what really irritates me is that, even with ALL those things we have to do and pay for, recruiters want more. They want you to blog and post status updates regularly on social networking sites. It’s almost like recruiters want you to make graphic design an all-consuming obsession. And though I do love graphic design, I have other interests and hobbies, and don’t mind being able to eat, sleep and relax once in a while like other normal working people.

I used to dream about being a novelist, but thought it sounded like a lot of work. Now I’d consider it a vacation!

Many business owners have no clue what we do. Heck, many of our own parental units probably have no idea either. All they know is we make concepts “look pretty”. One thing I’ve found in my neck of the woods is if you’re a lower paid designer, that has a sad tendency to say to people that you’re not “qualified” or “not as good” as Joe/Jill Schmoe over here making $50k…even though his/her work may be less than satisfactory.

I’ve also been told by a recruiter for a top fashion brand that “the managers said two things. 1 – ‘great work’. 2 – ‘needs more retail experience”. Now to me if you have a good, solid design foundation under you, you should be able to take on anything. (and mind you I had at least 7 clients designing apparel/retail products). To me, as a freelance agency business owner myself, I’d rather hire someone with talent and give them the chance for “more retail”. Years of experience doesn’t necessarily equal great work. You can be in this industry for years, doing C-grade work and due to you having more experience, you’ll get a position over someone with more talent. That makes no sense to me. Maybe it’s just me…but I’m doubtful of that.

Lately I have found when applying for Art Director positions, I get turned down due to looking younger than what I am – and that I’m “only” 28 years old. I’ve held several volunteer art director positions in the past and it’s a matter of being able to have great time management, being able to inspire a team, to execute a concept that will come out with a great design keeping both client (obviously) and agency/designer/director proud of their work.

So this industry is rewarding however it takes a lot of push and pull and is not always the easiest job.

I work a few hours and make a lot of money, I tend to do other stuff not related to design. I could be making much more money working 40+ hours but I don’t. Freelance is solo, you and yourself. It’s very hard, you have to wear many hats, budgeting, planning and marketing are a few. I don’t want to discourage anyone, you just have to love what you do. I love what I do and it’s rewarding, but I want to live life and not just be on a computer so I balance life and work.

it depends on everyone, how they see life and work. my co workers complains all the time of all receiving many changes but I don’t because that’s what most designers job is, to design something for someone else’s vision not your own.

you will always have to satisfy other peoples vision of what a good design is. It’s not about you, unless you become an artist with a name and sell your stuff. It’s always about someone else’s vision.

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Graphic design barely changes at all. A good idea is a good idea, and if you execute it right then it’ll last for years. Bodoni was designed 500 years ago and it’s still perfectly fine. All the key principals are the same as they ever were. I really think it’s actually quite slow moving. Typefaces are still basically divided into old-style and modern. Trends come and go, but the main things stay the same.

my list of hardest part.
• organizing time and using your free time to learn new skills.
• Keeping up with other designers who are well established.
• trying to be everything and designing everything because your in love with everything that is graphic design.
• thinking to much of what you want to do and be like, and not give the first step because your goal is too far away
• family members think your living the life by referring to sleeping all day playing video games.
• yup time management time management, bills, invoices, social skills, people skills, financial education, jogging, time for your normal life, boy/girl. insurance, everything is on you. solo for the freelancer.

tips
• if you stick with 3 professions you will be good at them and clients will look specifically for you and be in high demand, sample: website mockups, retouching, flash banners. as opposed to being and artist, illustrator, graphic designer, web designer, programmers, 3d animator, production designer, learning wordpress,myspace, even sound etc..
• try to work for corporations and award winning companies, you will gain the skills to be a freelancer.
• avoid free ads on craigslist and people who don’t know what they expect to pay, headache trying to convince them how much stuff is.
• I recommend the The Money Book for Freelancers, Part-Timers, and the Self-Employed, amazon.com

LA dude

It’s challenging because when it’s not there, it simply isn’t there. I’ve taken walks; read books; watch movies; poured through dozens of artbooks and websites and nothing seems to help. It’s a complete engulfing feeling of helplessness and it is the bane of my career!