What it takes to be a graphic/web designer
Posted on September 9, 2010 by Sean Vosler in Life StyleAn Interview With Sean Vosler
“I get most of my clients from word of mouth from my other clients, I’ve had to fire some clients~ what you’ll find if you work for yourself is that you get 80% of your money from about 20% of your clients and you’ll also get about 80% of your stress from 20% of your clients.
Fire the 20% that only pay you 20% of your money and that give you 80% of your headache and you’ll be much happier and have more time and less stress to get good clients.”
1) What skills does it take to be a graphic and web designer?
You’ll have people tell you that the most important skill in designing is having a good eye for design~ Its been my experience that this is only about 20% of the equation. You can learn how to design well but the main skill that can not be taught is the ability to teach yourself new things.
School will take you a long way in the right direction, but half of what you learn in school will be out dated within 2 years. And since most schools are teaching information that is already pretty dated, there is a good chance by the time you graduate most of what you have learned is not practical.
This is why its important to learn how to learn in school~ and really investigate for yourself the new processes on the web and in graphic design.
2) Would you say this career is stress free?
It’s only stressful if you let your clients and projects control you… To keep that from happening you really have to plan well. I work full time for myself now, which has its own stresses, mainly the stress of running your own business.
The main way to avoid stress in the business is to know when to say NO haha… If you agree to things you can’t do, or don’t want to do, you will just get stressed and it will hurt your relationship with your clients.
3) What is the most rewarding thing in this career?
If you do it correctly, you can make your hobby/passion become your main source of income!
4) What is the least rewarding?
People asking what the least rewarding thing is… Kidding! I can’t really pinpoint anything, but I think doing the accounting part (getting paid) can get pretty un-rewarding.
5) Can you describe a day in the life of a graphic designer?
- Wake up
- Coffee
- Check email
- Coffee
- Design some things
- More Coffee.
But on a serious note, there are two types of graphic design careers: Freelancers & working for an agency.
My day’s are never the same as a freelancer, one day I’m working on a project for a company out in California so we’re on the phone at 7pm with them… Some day’s I’m twiddling my thumbs trying to figure out how to get a new project. The beauty of it is that if you work for yourself you can regulate your own days, and not be under the stress of someone looking over your shoulder.
6) What area in graphic design did you choose?
I’m 99% web design now, but I use Photoshop and Illustrator on a regular basis to create graphics for the sites I work on.
7) Looking back now would you want to change careers?
To be honest, in todays economy and competitive work place their are probably easier careers~ this is why I decided to strike out on my own… I would really not want to work for an agency these days. So no I wouldn’t change a thing, but for anyone looking to get into the career, don’t shy away from doing your own thing, nothing sucks the creative juices out of you faster then having an over bearing boss.
Is this career flexible?
Depends on if you work for yourself, or for someone else.
9) Would you say this career choice is stable financially? Do you think it will remain that way?
Like any career out there, its not how much money you make its how much you spend… Anyone who blames their money problems on their job or career choice are using it as a scape goat for not being able to control their own spending habits. In terms of being able to find and get work, it is one of the most competitive fields out there, you must find your niche and stick to it… Don’t listen to anyone who tells you that you should be a jack of all trades… Yes you should learn all the tools~ but pick ONE thing you really like and that your really passionate about and stick with it, become the best at that ONE thing and you will succeed… Don’t be a cookie cutter designer~ I pay designers in India $25 per page layout and they do a pretty good job, but I’d love to be able to afford the BEST page layout person, and I’d pay a premium for it.
10) Is there any advice to some one who in school for graphic design you would give?
Most of the above information is advice I think, but to sum some of it up:
- Work to learn not to earn
- LOVE to learn
- Pick your niche in the field that you can become the BEST at, and make sure its one your passionate about
- If an expert tells you that you shouldn’t do something, listen to that advice and then do the complete opposite of what they say (example: Google, Facebook, Twitter)
- If you don’t like working for someone else, then don’t… Nothing will kill your creative passion faster then working somewhere you hate
11) What kind of equipment would you say someone in this field would need to have?
A computer helps… Don’t buy shiny things just because they are shiny~ only buy work things that will make you money. The most expensive things are not always the best things.
12) What is the most challenging aspect of this career?
Not listening to people who tell you that you can’t do something.
13) In general would you say that customer usually know what kind of design they want or do you have to start from scratch?
Most of my clients don’t have any clue what they really need, they know they need something and usually to them its a brochure or business cards or something like that… Don’t be afraid to tell them what they really need, if you are truly honest with them (and correct) they will keep using you for advice (and keep paying for it too).
14) Who are the main types of customers you receive business from?
I get most of my clients from word of mouth from my other clients, I’ve had to fire some clients~ what you’ll find if you work for yourself is that you get 80% of your money from about 20% of your clients and you’ll also get about 80% of your stress from 20% of your clients.
Fire the 20% that only pay you 20% of your money and that give you 80% of your headache and you’ll be much happier and have more time and less stress to get good clients.
15) Is there anything else you think someone going to this field should know?
You can answer any question with Google… And if you can’t, make a website that answers that question.
Oh about the field?
Its changing constantly, and we’re all already behind… The only way to keep up is to keep trying new things, be a leader in the field not a follower~
