A few weeks ago, I got an email from my former university, CSU Channel Islands, asking if I would be interested in mentoring a design student who was struggling to find work in the design industry, post-graduation. I jumped at the chance to help share some of my experience with this student, knowing the struggle doubt and uncertainty can inflict on your work.
A few days later, I met the student for lunch and quickly came to understand his situation. Although he sold himself on his dedication and hard work, this fresh-out-of-school professional was understandably lacking any real-world design experience, and he didn’t have an idea of what he really wanted to do in the industry. This apprehension came through in his interviews when he answered questions like, “What do you like about design?” or “What is your biggest weakness?”. His uncertainty was a serious problem standing in the way of landing that first post-graduation job.
It’s worth mentioning that there are a multitude of jobs available to choose from in the field of design. Each has its own specific twist and flavor, from in-house work to agency work, from a local scope to an international scope, and from business-to-business to business-to-consumer audiences. Then, there are all the specialized disciplines that professionals dedicate themselves to within those categories, including web design, typographic development, branding and motion graphics. Design can even encompass fields such as architecture and fashion. So, for someone right out of college, it can be a hard world to navigate.
It’s a sort of rite of passage with designers, this doubt and uncertainty. After I graduated, I went through a similar amount of insecurity when trying to find a job in the industry. I took on jobs that paid very little, for hours upon hours of work that resulted in some crappy designs and probably also the need for a few sessions of therapy. Blood, sweat and tears would be an apt description of the experience, if it weren’t for the face-palming, hair-pulling and cursing that took their place. Breaking through the clouds requires patience, hard work and a dedication to the craft that is not for the weak!
So, in order for this student to solve his problem, he would likely need to take on some work he didn’t enjoy, just like we all had to do. Discovering his design focus would mean working long hours, fighting tough battles and sometimes making awful work. But, in the process, he would gain experience, giving him examples and allegories that will allow him to better communicate his understanding of design to future clients and employers. What he “likes about design” will be the results of his labors. His “biggest weaknesses” will turn into his greatest strengths. And all of the problems he has today will evaporate because of his dedication and hard work.
Of course, this advice probably wasn’t something he wanted to hear. We all tend to seek quick and easy answers, rather than focusing on long-term solutions that require hard work. But, at the end of it all, the student ultimately decided to give a less-than-ideal job a chance. The position wasn’t entirely dedicated to design work, but it would still strengthen his portfolio—the first step toward more satisfying opportunities.
As I worked with this student and found myself reflecting on my own journey, I gained a sense of pride in how far I’ve come and how much I’ve learned since my own graduation. And, it felt good knowing that my experiences helped someone else get started on the path to a design career.