First of all, get a Graphic Design Job.
If you find yourself doing the following:
sweeping, mopping, cleaning bathrooms, shopping for your boss’ girlfriend, moving office equipment, shoveling snow, etc. you do not have a Graphic Design job. However
this may seem painfully obvious to some, this is a post Bush economy and this shit does happen. So get real and get out of there.Try to Spell Shitt Right, Okay.
Its alright, we’ve all done it. But I have been a proofreader before and one thing I have noticed is that Designers fresh out of school tend to make a lot of typos. Its respectable to try to keep that to a minimum because that time really does add up. Triple check everything. Try to keep on your proofreader’s good side.
Know About Contracts, How they Opperate and What They Mean for You.
People really appreciate it when you have this together, especially if you are new to the field. And I mean people really, really like this.
Charge Accordingly for Editable Files.
I once had a client ask me for an Illustrator file so his coworker could “move stuff around.” Bullshit. That’s my job. I charged him for it and now I inquire about files upfront.
Don’t Work for Free.
Okay. I’m sorry. I don’t mean to patronize, so here’s what I mean. If a lawyer charges a client for a 5 minute phone conversation, a designer can stick to their guns too. The faster a new designer gets into the habbit of doing this, the better. *Even if an edit took you five minutes to ackomplish, it took time to gain the knowledge to do so, and that is definitely worth something.
Don’t be bullied.
(*see above) (*see below) Chances are that when some tells you that you are doing something wrong, there’s a good chance that you are at least on to something.
Ask Questions / Don’t Ask Questions.
People like new workers to be inquisitive. People like independant thinkers. I just like keeping those things in mind for any new job.
Ugh. This is a Frustrating One.
*Some people may insist that they watch you design. Artful dodging. Thats all I can say.
The Best Designers have the Most Awesome and Nicest Clients.
It is perfectly fine to send a client elsewhere for whatever the reason may be. If someone goes out of their way to make me feel stupid, etc. that person is no longer my client. Chances are, that person probably has a bad reputation anyways and for so many other reasons, its just not worth it.
Know When to Humor Your Boss and Others.
People appreciate it when you appease them, thats all. Not everyobody speaks the language of design and more importantly , not everybody wants to know. Its your job to show people what they want and to remain respectful during the process.
