Future in Design?!
I am looking for a career in the graphic design field. I have two and a half years experience as a proofreader for a local printing company. My education consists of a Bachelor's of Science in Computer Design, Animation and Game Design from Kent State University and an Associate of Arts in Visual Communications from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. I have received awards for my artwork and am looking for a job that gives me structure for my creativity.
I would like to develop a network of contacts that can help me develop my portfolio and career opportunities. If you are interested in my art, I would be happy to show you some samples.
Hi John! Sounds great and sounds like you have a very interesting background. I'll start by asking what is it that you want to do? What field in design excites you? (Print, digital design, UX design, Advertisement etc.)
The best way to start networking as a designer is to start attend meetups (www.meetup.com) in the fields of your interest and actively search for hackathons and other short term competitions that will both boost your portfolio and enhance your professional network.
I also found some jobs in CSCA in Dover, OH. You can check them out here http://cscarts.org/job-board/ Good Luck!!!
Hey John,
It certainly sounds like you have done a lot of things, and my guess is those life experiences could translate to cool opportunities.
First: Be specific. My suggestion would be to do some hard thinking about what type of art/design work excites you the most. It's obvious that you are a skilled sketch artist and painter. I can also tell you know your way around design software. But what do you like or want to do – Design, Animation, Illustration? The more you can convey that to others, the better they can help you.
Second: Organize your work. Your portfolio means a lot in the arts biz. So think critically about where your strengths are. Think about the kind of work that inspires you, and set a course for achieving or surpassing those examples. Spending the time and effort on your portfolio will be the most likely thing to lead you in the right direction. Take advantage of school or events to improve your abilities. And that means your presentation of the work – not just the work itself.
Third: Highlight your strengths. You mentioned winning some awards. Describe them in your Jobcase profile! Don't be shy about telling employers what you are good at. Your work can speak volumes once they see it, but in many cases, you will have to convince somebody to look in the first place. Promote yourself as if you are the product.
I wish you lots of luck. Let us know how it's going! Best, Matthew