On Thursday, November 8th, our class visited Grand Rapids and heard guest speakers at GRCC, took a quick tour of student work at Kendall, and visited People Design, Inc (the former BBK Studio). It was an entire day of meeting people that gave us important advice and the opportunity to ask questions about working in the Design World: with designers, writer strategists, and clients.
Our first speaker was Ryan VanDyke from Carnevale ID, an interactive Design Firm. He told us of his experiences beginning work as the first employee of Carnivale ID, the process of starting as a subcontractor and elevating as employee, and what employers are looking for: dedication, skills, and interest. He and Carnivale interact well together, which is another key point, especially in a firm consisting of 2 people. He gave us a look into a few projects they’ve done recently, including Blue Quill Angler store, La Becasse Restaurant’s web site, and he mentioned they’ve worked on Grand Theft Auto IV (with no more info than that).
We enjoyed a gourmet lunch at the Heritage Restaurant, complete with delicious desserts. Compliments of our Dean at the College of Business.
Our second guest speaker was Dalin Clark, a writer/strategist. She works in marketing, Public Relations, and eBusiness. We had a Q & A session with her, and found out a lot of useful information and tips. She emphasized for us to find out what we’re especially good at, our niche, and work with it so that we can find the people that will pay us for it. Clark advised us to make every word count, to be good at asking questions that pull out information from clients, share ideas, do homework (on clients), and be prepared. She encouraged us to find out why certain things “speak to us (and others)”, and to read different types of writing from different authors to expand our knowledge and vocabulary.
On working with designers, Clark pointed out that when communicating with creative partners, one must be specific about everything from deadlines to copy space. The writer should be involved before the final design is developed, so that there are no surprises when it comes time to write out the copy.
“Be forthright and honest, and come with a problem to solve.” Clark’s three main rules are: have manners and be respectful, budget fairly (commit and pay), and use profanity correctly. She advised us not to freelance until we have at least 10 years of work experience. That way we have the proper knowledge and background to branch out on our own. We must do our own research on authors and clients, depending on existing knowledge. According to Clark, we should develop client-thinking skills, and learn to think of business problems as opportunities.
Our third guest speaker, Bill Holsinger-Robinson, Chief Operations Officer of Spout.com, gave us a look into the connection between Business and Design. He talked about Spout.com and how it went from an idea to reality with the help of many people and procedures. The site is a networking system that connects those passionate and influential about films, mavens, with those inquiring about films (in short). Spout is about the discovery of films, as apposed to the purchase of films and advertising space. We heard a success story in the film industry, one that Spout had an impact on, the film “Four-Eyed Monsters.” We also had a Q & A session with Bill, who pointed out that when it comes to specialty sites such as Spout, they must have purpose, be memorable, and have a unique name. “Design should always be written with a capital D. Business is everything in Design.” Spout keeps Design in mind with all the movies and advertisements in order to be easier on the eyes, easier to understand, and superior to competitors.
On the topic of customers, one must go out and meet people, and ask questions. Bill explained that a good employee has character, experience, and skills. He looks for people who are mature and aware what’s going on in the world.
Bill gave us a great outlook on the client’s side of things, and was interesting to listen to. He invited us to contact him with any questions we had, which was very generous of him. He also gave us a great goody bag with cool stuff, including Spout t-shirts!
At People Design, Inc., we spoke with Yang, Adam, Brian, and others in the office. We learned about the kind of work they do, the transition from BBK Studios to People Design Inc., specific experiences with clients and projects, and had a Q & A session with donuts and cider at the end. We got some great advice for now and the future in whatever direction we decide to venture into. People Design Inc. focuses on Identity Design, Experience Design, p://Communication Design. Projects discussed include Herman Miller, izzy, Bloomscape, and Spout.com.
Designers must be better than any template, which can be difficult when there are so many viable ones available. It is also very important to get feedback ASAP and to take it into serious consideration. Being future job seekers, we were advised to find someone we want to work with and learn from them, work with the grid, know type, be organized, and do what it takes to prove ourselves worthy. They explained to us what new employees generally do in their studio, and what they look for in employees. When applying, they advised us to send a link or PDF, not snail mail, because people are busy and do not have time to sort through junk. They as employers look at how applicants interact with people, and prefer persistence, not annoyance. In interviews, we were advised to have actual pieces, know information through research about how to present our portfolio and ourselves. It was interesting to me how casual they were, and the fact that most of their employees were not Graphic Designers.
4 years ago
•
0 notes
