Recently Grad. Graphic Designer ... looking for opinions/advice?!

Hey guys, just looking for a different perspective ... but, to keep a long story short:

I graduated in Dec '08 with a B.Design (Graphic Design), from a small, private college - Sydney, Australia ... now I know, that even in an ideal (job) market, graphic design is a pretty tough field to crack ... so the current economic recession doesn't help the situation ... I've been working at a call centre for 4 years now - to pay tuition fees, purchase laptop, computer, software etc. ... Obviously, the job market is dead ... for studio graphic designer roles especially ... I've been freelancing for close to 9 months now ... but have only had TWO successful clients - i.e. ones that actually paid for the work I had done!

So that's my story ^^ ... here's my 'dilemma' ... I'm a realist, so I know that it'll be a good 6-12 months+ until the job market even starts to pick up! As I said, I've been freelancing ... but quite recently (last 2 weeks) ... I've had family come to me with 'work' - start-up companies etc. BUT, low-and-behold, they aren't willing to pay! I'll admit, it's not like I've had the guts to ask ... but they assume that I won't be charging them! So, the question is this: do I take on this "pro bono" work, just to add to my portfolio?! Knowing I can 'survive' on my call centre pay for now (I live at home, rent free ... only debt is car repayments) ... but deep-down, making me feel like I've sold myself short ... and that studying to get to where I am, has been a waste - especially when I'm not being remunerated for my work!

I recently read a thread on young people paying their dues? Would this fall under that category?! ALL comments welcome ... cheers guys ... oh, and to all the g.designers on the forum, feel free to leave any words of wisdom from years of experience!

Originally Posted by Presto87

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So, the question is this: do I take on this "pro bono" work, just to add to my portfolio?!

Unless you already have a sizable portfolio, the answer is Yes.

i review portfolios everyday. here is what i look for from recent grads:

ideas executed across media:
e.g., a campaign that shows the work in multiple environments, web, outdoor, print, environmental

strategic thinking, not just pretty designs

exceptional type skills

and by all means, take the pro bono work.

only you can answer this. How big is the project? How many billable hours would it be, if it were a real, paying gig?

a lot of people will try to get free work out of a designer and pull the "I can't pay you but it will be great experience and will look good in your portfolio and I'll recommend you when anyone asks who did that for me". Generally its a loosing deal and nothing will ever come of it, BUT if in this case it is a family member or friend, then its a bit different. I would definitely try to get something tangible for your efforts though, meaning some form of equity in their start-up, or something else. Maybe a barter type deal where they can trade a service or something back to you for the work you do for them.

The general rule is don't do too much work for free, and also think of the quality of the project they're asking for. Is it a 3-page brochure style website where you wont be challenged at all creatively and they'll just constantly be telling you to make the logo bigger? If so I would quickly pass on that.

i wouldn;t pass on any professional work. no one wants to look at spec/student books all day.

Originally Posted by thekunk07

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i review portfolios everyday. here is what i look for from recent grads:

ideas executed across media:
e.g., a campaign that shows the work in multiple environments, web, outdoor, print, environmental

strategic thinking, not just pretty designs

exceptional type skills

and by all means, take the pro bono work.

Thanks for your reply mate ... can I ask what position you hold? i.e. design studio (or otherwise)?

With regards to ideas across different media ... I'm glad you mentioned this ... for the last few weeks I've been toying with the idea of 'branding' myself as a print-designer ONLY, and not pushing my web 'skills' ... reasoning: I started out in design, thinking that web was for me ... only to find out the 'truth' (html coding, internet moving towards flash-based sites etc.) - I mean, I can design FOR the web, and then say, outsource to a client? Is that enough? That is, I really don't want to learn the back-end ... not because I am lazy or anything of the sort, rather - it's just not what I want to be doing with my life. I understand that many designers have the notion that print will be dead in say 5-10 years ... thoughts? Would I be stupid to pass web work, where I can design the front-end in photoshop, and then pass on to HTML coders?

Originally Posted by flashback

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only you can answer this. How big is the project? How many billable hours would it be, if it were a real, paying gig?

a lot of people will try to get free work out of a designer and pull the "I can't pay you but it will be great experience and will look good in your portfolio and I'll recommend you when anyone asks who did that for me". Generally its a loosing deal and nothing will ever come of it, BUT if in this case it is a family member or friend, then its a bit different. I would definitely try to get something tangible for your efforts though, meaning some form of equity in their start-up, or something else. Maybe a barter type deal where they can trade a service or something back to you for the work you do for them.

The general rule is don't do too much work for free, and also think of the quality of the project they're asking for. Is it a 3-page brochure style website where you wont be challenged at all creatively and they'll just constantly be telling you to make the logo bigger? If so I would quickly pass on that.

As for your initial question, in terms of billable hours, I'd approximate at least 50+ ... thus far, I've designed two logos, from scratch, for two start-up companies. Both which, according to him, will be 'very big' .... i.e. exactly what you said: "I can't pay you but it will be great experience and will look good in your portfolio ...". And note that, after both logos were completely, he was VERY happy with the quality of the work ... well so it seems ... now, I'm working on business cards for both, and he has mentioned the idea of getting website(s) up in the 2-3 weeks ... hence the reason I asked ^^^ whether to pass up web-design work, or do the front-end, and outsource?

Originally Posted by thekunk07

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i wouldn;t pass on any professional work. no one wants to look at spec/student books all day.

It is for this reason that I even accepted the work in the first place - that is, before second guessing myself ...

i am a partner + creative director at a small integrated agency.

if you pigeonhole yourself as a print designer, you'll be going hungry. multi-faceted people and people who can do online work are the ones who are doing well right now. we've gone from 50/50 print/onlint to 90/10 online.

Originally Posted by Presto87

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Thanks for your reply mate ... can I ask what position you hold? i.e. design studio (or otherwise)?

With regards to ideas across different media ... I'm glad you mentioned this ... for the last few weeks I've been toying with the idea of 'branding' myself as a print-designer ONLY, and not pushing my web 'skills' ... reasoning: I started out in design, thinking that web was for me ... only to find out the 'truth' (html coding, internet moving towards flash-based sites etc.) - I mean, I can design FOR the web, and then say, outsource to a client? Is that enough? That is, I really don't want to learn the back-end ... not because I am lazy or anything of the sort, rather - it's just not what I want to be doing with my life. I understand that many designers have the notion that print will be dead in say 5-10 years ... thoughts? Would I be stupid to pass web work, where I can design the front-end in photoshop, and then pass on to HTML coders?



As for your initial question, in terms of billable hours, I'd approximate at least 50+ ... thus far, I've designed two logos, from scratch, for two start-up companies. Both which, according to him, will be 'very big' .... i.e. exactly what you said: "I can't pay you but it will be great experience and will look good in your portfolio ...". And note that, after both logos were completely, he was VERY happy with the quality of the work ... well so it seems ... now, I'm working on business cards for both, and he has mentioned the idea of getting website(s) up in the 2-3 weeks ... hence the reason I asked ^^^ whether to pass up web-design work, or do the front-end, and outsource?



It is for this reason that I even accepted the work in the first place - that is, before second guessing myself ...

Originally Posted by thekunk07

Click to expand...

i am a partner + creative director at a small integrated agency.

if you pigeonhole yourself as a print designer, you'll be going hungry. multi-faceted people and people who can do online work are the ones who are doing well right now. we've gone from 50/50 print/onlint to 90/10 online.

I was afraid you'd say that! And those figures (obviously slight exaggeration??), but I get your point ... but the question I have now is, do you really believe that print-design is on it's way out?? I ask, because I've also been looking into pre-press jobs etc. - letterpress, offset, plates, production etc.

While I'm not a designer myself, my brother is a partner in a small but very successful firm and I've talked with him at length about his profession and what's going on in the field now.

To echo what kunk said, you need to be able to do cross media work to really be successful. My brother and his other partners started off as print designers at places like the Boston Globe and the NY times, but now almost all their work is online focused. It's been very helpful to offer clients the whole spectrum of design, creating sites for them as well as print media, depending on their needs. But, the print demand has been way down in the last year or so, and now almost every new contract they sign is for completely web based work.

hey Guy.i know you.everyone has personal problem with them. so let's try.u can find aid from your relatives.have anice day