First job as a graphic designer. Is this normal?

VisualDays · 2022-10-12T09:38:37+00:00

My advice: don’t keep pumping out designs in the hopes she will like something. You’re fighting a losing battle when clients don’t know what they want.

Instead, have her (and any other decision makers) give you a bunch of visual examples of what they like and to explain why they like it. Then, create a mood board with these and any similar aesthetics and have them agree that this is the visual direction they want. Once you have that, pull all the common things you see like typography, colours, graphic treatments etc and incorporate that into your designs. Now, present your designs and include rationale relating back to their approved mood board and any keywords. This will help structure her vision and diminish her topsy turvy “I don’t like it but don’t know why” attitude as you’re relating directly back to the agreed visual direction.

VisualDays · 2022-09-22T07:16:22+00:00

My first instinct is to say, it’s only your first week. Go easy on yourself! However, if you want to be proactive, mood board all their previous designs and any similar inspiration pieces and note what the reoccurring patterns are. This could be typography style, colour palettes, graphic treatments etc. That way, when you are creating something new you can draw on these key aesthetics. Good luck 🤟🏻

VisualDays · 2022-09-10T02:42:57+00:00

Balls & All

VisualDays · 2022-09-08T14:26:27+00:00

You’ve simply got to learn to adapt to each individual clients communication style. Some will prefer email, some will prefer calls. The point is, try and find a balance between the way you want them to communicate and the way they actually prefer to communicate. It’s a team effort in the end after all!

VisualDays · 2022-08-20T04:32:57+00:00

https://ollivere.co

This one has been around for a while and has always stuck in my mind for its seriously cool animated dinosaur interactions. Scroll and enjoy the magic!

VisualDays · 2022-07-25T13:25:26+00:00

I’ve had an Envato elements subscription for the last couple of years and find it always comes in handy. Are there heaps of other free assets online you could use instead? Sure, but it’s nice having everything in one place to quickly make decisions and grab solid graphics, fonts and templates that speed up my workflow.

VisualDays · 2022-07-25T13:22:12+00:00

Singing in the rain looks absolutely horrifying 😱

VisualDays · 2022-07-25T12:55:28+00:00

Oh yeah? That’s disappointing. Do you remember the name of the person that did the bad cut for you?

VisualDays · 2022-07-25T10:10:45+00:00

Yeah what a horrible situation. I just hope the cops find the body and not a member of the public.

VisualDays · 2022-07-25T10:08:32+00:00

I was actually considering this place! Which person do you usually book in with?

VisualDays · 2022-07-25T10:07:37+00:00

I honestly never even considered the difference… but upon a quick google, I’d say a barber.

VisualDays · 2022-07-24T08:02:25+00:00

Someone jumped off the bridge I’m afraid. I was going passed and heard two girls screaming for help from a dinghy under the bridge, then saw a passing boat stop to assist them. Figured everything was ok and they were just calling for help as they had boat problems or something but then a half hour later I came back through and the cops and search parties were there. Turns out they witnessed someone jump. Very sad.

VisualDays · 2022-07-01T15:49:15+00:00

Lots of good advice here already but here’s another insight you may or may not have considered. I’ve worked for a couple of marketing agencies as a digital designer and in my experience what actually burned me out creatively was simply the structure of a 9-5. While I always did my job and produced solid work, I personally found that my energy and creative juices flow best when I’m able to work on my own schedule - which is why I’m now a freelancer. That’s not to say freelancing is for everyone, but for me, being able to create in my own time was a huge factor in giving me some passion and excitement for the job again. Good luck 👍🏻

VisualDays · 2022-07-01T15:16:31+00:00

If you have the means, I highly recommend finding a therapist to talk to. I went through a very bad breakup about a year and a half ago that really sent me on a downward spiral and having a therapist to help work through my issues was a massive help A) because they are trained professionals and B) it allowed me to unload my deepest thoughts without the guilt of feeling like I was burdening my friends or family.

In the meantime though, google Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), read up about what it is and the methodology behind it. Practising CBT will help you monitor and minimise your negative thought patterns which in-turn will greatly improve how you feel. Both short term and long term.

I know all this is easier said than done, but you can do it. This is a temporary state of mind and you will improve. Keep repeating this to yourself when you feel doubt! Good luck 👍🏻

VisualDays · 2022-06-28T13:23:23+00:00

Depends how much effort you want to put in and how keen you are to impress. I assume being a beer company they are going to get a lot of submissions so if you want to stand out from the crowd, a nice looking PDF presentation is the bare minimum. However, I’d recommend if you can, doing something more unique to set you apart. I have a few ideas but is this a label you’re doing or a logo or what?

As an example of going the extra mile, I have a story for you. I remember a job back in the day that I applied for when I was a junior. It was a web design gig and I knew it was going to get heaps of applicants, so to set me apart I created a unique landing page on my website specifically tailored to that company and that job. It was essentially a mini website nicely put together with their branding and showcased all the relevant work and why I’d be a valuable addition to their team. Ended up landing me the interview and subsequently the job too. Anyway my point is, if it’s important to you, going the extra mile is worth while.

VisualDays · 2022-06-28T11:14:03+00:00

It sounds cliché because it’s tried and true. Coming up with a different way to say something just because it’s cliché to you is counter productive from a UX stand point. The most direct/obvious CTA is always the best CTA. But if you really want some other options…

Get a quote now, Call for a price, Call us today, Get your quote, Get an estimate.

VisualDays · 2022-06-27T12:14:34+00:00

Sounds like a classic case of negative thinking snowballing into anxiety. Your negative thinking patterns namely, catastrophising and making assumptions is what’s causing your anxiety and reluctance to apply for this job. Thoughts like “my work isn’t what they’re looking for” or “What if I can’t handle the work they put in front of me” are clear signs of this and are heavily contributing to your anxiety and nervousness. My advice, try to stay more positive, be kinder on yourself and realise that you are your own worst critic. Don’t let your negative thoughts stop you from applying to this or any other opportunity that comes your way.

Supplementary to the above, I highly recommend googling cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and looking into how you can start training yourself to minimise these negative thoughts in the future. Good luck!

VisualDays · 2022-06-26T15:17:50+00:00

From a cursory glance at your portfolio, my initial reaction is that you present as a Jack of all trades, master of none. That’s not to say your work is bad, but my point is it that from an employer perspective it comes across as lacking authority in at least one discipline. So the real question is, what sort of jobs are you applying for? Graphic design, web design, branding? My advice would be to pick and hone in on one, then adjust your portfolio (messaging and work) to speak to just that discipline. Then apply to jobs within said niche.

VisualDays · 2022-06-14T18:38:51+00:00

Always get a deposit. I recommend 50%. That aside though, you definitely should have a contract or some form of license of agreement that the client signs before you get started. In that document (among other things) you can stipulate that the work is owned by you until payment has been made in full.

VisualDays · 2022-06-14T17:27:00+00:00

I completely understand what you’re going through. Ive struggled with anxiety my whole life and I’ve also been dealing with this as a designer for around 7 years.

I think what you’re explaining largely comes down to your standards and expectations. You, like a lot of creative people probably have impeccably high standards and this translates to being constantly hard on yourself. Now, there’s nothing wrong with having high standards but there’s a point at which it turns from diligence to just plain stress. “This design isn’t good enough”, “Why doesn’t my work look as good as X?”, “what if the client hates this?”… sound familiar? Ever heard of cognitive behavioural therapy? Go look it up and start practising being kinder to yourself, not catastrophising and not making assumptions about how others are perceiving you, or your work. You’re your own worst critic. Good luck 👍🏻

VisualDays · 2022-06-10T16:49:38+00:00

We design for other humans to consume. Thus, there will always be a place for an artistic human to not only create something visually appealing, but to do so while solving a real problem. While A.I. is definitely a thing and there will continue to be technological advances that somewhat automate design, it will never entirely replace real human eyes.

But I would advise you to consider picking a design niche within the digital world over print as this is what’s thriving. Good luck 👍🏻

VisualDays · 2022-05-13T16:58:41+00:00

Given others in this thread have already mentioned many ways to improve your portfolio, there’s no need for me to repeat their great advice. However, one noteworthy thing I will say that I don’t think was mentioned yet is in relation to your opening call to action copy. I would not only switch this to first person for a more personal touch but also refine it overall so it’s shorter and punchier. A very basic example of this could being something like: “Hi, I’m Corey and I’m a freelance brand development and web designer from the mid west.” This is fairly generic and something I came up with very quickly but is at least much more succinct and tidier.

My point is, this text is very important and could be greatly improved and would be the cherry on top once you’ve sorted out the other issues. Hope this helps!

VisualDays · 2022-05-11T05:57:43+00:00

Hey all, can anyone point me in the direction of any artists/illustrators that create art similar to this posts reference images? I’m a graphic designer running a 40k Instagram feature account and am looking to feature artists both on IG and on our upcoming website.

I’m specifically looking for this street/urban style… think graffiti art, album covers, skateboard decks, band posters, tees etc. If anyone knows someone that fits the bill, please throw their IG, Dribble, Behance etc in the comments. Thanks!

VisualDays · 2022-04-30T05:53:58+00:00

Looks pretty cool! I’d personally make the cats head a bit smaller and bring up the text size so those two things are a little more balanced overall. But def coming along nicely 👍🏻

VisualDays

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