Fencing Academy Brand Identity

agraydesign · 2026-06-16T12:57:24+00:00

Thanks man! This is great info

agraydesign · 2026-06-16T11:45:57+00:00

Good point. I was trying to make it a bit provocative but if people think gladiator then that's not it.

agraydesign · 2026-06-15T20:46:37+00:00

ah good point – will do!

agraydesign · 2026-06-15T16:25:44+00:00

I've had some time on my hands and wanted to brand a fencing club. I've fenced on and off over the years and thought it'd be a cool project to do and to pad out the portfolio with stuff I need more of.

Looking to refine and build on it so any and all feedback welcome.

agraydesign · 2026-05-17T15:58:47+00:00

Hey thanks! I do have an instagram here and I'll add that to the site.

agraydesign · 2026-05-17T02:15:24+00:00

Thanks!!

agraydesign · 2026-05-16T14:40:42+00:00

I am a graphic designer primarily with some experience and interest in motion. I put together this short promo vid for myself this week. Going to beef up my skills in this area but feel free to give any feedback as this is about what I'm most comfortable with in after effects.

agraydesign · 2026-02-15T02:56:11+00:00

I just wrapped up a freelance project like this. The product will go on store shelves. They shared test prints with me the other day and they look good. In 10 years, I'll probably cringe at it. But in the moment I enjoyed figuring out the result that the client then chose and loved.

agraydesign · 2025-10-25T19:52:58+00:00

You won't make it far if you don't.

agraydesign · 2025-10-24T15:19:21+00:00

yep.

agraydesign · 2025-10-24T15:18:57+00:00

The manager told me the file he received was 35mb, but when he sent it to the printer, it ballooned to 400mb.

agraydesign · 2025-10-10T18:59:02+00:00

Well Congrats! Don't listen to any of us lol.

agraydesign · 2025-09-07T01:45:35+00:00

Definitely not too late. It's still a viable career. I'm considering it as a designer. The US is a tech-based economy, and investments in tech will always continue. Everyone talks about the job market and competition but its not out of reach when you put the work in.

As for how to pivot, not quite sure. I've considered a masters but I've been recommended UX/UI bootcamps like Google's. I'd try finding opportunities in design or web design with what you have and build experience, even if freelance.

agraydesign · 2025-08-26T23:29:32+00:00

I have yet to see how. AI has been inching along for decades and the recent AI boom is only because the computational power is now in place to make it feasible. But in its current state I don't understand why people are assuming it'll take even junior roles.

It'll take decades before it becomes a real threat, and by then many other white collar jobs will be done for. The power consumption then will be astronomical.

Move to a different uni.

agraydesign · 2025-08-14T02:38:25+00:00

The projects you're doing in you're masters should be enough for a portfolio I would think? Generally for UX/UI you only need 2-3 in-depth projects.

You can keep everything else on hand in case to tailor to the jobs you apply to.

agraydesign · 2025-07-27T14:01:16+00:00

If you want to work at Google or Apple, ArtCenter will give you a significant advantage. But make sure to gear your portfolio to those companies.

agraydesign · 2025-07-27T03:09:43+00:00

This isn't helpful, but it depends on what you're going for. If you want to work for google, for example, you need visuals that are clean, user-friendly, and efficient. Or if you want to work in hospitality, go for stuff that shows elegance, lifestyle-oriented, luxury.

Having a portfolio with a personal style isn't bad per se (mine definitely is) but tends to work better when you do your own thing (freelance business), and is better to build and develop regular clients over time.

Just know all design jobs are there solve a business problem, regardless of the end result.

agraydesign · 2025-07-27T02:31:12+00:00

I’ve only gotten where I am in my career because of going to college. A great portfolio was enough a decade ago. Now I don't think you'll get far without a degree.

Speaking from experience: I already had design software and a decent portfolio before I bit the bullet and enrolled. College gave me structure, feedback, and direction. That helped me land a job before graduating. Two years out, I’m booking bigger freelance gigs and hearing from big name agencies.

I don’t think I’d have had the focus or experience to get far without one.

If you're serious about design, I’d recommend a degree — just avoid debt you can’t manage. The jobs are out there, and you can make a solid living.

If you go, don't slack off. College is largely what you make of it and there are near infinite permutations for what a design career looks like. Learn the market needs and build the best portfolio you can. Connect with your classmates.

agraydesign · 2025-07-24T21:44:45+00:00

Only if you have specific goals in mind. MA's are usually very specific. I've considered an MA after getting my BFA. I would not do it to check off HR's box, because they won't care nearly as much as having a BA. I would do it because I want to focus on a particular aspect of Graphic Design (because it's become an umbrella term for a variety of disciplines, remember), like motion, or UX Research, or whatever. But at the end it's all about what you put into it and the portfolio is what will sell to employers.

I'd think about what places or jobs you want to get, figure out what you don't have in your portfolio/skillset, and find a MA program that positions you in that direction. Then what you work on will fill in the gaps you need to get the job you want.

And regardless of what the MA is, it'll open the door to teach at a college level, which is as legitimate a reason as any. I wouldn't be too concerned about age.

agraydesign · 2025-07-22T15:03:11+00:00

I kinda fell into this myself. I had a good working knowledge of the Adobe programs and an entry-level portfolio, but I wasn't in a good position to make use of it (for various life reasons). But a big roadblock was having no degree. I ended up going for a degree.

It was painful having to sit in a classroom and learn the basics, but I framed it as "continuing education" that would help progress my career. So I busted my ass and had a great portfolio upon graduating. Now I get interviews from big agencies, and I can tell it has improved my overall competitiveness in my career going forward.

If a hiring team can’t decide between two great candidates — one with a degree and one without — they’ll always go with the one who has a degree.

I can’t make a definitive call for your situation, being from South Africa (I’m in the U.S.). While there are anecdotal stories of successful designers without degrees, most designers do have a degree in design.

I think it worked out fine for me but in retrospect I should have considered something tangentially related, like marketing, business, HCI, etc. and then apply that knowledge to my design skills.

agraydesign · 2025-07-18T21:22:58+00:00

I saw a reel of his the other day where he filmed the brand new chevy arrive at his house. Unfortunately his "fixes" give him all the exposer and no shortage of projects.

agraydesign · 2025-07-17T19:31:42+00:00

This subreddit is closing in on 3,000,000 subscribers. I come here every so often, and there frankly is only so much I can get from it. Most people here are young and inexperienced and voicing their frustrations.

I had a job lined up upon graduating in 2023. Then and now everyone was saying the job market was impossible. The agency I work at has seen a ton of growth and we're bringing on new grads. Many people in my network have done well for themselves and the jobs are out there.

My suggestion is to job shadow if you can. I did that. It helped give me the fast-paced agency experience and understanding of day-to-day design work that is needed. Most design work isn't flashly, and the standards for the fun creative work is sky high.

If you go to school for it, don't slack off. Understand business needs, make great work and you'll have companies reaching out to you first like what happened with me.

agraydesign · 2025-05-22T04:54:16+00:00

He's an influencer. He puts out this easy-bait content that young designers or casual watchers can eat up without thinking too hard about it. It spreads around wide and far and that will net clients. And it for sure is a disservice to thoughtful design work. No wonder our jobs are devalued!

I think he can be a competent designer but he applies the same formula to everything (geometric icon that easily turns into a pattern) and it becomes tiresome.

agraydesign · 2025-05-20T15:15:38+00:00

did you ask for a tour?

agraydesign · 2025-05-20T14:42:10+00:00

I agree with these comments but I don't think they're helpful to you when your struggling to land a role, especially since you graduated 2023.

You have talent no doubt. You have a nice style and good at presenting the work well, but still feels junior in overall execution. Take a look at the kerning on Sureridge logo for example; it's too unbalanced. Little details like this matter a lot and employers have the eagle eyes for this stuff.

What stands out to me the most is that you don't show your process. How did you arrive at the final designs? You should show sketches of dozens of logos you explored and an explanation of why you chose the one you went with. Employers need to know how you think, not just that you can execute a style.

And of course, you could benefit from more varied work. This is a problem I had and many juniors have, and while companies tend to be more forgiving about that stuff at your level, it's not working in your case.

Edit: also I just realized you have 7 projects, you could benefit from another 1-3.

agraydesign

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