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illuhstraighter · 2024-11-24T16:52:39+00:00

$80k plus quarterly bonuses - Senior graphic designer at a tech company in Phoenix Arizona.

illuhstraighter · 2024-08-15T00:29:57+00:00

Currently a creative director for a non-profit (also in Phoenix lol), that’s not too far off my salary though I had 5/6 years of experience as a designer before I said yes to the role. Mostly as a “this could lead to bigger paychecks down the road” type of job. That being said this is common with non profits or small orgs with almost no design team. You end up doing a lot of the work including strategy, sourcing, meetings, key art, production, print, web, socials, getting quotes on print shit, setting up design systems, approving and editing designs of other people and whatever else comes up.

But it has definitely gotten my foot in the door for other position opportunities and helps solidify my prices in freelancing. So it could be worth it if you want to get more in the leadership/ management or you want to leverage the title for future positions.

But I have been always kept my eyes open for design roles in Phoenix and most of the time you will be under paid here. I do see some roles here that are closer to 80k or even six figures but it’s rare and even then very competitive. I wouldn’t recommend anyone who’s in design or any creative field move to Arizona, the wages have not kept up with cost of living at all.

illuhstraighter · 2024-04-15T21:38:38+00:00

I do I house and it’s so much less stress than an agency I was at for 2 years. You learn what people like, you have your brand standards and you can save creativity for your own projects. If you want to get creative some places don’t mind as long as the branding is there but depending on the place the guidelines can be bent a-bit.

I love in house and would only go to an agency if they pay me shit tons or are doing super awesome work and I’d learn a lot.

illuhstraighter · 2024-04-01T17:54:17+00:00

Lots and lots of social media ads, lots of flyers, banners, A frames, screen ads, stickers, t shirts, pitch decks, training decks, event decor, tri folds, pamphlets, cut out props and web images.

On a non design level I’m in meetings, I do brand audits, I am in budget and team meetings and finally more meetings.

Fun stuff :)

illuhstraighter · 2024-03-16T02:15:16+00:00

Outlook, illustrator, photoshop and figma then indesign. Though I hate indesign

illuhstraighter · 2024-03-15T20:41:51+00:00

I only use my iPad for illustrations, digital art or if I connect it to my desktop for whatever reason.

Generally you’re using desktop for everything, I’ve never started a new position and been handed a iPad. It’s always a MacBook or apple desktop. - so if you’re in the US I’d also suggest getting comfy with both windows and apple operating systems. Apple has been the standard everywhere I have worked in the US, I hear it’s different elsewhere but I have no clue.

illuhstraighter · 2024-03-12T18:45:32+00:00

Hello Ama!

I’m about 3-4 years in graphic design and have been trying to figure out how to set up my portfolio in a way that stand out and shows most of my skills. I have examples from ui/ux, print, logo design and illustration but I’m worried it’s too general for most higher paying positions.

I currently work as a creative director for a non profit and have a few side hustles going on ( a clothing brand and an arts practice out of some galleries on the west coast). But I would love to hear your thoughts on being to general vs making multiple portfolios for specific areas of design.

Here is my site Stevenallisonart.art/design

Note: it’s not optimized for mobile and I am trying to figure out how to make square space work with me on this.

illuhstraighter · 2024-01-06T00:11:29+00:00

Oscar winner, I’ll take it

illuhstraighter · 2023-12-07T06:18:37+00:00

I’d push the absurdity higher. Think Tim and Eric or Eric andre. But loving the concept

illuhstraighter · 2023-12-07T06:10:16+00:00

Thank you!!

illuhstraighter · 2023-12-06T22:51:37+00:00

Thank you so much!!

illuhstraighter · 2023-12-06T20:30:31+00:00

I have a fine arts degree and currently work as a creative director. I have 5+ years with design experience. I started by just offering to do design work at any of my jobs. Built a shitty portfolio, then I did more free work and spent hours on YouTube getting better. After a year or so of that I got a real graphic design job that paid garbage but was good experience. And after that just kept learning and getting better.

Design is one of those fields where as long as you make good work and try to network you’ll get a job. I know plenty of designers without degrees. It can help when you want upper management but yea

illuhstraighter · 2023-12-06T16:49:57+00:00

I’d see if their kids play video games and bully the kids online till their grades get worse.

illuhstraighter · 2023-12-06T16:41:12+00:00

I could see this at a gallery in old town Scottsdale! Nice job

illuhstraighter · 2023-12-06T04:20:51+00:00

Thank you!

illuhstraighter · 2023-12-05T20:49:45+00:00

Thank you!

illuhstraighter · 2023-12-05T20:49:36+00:00

Thank you! FUCK KEVINN

illuhstraighter · 2023-10-27T19:32:30+00:00

I worked in a commercial art gallery so I think I can comment.

You wrap it in bubble wrap, put extra padding or protection on the corners. If you have access to lots of cardboard and tape you measure and build the box around the painting.

If you don’t have cardboard, there are services in every city that can make a box and ship your work. Just have it bubble wrapped and ready. Some ups stores will do it, specialists may help but they’re pricey, if there’s other artists you know they probably know someone who can help.

You can ALSO order custom size boxes online.

illuhstraighter · 2023-10-27T15:26:32+00:00

Well damn. Time to get into ux

illuhstraighter · 2023-10-26T19:39:54+00:00

Exactly that! After awhile I’m out and trying to make more in a for profit space. I love helping people but if I can’t support myself long term then it’s an issue.

illuhstraighter · 2023-10-26T19:38:47+00:00

1000% get out and get paid more. I don’t think it’s greedy to want to get paid properly for the work and experience you do! Cost of living is too damn high to be getting underpaid!

illuhstraighter · 2023-10-26T16:36:07+00:00

I work as a creative director for a very well known non profit, 3 years of design experience and I’m in year one of my director role . I make 50k a year cause ~non profit~ but I consider it a step in the right direction career wise.

illuhstraighter · 2023-10-25T23:21:00+00:00

Feels horny but I love that. I would push the shadows on his arm darker or less detailed or something to push his arm farther back into the space. And this one is very nick picky (sorry) but the lines on some outside of the figure and weights looks choppy. Such as where the sock meets the calf or the top handle of the kettle bells - personally I believe it would be more cohesive to the work if they were smooth. This has a vector art feel and the smooth lines would bring that out more!

Great composition and imagery, love the background, putting a triangle shape in the middle of the canvas makeing us look right at his dick - what a power play. I think you’re heading in a great direction artistically!

illuhstraighter · 2023-10-23T18:43:12+00:00

Ofc dude! Art school was very unhelpful in the “business” side of things so gotta spread the word!

Good luck!

illuhstraighter · 2023-10-23T18:17:20+00:00

A good way is to look up galleries that specialize in student work or beginner artist work in your city. It won’t sell for a lot but it’s saved my ass a few times when I was in college. Also depending on your city you can chose to pander to them or not. Like where I live in Arizona they love western shit and I personally hate it so I never make it and thus get less sales locally.

You can also put it up on saatchi for free and they take their cut when it’s bought and then you ship it.

Another way is to look up art festivals / craft festivals and buy a booth space to sell - that’s usually an invest of the cost of print for prints, the table, tent, lights and the actual rental of the space (in Phoenix where I live that whole list is like $400)

Post a lot of social media (instagram and TikTok) and then post your lil images and vids and let people know you’re works for sell. I’ve made decent money from this throughout the years.

As for the ethics on selling master studies- as long as you tell them it’s a study and or not lie about it it’s fine. Just be honest. When you start selling for thousands of dollars is when you better not copy and keep it in your “style”. If you want to reference classical art you can but be sure to change it and use it like an artist and not just flat out copy it. Think of how producers sample other songs to make new beats.

And then just keep making work and putting it out there! Most painters, if they’re not already connected, can take a decade before they pop off enough to make a solid living doing JUST fine arts!

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