Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Guest Speaker Notes: Chad Owens

§ Do NOT make a themed portfolio or include pet projects such as drawing or photos, RATHER build these skills into a design

§ If you call a studio

o Say, “I’d like to show you my portfolio.” Or “My professor said that I should show you my portfolio.”

o Not: “Do you have any job openings?”

§ Learn how to work quickly

§ Learn program shortcuts

§ Summer is a dead time for the graphic design industry

o Work should pick up around September and be consistent until May

§ Companies usually hire you initially for your type-setting skills

o Make sure your portfolio is free of orphans & widows and doesn’t overuse hyphens

o We want them to know that we will fix mistakes and not make them clean up after us

o The more sooner you are good at type-setting, the sooner you will get to do real design work

§ If you see a job you really want, be persistent & network

§ If you quit designing, you WILL lose your skill – KEEP IT UP.

§ Some places you will fit in, others you won’t. Find someplace where you fit in.

§ Don’t stay in the same place for too long – you will find more success with diverse opportunities.

§ If you want to eventually start your own business, you should begin building clientele on the side as you work for someone else.

§ Contracts

o He has never seen contracts work

o Get half of the payment up front

o Agree to only do three rounds of changes

o No redesigns without extra payment

§ Learn about printing

o Mistakes are very expensive

o Learn from others whenever you have the chance

o Working on your own will cost you a lot.

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