Monday Night Meeting 3/2/09
Tonight was SND@TX’s third meeting of the Spring 2009 semester. First, some housekeeping:
• Club dues will be due at the next meeting (date TBA). That’s $10 for the semester’s membership.
• We need help finding a Flash whiz to teach a workshop. Any ideas?
On the agenda for the meeting:
• We decided to hold the first workshop after Spring Break. We’ve got 2 people who are interested in holding workshops, and will give them a few Saturday dates to choose from. We’ve got a Photoshop and a websites teacher lined up forthis semester’s workshops.
• We’re on Twitter! Follow SND’s Twitter updates for information about the club, as well as design-related links.
• We’ve talked about this for the past few semesters, but this semester I want to do it! My dream is to have a fancy-shmancy “exhibit” of SND members’ design work, complete with food and beverages and cocktail-y attire. Anyone else interested? I feel like art students always get to have their gallery showings, why not us? It would be important for everyone to invite one industry person they know, and all the friends they could find. I want to make this happen! Does anyone have an idea for where we could hold it? Email me if you’re interested/have and idea: jesscp@mail.utexas.edu
• For the Mag Majors: “Wednesday night in the LBJ from 6-8 p.m., we will have Evan Smith of Texas Monthly andd Wick Allison of D Magazine discussing the future of magazines. Feel free to come by … we will have snacks and drinks.” – Dave Garlock, Sounds like a good time, I think they’ll be discussing the future of magazines. Couldn’t hurt to cozy up to Evan Smith!
I think that’s all guys. We’ll be having another meeting next week on TUESDAY, rather than Monday. I think we’ll start rotating days. Place still undecided, but I’ll send out a message.
Have a good week!
- Jess
Filed under: 1 | Leave a Comment
How to Get a Design Job Q&A:
Moderator: Amy Zerba
Speakers:
Weston Carls – UT Graduate, 2007 – Art Director for Austin Fit
Daniel Perlaky – UT Graduate, 2002 – owns City on Fire and Blue Buddha Design House
Amy: Tell us a little bit about what you do at your job.
Weston: Works closely with Editor, decides where everything will fit within the magazine. Responsible for art/direction.
Daniel: Started out in college producing club posters and worked in an independent study course for starting his own business. First big client was Tribeza Magazine; redesigned the magazine. Worked at Feedback mag., created Odic Force Magazine and main magazine client currently is Study Breaks. Gone through 3 different redesigns. Has also worked on books and catalogues, and branched out to branding and identity work – owns City on Fire.
A: What do you find rewarding about what you do?
W: Freedom. Going into work any time, as long as he puts in 8 hours. Perks. Being in the magazine industry, you don’t have to pay for a lot of things — a lot of promos, and if you’re in your area of interest you get freebies you use and love. Young environment; fun and easy going. Constantly changes.
D: Not being behind a desk: “My dream in life is to never have to really work. I probably put in 70 hours of work a week, maybe 60 at the most. I used to put in maybe 100 or 90, but I did that with the goal of never getting roped into this job of 9-5 that I hated.” Freedom: Attributes part of his success to the web and communication — allows him to do what he wants wherever he wants. Can travel across world. The companies with which he works usually represent his interests and the public interests – i.e. arts and entertainment. Weigh whether you want something secure and steady, or do what makes you happy as a person – despite the stress and insecurities that go along with it.
A: What do you look for in a portfolio?
W: Screening process before interviewing: emails jobs@austinfitmagazine.com with cover letter and portfolio information. Key to know programs; fast-paced environment. You don’t have to be good at everything – InDesign is #1, Photoshop probably #2. Coming in for the interview: work that looks professional and ONLY best work. Class-created work is fine, as is work created on your own.
D: I get a lot of portfolios and everyone wants a job. So you have to get past the barrier of me not having the time to look at it. Portfolio site: dphoto – $3/month, easily controllable. Send a nice email, short polite. Consider including a couple small-size images to catch my eye and a resume. Make note of any specific skills – you’ll stick out when I’m looking for someone for a specific area.
A: Any specific skills?
D: All of the Adobe Suite, obviously, but specializing in one area. Any non-dreamweaver based web coding is excellent. For clients, we always hand code. Anyone that knows HTML or PHP backward and forward. Other than that, knowing WordPress very well. Web 2.0 is important. Add web stuff to your set of skills asap.
A: What classes do you suggest people take?
W: Web development classes. Know the basics like HTML. Take any Visual Design, Adv. Design and any other creative design classes. Multimedia classes, advertising and web is useful. We have web development interns, editorial interns, web journalists and ad designers.
D: Concentrate on web and business classes. Never stop learning: look up tutorials, teach yourself, take the courses that are available to you. Give yourself assignments. Finding clients will help you learn how to make things for others. Get into the company in a way that you can help; make yourself useful.
Web question: What do you look for in personality when you’re doing job interviews?
D: Someone that’s comfortable and genuine. Natural. Willingness to work should show through. Have an idea and express what you want to do in your professional life. It may lead to me giving you projects that are beneficial or that can turn into portfolio pieces.
W: Just like any other job, you better love doing what you want to do. Example: Austin Fit: you better love health and fitness.
D: Being familiar in the environment in which you’re working.
W: Know the subject, area, type of people. You have to put yourself in the position to write or design for your audience. Being energetic, positive and interesting.
Audience Question: Daniel, have you ever turned down a job because you’ve felt it was too much?
D: No. I enjoy the challenge and the rush to take on something bigger. “You always think you won’t be able to get through things, but ultimately you’ve had the same thought maybe two weeks before.” It’s scary when a lot of people are depending on you, but succeeding at those things is what keeps it interesting and what makes you happy. You can do a lot more than you think. It’s about having faith in yourself and ignoring your own fears.
Amy: Where do you get your creative ideas?
W: I clear my mind and go to another project. Look at other similar publications that do it differently to see what yours is missing. Take a step back, don’t stress too much. Think about something else.
D: Staring at blank walls. People think I’m off in space, but it’s just moving things around on a big blank illustrator document. For inspiration: global design. Calling global contacts, visiting other countries. Collecting things like indie magazines, because that’s the style I’m into. Magazines, postcards, things in cafes. Downloading galleries, saving things on the hard drive.
Web question: Weston, What’s the most difficult transition from UT student to professional designer?
W: Wasn’t too hard, actually, but that’s because I was involved in a lot of things during college: SND, had a job, had an internship and became SND president. Fortunate to pick up Austin Fit. The next step was just to figure out what I was – what I was good at, where I fit in. Interned with magazine, was hired to design and then took over as art director for Austin Fit. Was always strapped for cash. There can be hard times.
Amy: How did you start your own business?
D: There was a huge drawback to it, but I just wanted to see if it would happen and if it didn’t, go look for a job afterward. Ignore any worries about whether you’re good or not. If you want it badly enough, you’ll get it. Get yourself out there, make connections. Let setbacks fall off you and keep moving on. It comes with consequences – working 80-90 hours a week under a lot of stress, not eating well, etc. I’ve never actually advertised for clients – it’s always been word of mouth. Do well and put your best into it and it’ll show. You should always do your best, no matter pay – you’ll get recommended. Used online networking: LinkedIn, Myspace for poster designs and promoting my record label. Flickr – commenting on people’s work. Build up relationships. There’s a balance between running the business and creating. You have to put in your time. Day to day it may not seem like you’re getting anywhere, but every piece counts.
Web question: How much on average would you say a beginning a designer can make when first going out into the industry:
D: Figure out your base survival rate and go with that.
W: $10/hr for part-time, at least for us
D: I sometimes do rates depending on the project. Start-up capital a business has makes a difference, too. Sweat equity: you can start low and sometimes work your way up; it’s just building the relationships and investing. In Austin, a junior designer may start out in the 28-30k a year range. A senior art director at an agency may be 80k. A creative director may be the 110k range. I started out, at maybe 5k a year, then 10 or 12k. Now it’s around 60k after expenses. Right now I’m building and investing in companies. I do a lot of conceptual things, not just designing.
W: Beginning designers start out low, but don’t let that discourage you. ‘Whatever your hard work produces results in the reward.’
D: It’s hard to expect when that’s going to happen, too. If the pay is shitty, but it’s a company you want to work for — maybe it’s worth it for a while. If it sucks and it’s horrible, then eventually you can bail. But take risks and invest yourself.
W: Benefits matter a lot, too.
D: There’s a website that shows salaries for every design position and for different geographic areas. That website also has information on what should be included in contracts, design projects, etc. Tells you what to demand and what to expect. If your job isn’t helping you make ends meet, freelance, get out there.
W: Definitely freelance and keep in contact with people. The best class is an internship.
Audience Question: As for sweat equity, how do you maintain the balance where you give, but don’t get used?
D: My own sweat equity has been in my businesses, most of the time — but obviously in that case, it’s all for you. When doing it for other businesses, you have to make it clear it won’t be for practically nothing forever. When starting out, ask for something. Don’t do anything just for free. It makes the client realize that you’re valuable. Then go back and ask for critique – get them to admit that you’re valuable. Otherwise, just take the portfolio pieces you get out of it and be done with it.
Audience question: Is Austin a good place to get into this business? Are other places better or more difficult?
W: Austin is good, but hard. You might have to stay here for a few years and make a lot less than you want to wait for the opportunity to come around. NYC obviously, Chicago and LA.
D: For me, I can go wherever and live wherever. My clients are everywhere. Living expenses aren’t too high in Austin. High living expenses are usually compensated by the salary. Depends on the industry you want to be in. Ex: Austin is good for film-related companies/clients, but LA is better.
W: Traveling is a part of the job, but it also provides opportunities to network in different locations and industries.
D: If you want to get into agencies where you might be doing layout, go to New York. There’s always work, but it’s a certain way of life. Go where you want and where you’ve always dreamed. Lots of opportunities for direct experience in Austin: You can get an internship or an entry position that will actually benefit you. Published work vs. personal work is totally different. Client work is different: it’s helping them understand what they actually want and making them happy. Satisfying the client equals ‘real’ portfolio pieces.
Amy: How do you know you’re getting better if you’re already at the top spot?
W: I look back on my work. I’m always studying, even outside of the industry. Critiquing yourself: going back and marking up your work. “What the hell was I thinking? I should do this next time, etc.”
D: It’s a really fast turnaround: as fast as you and your employees can physically handle. I don’t look back too much at other projects. Once I finish one I’m already waist deep in another. When I update portfolios a couple times a year, I look back on my work then. I get caught up in working, I don’t really think about getting better but that’s what happens as a result. You can also tell by skills and tools you have that increase.
Audience question: How integrated do you find photography with design. Is it better to know both photo and design, or better to specialize in one?
D: I don’t think the tool ever makes the person; but the more tools you can master, the better. In your own business, specializing isn’t great because you have to hire other people. Design and photography are inter-connected. They have to talk. Photography often dictates layout.
W: Photography plays a huge, huge, huge role in magazines. If photography sucks, your magazine will suck no matter the design. Do layout with the photography there first. If the photo is great, make it work and run everything around it. Let photographers take chances. Usually I just let the photographers do what they want and work off of that.
D: You don’t have to be a photographer, but you need to be able to have an idea of what the feel should be.
Amy: Let’s talk internships and jobs. If people in here want to talk to you and send you their work, what should they do?
W: Send an email to me, weston@austinfitmagazine.com or jobs@austinfitmagazine.com. Include a cover letter, resume and website link for portfolio pieces. Internship positions: web writers, web developers (basic HTML), design intern, ad design intern. You’ll be thrown into the fire, you’ll do grunt work, but you’ll also get published work. Internships are unpaid until after 3 months worth of work.
D: I’m kind of at a chaotic moment – my client list has broadened a lot. Because of that, I often find interns can be more of a burden than a help. My email is – daniel@cityonfire.us. But, I can find a place for you, maybe not with me, maybe with someone else. If you know any HTML-type stuff, I can pretty much find a place for you somewhere. It’s not structured, pay-wise. I may pay you randomly when you do something that’s completely worth while. Stay on my radar so when I have a job and I need someone to do it, I’ll think of you.
Jess: When you look back at your school projects, does anything stick out for you or do you think it’s all complete shit?
D: Some of the stuff definitely sticks out. Sometimes I look back and think ‘God, that’s terrible’ but it all has a value to me. Don’t discount anything you’ve done in school. You have more freedom than you’ll ever have. Do stuff in class so that it’s great, instead of doing it to get an A.
W: Don’t be so hard on yourself. You were excelling at that time. You always learn something. Look back on your projects and try to find something good out of it.
D: The worst thing to do is only go 90% of the way; turning it in when you’re unhappy with it or never fixing it after getting the grade. I still fix things, especially when I think the client’s screwed it up. I fix it and put THAT in my portfolio.
Filed under: Speaker series | Leave a Comment
Event: How To Get A Design Job
SND at Texas is hosting a “How To Get A Design Job” panel this coming Monday, Dec. 1.
Come meet:
- G.W. Babb, director of graphics and design at the Austin American-Statesman
- Weston Carls, art director at Austin Fit Magazine
- Daniel Perlaky, owner of City on Fire, a visual communication and media production firm, and creative director for local magazines (Odic Force Magazine, Study Breaks Magazine)
More info: This creative panel will answer your questions on how to break into the industry as a designer, give you their take on what they look for in portfolios and how you should submit them, tell you what skills today’s designers need to succeed, plus give many more tips and advice to land that creative job you’ve wanted. It’s a great way to learn more about designing as a career and the job hunting process, as well as network with potential employers.
Where: The Chicano Culture in UT’s Student Union, Room 4.206 from 7:30 p.m.-9 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 1. Refreshments will be served.
RSVP: Email sndatx@gmail.com for seating is limited.
Can’t make it: Check out our channel online where it will be livestreamed! We’ll also be live blogging at this address.
Sponsors: This talk is sponsored by the University of Texas at Austin School of Journalism and Communication Council.
We hope you can make the event in person. Please write with any questions amyzerba@yahoo.com.
Filed under: Speaker series | Leave a Comment
Search
