Setting Your Standards High

By Corinne Feight

As I wrap up my last two weeks as an undergraduate student, I’m trying to tie up my loose ends. And though the reality of the situation hasn’t even really sunk in for me yet, I will be leaving Indiana for a bigger metropolis, New York City, come June. I have been dreaming of heading to this city since I first walked into Purdue freshman year, but I never really thought I’d be making this dream a reality. I accepted an internship at an advertising company and hope that this will help with my acclimation to this new city (where I’ve never been before!).

During one of my interviews for this internship position, I spoke extensively with one of the Creative Directors. She made it a point to spend a significant amount of time talking about the companies her business markets for. She was very adamant in making sure that I understood what I was signing on to do and what writing style was expected of me. I respected her immensely for this because she was making sure that I was interested in the field and not just the position. She explained to me how important it was to love what you do and that she would never want me to work in a place that I wouldn’t thrive in.

Taking the knowledge that I learned from that conversation, I want to pass on a bit of last minute advice for all the internship and job seekers. There’s that age-old saying, “Love what you do and you’ll never work a day in your life.” Don’t discredit this. Remember to always set your standards high because you never want to end up in a position that you hate. This means that your productivity and efficiency will be low, which is not only detrimental to you, but also to the company you work for. Life is too short to waste any time doing things that don’t interest you.

There is nothing wrong with knowing what you want, and certainly, nothing wrong with not settling for less. Now, as a graduating senior, I wanted a full-time position. Yet, this Creative Director’s words echoed with me and I accepted this internship position on the basis that because I have never before written for the pharmaceutical industry, I want to test the waters before I commit to a position I am locked into for a couple of years. This decision has been the best one for me, but may not be for you. Just keep in mind that internships are great not only for experience, but also to help show you what you are interested in. I have done many internships that have showed me my affinity for certain aspects of professional writing and design. You learn as you go, and sometimes that’s the most rewarding part.

As I look toward my future, I am excited (and a little bit nervous), but I know that if I keep an open mind and a strong work ethic I will be able to find my niche in no time and begin making a contribution greater than just class assignments and projects. I am ready to get my feet wet in this new industry and city and hope that when looking for internships and jobs upon graduation, you, too, can be confident in what you want to pursue and keep your standards high.

Saying Arrivederci

By Justin Villa


So it's time for me to move onto bigger and better things as they quite often say. And I am proud to say that for once in my life despite not knowing what my future will look like, I'm excited and not scared. Maybe it has to do with me just growing over time, or actually incorporating all the education I obtained during the course of my time at Purdue. But honestly I think it comes most from the fact that I am now more aware of who I am and what I want more than ever before.

While I continue the job search beyond my graduation in a few weeks, the one thing I won't let happen is for me to become sad or feeling hopeless just because I don't have a career right out the gates. I am fine with this and have accepted this in the past few weeks. But one thing that is pushing me and should hopefully be pushing you is utilizing the knowledge not only from a Purdue education, but also your time at Purdue.

Here are some of the things I'll be reflecting on during my job hunt process to keep my spirits up in a difficult time.

Know who you are  

I can't stress how important it is to know who you are not only during academic times, but at all times. Going into situations where you're asked about your qualities or strengths and not being able to respond is a nightmare. It doesn't mean knowing every aspect of your life ever, but instead being able to present and sell yourself. Know your strengths and weaknesses, have goals that are obtainable and know where to start to reach them . Besides can you expect others to get to know you and see your worth when you can't?

Resources, use them

Purdue has a gigantic list of resources to use such as professors, workers, faculty, students, and centers. I have already talked to certain professors and bosses and gotten letters of recommendation, and its not too late to even approach some this week or next week. Too often services such as career help and preparation go unused by a majority of students. I say no more. Go talk and mingle and make connections, you never know where they will take you.

Show what you have

No doubt during your time as a student you presented some amazing skills of yours maybe in print form, maybe in 3D form. Now is the time to bring all your great works together into a nice neat compact portfolio. This will help you get the upper hand when job hunting. It allows for others to easily see your work and shows organizational skills too!! I plan on collecting all my files during finals week and seeing which better represent who I am to future employees.

Keep Moving

Finally, I will leave you with this final tidbit of information. Don't give up just because times get hard or it seems like there is little hope left. Life is about making mistakes and failing, just so you can learn and grow as a person from this situations. Your dream job won't be available right away most the time, so go for those lower jobs that allow for upper movement, you'll learn more along the way than you could possibly imagine.

It's strange writing my final blog, even more strange to say this though, Goodbye Purdue.

Graphic Design Portfolios & Resumes (Part 2)

By Sarah-Jean Murray

In my last blog post I discussed some differences between what makes a good resume and a bad resume. This time around, I will be talking about portfolios and what makes an effective portfolio. There are three important things to keep in mind when creating your portfolio site.

1. Navigation - Can the viewer navigate your site easily? Can they find what they're looking for? Keep your navigation clean and simple so that visitors to your site do not have to search for it.

2. Work - Obviously you will need a page to display your work. You want to keep the gallery portion of your project page very clean and simple too. If you want to separate your pieces such as print and web, certainly do so but don't get confusing with it. You want clear titles so that the viewer knows what they are looking at.

3. About You - This is your portfolio, include some information about yourself. You can also include your resume on the site so that potential employers who find your site have easy access to it. Keep the about you section short and concise. There is no need to ramble on about your childhood, simply talk about how you got to where you are today, what inspires you, and where you hope to go.

Now for the examples of portfolio sites!

Foundry Collective



I think this site is a really great example of a portfolio site. Now, this isn't a personal website but still take note! The navigation is really easy to see and easy to understand. There is a fantastic use of a grid which makes the web page look very organized and clean. The page is not too simple that the viewer would become bored but rather entices the eye with large, interesting images. This is the perfect balance between image and text.

Buffalo



Another great example of using the grid system but in a new and interesting way. The site uses a great sense of symmetry to create a clean, site. The color scheme really pops against the light background and the design uses the black logo and type to create hierarchy. The navigation of course is also easy to see and neatly organized. Each image takes the viewer to a page where they can learn more about the project. Remember, when creating a website, you want to emphasize your work above all.

As you can see from the above examples, they kept their portfolio pieces the main priority. Keeping a clear grid structure will always make the design look clean and sharp. Remember to keep plenty of white space around your images and text and use big thumbnails.

This is also my last blog at this LACD internship. It's been really fun to be able to write about myself and things that interest me and inspire me. I hope I've peaked your interest and kept you entertained. If you want to keep reading my blogs you can read them at http://sjeanmurray.wordpress.com/

Remember to always follow your dreams, no matter what and BOILER UP.

Peace Out Purdue, I'm onto the Job Hunt

By Katy Claucherty

How has it already been four years here at Purdue? It feels like I just unloaded all of my stuff into Wiley (my first home here) last semester. But here I am, with graduation right around the corner... and no solid job lined up. This summer I’ll be doing an unpaid internship with Treefrog Marketing and Communication - I even get to work with the lovely Samantha Werry again! I’m truly excited for this opportunity – I get to stay on campus, work with a Christian company, and continue working with clients on brand management, social media, and marketing! That still leaves me without money for rent (anyone have a spare couch?) but I haven’t given up! I’m searching for jobs every day and getting my resume out there. So lucky you, I’m about to unload some wonderful words of wisdom I’ve learned while on the job hunt.

Don’t Snub Opportunities

Every graduate hopes to leave Purdue with their dream job lined up. I hate to burst your bubble, but that’s not the case for many students. I’ve got an unpaid internship – but I’m doing it because I really want to get involved with Treefrog Marketing and the internship has the possibility of turning into a paying job. So now I’m hunting for a local job that will allow me to pay bills. So my next piece of advice: apply for JOBS not COMPANIES. By this, I mean if you find a marketing job at a car dealership, why not apply and see where it goes? I’ve been applying to a ton of companies all over Lafayette hoping to find an opportunity.

Get Your Portfolio Up-to-Date

Portfolios are a great way to showcase your skills and personal brand. Update your portfolio with

·         About Me

·         Volunteer Work

·         Design Samples

·         Resume (tailored to the job you’re applying for)

·         Reference Names

·         Sample Writings

·         Sample Presentations

·         Contact Information

Make sure your samples are recent work and your information is current. All of the materials in your portfolio should be directed specifically to the job you’re applying for. Maintain your personal brand throughout your portfolio, using colors, fonts, and experiences that shows who you are professionally and personally. Take your portfolio to all of your interviews and go through it with your interviewer, proving you have quality experiences under your belt. Not many people bring polished portfolios to interviews, so you’re sure to stand out from the sea of candidates.

Network, Network, Network

Network with everyone you meet. Professors, advisors, other students, employers, co-workers, friends of your family – when you’re looking for a job, take advantage of the connections you have! Get the word out that you’re looking for opportunities and contact everyone in your network to see who knows of any openings at their company.

Just Keep Hunting

Everyone has seen Finding Nemo, right? So take a cue from Dory and “just keep hunting, just keep hunting” until you find a job! Search for jobs on LinkedIn, on company websites, CCO Express, through your network connections. It’s possible that you’ll get a job that you don’t want to stay in for long, so keep applying and don’t be afraid to take advantage of a new opportunity!

It’s been real Purdue – thanks for four years of unforgettable memories! Boilermaker for life! BOILER UP!

A Final Farewell

By: Samantha Werry

Being a senior in Visual Communication Design, I am sad, yet happy to say I AM GRADUATING! Due to that, this post is my final post EVER. I am sorry that none of you will get to hear the amazing advice from the wonderful Samantha Werry anymore, but there will be some new interns coming in next year who have some great advice and talent. Since this is my last post, I wanted to focus on how to wrap everything up.

Besides the whole, leaving Purdue thing, I know I will also be leaving an amazing team who has helped one another through thick and thin. Some of you will come to this point in your life and have to say goodbye to employers and team members. When this day comes, always try to do your best to leave on a good note. Make sure you get and save all of their information for you to contact them in the future. You will never know when you will run into them again or need anything from them in the future! Make sure you also actually stay in touch. Send them an email, Facebook message, LinkedIn post, Tweet or even call them every once in a while. It shows to them and to future employers that you will be loyal to where you work. You also never know if you will end up working with them again! I know I am going to be working with the wonderful Katy Claucherty again this summer!

Before you leave, obtain work you have done to help build your portfolio. Always leave with the original files because you will never know if you will need them again. It is always a good idea to have your boss or manager write you a letter of recommendation. It will help you stand out from the rest and help you realize what they thought your strengths were. A letter of recommendation will also be a great addition to your portfolio.

Overall, if you end everything on a good note, it will help you in the future. Networking and staying in touch with everyone will help you grow. I am sad to be leaving Purdue and the LACD team, but I am happy to be starting a new chapter in my life. My final piece of advice is to keep working hard. Never give up. You will end up right where you need to be in life. GOODBYE EVERYONE!!

Responsibility to Uphold

By: Janna Parke

Last night, I learned a lot about what type of leader I am, and who I can be! Let me catch you up on the position I am talking about.

I am in the Entrepreneurship program here at Purdue, which has been very helpful in my knowledge of starting a business, financials, and teamwork. As a communication major, this program has given me a different aspect of education that I originally did not experience. On another note, at the beginning of the semester we were placed into teams of four people from various majors. On this team, we are given many tasks, assignments, and have been creating an original and new business venture.

When being put into group projects, I am always nervous that I will be stuck with a “bad” group. I define a bad group as students who are not willing to help and do not contribute ideas or time. I was pleased to find that my team of entrepreneurs meshed well together and is well rounded. As far as the team goes, we established our places within the team early in the semester, and I found myself in the leadership position. Although this is not where I originally wanted to be, I discovered that I am one who can organize, plan, and delegate in the most effective way, while having full support of eager team members.

While the semester has been going smoothly, last night our team hit a bump in the road. One member could not make it to a meeting, and therefore was unable to contribute to one of our last projects. After working for about an hour, the team decided that it was only fair to ask the other member to present the work on the upcoming Tuesday. Not only did the absent team member not want to do this, he basically refused. As the leader, this put me in a tough position to handle at 12:00am, through text. In order to keep all team members on a level playing field, it was only fair that he present, therefore we all put in an equal amount of effort.

Although it was hard, I decided to stick to our original plan of having him present, although he was not happy. If this happened a year ago, I feel that I would have taken things into my own hands and done the presentation myself. The reason I did not do this is because I trust my team members to put fourth the effort that I put fourth. Being a leader in this class does not mean doing everything, it means being able to take the team’s strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities, and creating a successful business venture. I learned that I may feel bad and it may be hard, but sometimes other people need to take responsibility. When you are on a team when I am designated the leader, I expect nothing less than 100% effort! Now that it is the end of my sophomore year, I think I am finding my specific leadership style.

I know you are probably wondering how the presentation went….

How to Write a Press Release

By: Maureen Corbett

For all my fellow PR students out there, the idea of writing your first press release can be daunting. The first time I had to write one was when I was an intern at Advocate Condell Medical Center. I was a pre-com student who had just finished my freshman year of college, and I had no other experience in this area other than basic communication theory that I had learned in my introductory courses. I was told that the press release I had to write would be published on all the local news media outlets, so naturally I felt quite a bit of pressure about performing this task. In order to alleviate my readers from feeling the same stress I experienced, here are a few basic tips that will help make your first press release a hit.

Layout

Check out my first press release above! While it may look quite boring and simple to the average viewer, there are several key elements to writing a press release when it comes to its design. First, you have to make sure that the proper contact information is at the very top. You can't forget to include the name of the company you work for, and a title that accurately explains the main idea of your press release. The date and your company's logo are also must-haves when creating the layout of your first press release.

Intro Paragraph

This is the most important part of a press release. Think about it this way: if someone were to only read the first paragraph you had written, you want all the important information contained within the first few sentences. Make sure to answer the questions "Who?" "What?" "Where?" "When?" "Why?" and "How?" right away so your audience knows exactly what you are talking about right from the beginning. Try to make this as concise as possible, your readers are busy people so give them all the facts they need to know and nothing more.

Cut Out the Fluff

In my previous writing courses, I was always taught to use descriptive adjectives and imagery to capture my audience's attention. Forget all that for a press release. Make sure you stick strictly to the facts. Your readers are interested in your press release for its information purposes, and they can draw their own conclusions about the topic later. 

Boilerplate

This is a short, 2-5 sentences summarizing the press release. It could go into more detail about the author (which in this case it you!), the details about the company your work for, or include more information about who should be contacted with comments or questions. Every press release has a boilerplate and most companies have a uniform template that is always used, so make sure you talk to your boss first about what they want included. 

With these quick tips, all your fears should be alleviated when writing your first press release! As a PR student you will probably write thousands of press releases in your life, so be prepared to master this skill in no time at all.

Finding Ways to Let Loose

By Corinne Feight

I think that everyone by now feels the pressure of another semester coming to a close. For many of us Liberal Arts majors this means that final projects are bearing down on us and we’re scrambling to try and pull something together we’re not ashamed to show people and are maybe slightly proud of. How is it that one whole semester never seems like enough time? Regardless, as we’ve probably figured out through various other situations in our life (heartbreak, burnt food, and childhood, in general) we can’t turn back time or slow it down, so the semester plows on ahead. Still, it’s important that we having something to turn to when the steam fills up our heads threatening to take them clean off our shoulders.

Being a Resident Assistant at Windsor means that I have entered the stretch when my superiors are trying to prepare the rest of our staff and I for all of our residents’ stresses. This means that we get a head start on the worrying…lucky us. However, we had a speaker come into our staff meeting last week to talk to us about finding what works to combat this looming mental breakdown. Where are the places we go or the outlets we turn to? I was surprised by how many of the answers given I could relate to and thought I would pass a little of this stress-free knowledge off here. Take my advice or leave it, but I hope you find what works for you.

1. Exercise. This is the age-old recommendation, right? “You’ll feel better if you hit the gym,” we always hear. Yet, there might actually be some grounding to this theory. It not only provides a distraction from what’s worrying you, but it also allows you to get out your frustrations (in a healthy way). The endorphins exercising gives you also boost your productivity, thus making you able to get more things done, not less. Additionally, we all don’t really have any viable excuses since it had been so gorgeous outside. Now I’m not saying you need to sign up for the closest marathon. 1) You don’t need to take on any more commitments and 2) don’t overdo it. Try, instead, jogging outside or running the stairs at Ross-Ade. You’ll figure it out.


2. Listen to Music. If any of you know me well enough, there is almost never a moment during the day that I’m not blasting music from my room or listening to it through my headphones. I have created a perpetual soundtrack for my life that never stops playing. This is my de-stressor. No matter what I’m doing, what task I’m working on, or where I’m traveling to next, music allows me to feel better about it and relax a little. Now, the songs you listen to will be your own, but each of us has that playlist or band that vibes with us the best, and even on our darkest days brightens us a little. Use music as your constant companion. I also like this method because I can be doing other things at the same time so it’s not counterproductive…unless you let yourself to indulge in the occasional (and necessary) dance session.


3. Vent Sessions. Who said our friends and family weren’t good for anything? Use them to get your worries off your chest. So many people keep all of their emotions bottled up, which can only make things seem way more severe or stressful than they might actually be. Take a break and talk to the people closest to you. Chances are they have gone through a similar experience and might have some advice for you or are just good to sit and listen. Either way, at the end of it, you no longer feel like you are going to explode and have most likely mentally built a plan to accomplish what you need to do. Talking things out has a way of helping you see things more clearly. Don’t take this easy outlet for granted.

Again, I’m not trying to force my advice on the masses. I just hope that on the brink of finals (and for some of us Dead Week, which is not so dead) you find something that works for you and helps you get away from all of the stressors in your life. Quicker than you know, all of these projects and exams will be over and us college kids can go back to doing what we do best…procrastinating and doing absolutely nothing. Hellooo summer.

Be a Critical Thinker

With the final weeks of school beginning, it is more important now than ever to plan for the future if you have not done so already. When planning, remember though to pay attention to skills and knowledge gained over the course of your college days. Most importantly pay attention to your critical thinking skills. USA Today published an article recently that states technical skills are no longer the only skills required.

Too often as Liberal Arts students, we hear others joke that our degrees will never get us to a great job that will make us successful, but this is definitely not the truth. In fact, its the skills we learn as Liberal Arts students that set us apart from other perspective workers.

Take the following names into consideration. astronaut Sally King, Justice Clarence Thomas, and the youngest anchor on MSNBC, Chris Hayes. They all graduated with a degree based in Liberal Arts and are excelling at excellent careers due to skills.

Liberal Arts degrees offer skills necessary to be ready for the world. We are taught to observe and analyze situations. Using these critical skills will allow for the problem-solving nature to come alive. For instance, anthropologists observe societies all over the world and use analysis to help companies provide goods that cater to that societies needs. Employers nowadays look for people with critical skills, who can listen, and be open to other views as this how innovative ideas and products are formed. A Liberal Arts degree offers these skills, so don't fret next time says your degree is useless, instead remember the many useful skills learned that will put you above the rest!

Here's a link to the great article!
http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/columnist/kay/2013/04/06/at-work-analytic-thinking/2054965/

Graphic Design Portfolios & Resumes

By Sarah-Jean Murray

I have browsed the internet for portfolio and resume design inspiration many, many times. I have read countless posts showing fun and innovative resumes. I have seen so many crazy, over the top resumes and portfolio designs that I've lost track. Why do designers do this? The most important thing I've learned in class is from a design professor who absolutely adores crazy and colorful things. His designs are over the top and gorgeous and he's not afraid to break boundaries. However, when it came time for the class to create their portfolio sites he said something very important to us,

"Let the work speak for itself."

As designers, we are tempted to throw as much skill and talent as we can manage at potential employers. We want them to notice our work and notice how good we are at it. However, crazy resumes and portfolios are not the way to go. The most beautiful, innovative designs I've seen are from designers who use their resources to make their work the most important thing. They realize that potential employers are not there to look at their website but to look at their work. They want to see how you develop ideas and create innovative solutions to design problems.

I'll break down a couple of examples of good and bad resumes and website designs and explain what is perfection and what is not. In this post I'll break down some resumes and then later in the month move on to portfolio sites.

Bad Resumes

This is a fantastic design piece, however this is a bad resume. There is so much information on the page that the eye doesn't know where to look. A resume should have a sense of flow and a sense of hierarchy however this doesn't highlight any specific points and the information gets lost in the design. I'm not saying that a resume should be thrown together in a word document but it should be clear and easy to understand. Obviously this designer is really good at what she does, however the important information that a potential employer would be looking for is not clear. Resumes are no place for an infographic.

Again with the infographics. Employers will not want to dissect everything on your resume to make sense of the information. It's too much work, they'll move on to the next resume. Most recruiters only look at a resume for about 20 seconds. Of course this will vary between job types, but that is a very small amount of time to gather information. How much information about this person will they be able to read in 20 seconds?



Good Resumes

Easy to read does not mean boring. You can make your resume clear to understand but still insert a little bit of personality into it. Take this example, the information is separated into clear columns, The most important information is at the top and there is fantastic use of type throughout the resume. You want to use the type to create hierarchy information and highlight important information. There is a good use of white space throughout the document so nothing is too cramped and there is a good break up of text so that the information is not running together.

Another clear, easy to read resume. Again, just because the resume is clean and easy to understand does not mean it's boring. This designer has displayed that she understands layout and typography really well and uses color to emphasize certain points of the resume. The only problem I could potentially see with this resume is that the blue might fade out a lot if it gets copied which could make the type hard to read. However, the overall design is very strong.










So the next time you get the temptation to throw all of your design talent onto your resume, stop. Think about what the most important information is and what you want the recruiter or potential employer to get from your resume. You only have a short amount of time to make an impression. Make it count.

The Art of the Cover Letter

by Katy Claucherty

In my last blog, “Breaking Down the Resume,” I talked about how to tailor your resume to a specific job description and how to make your resume stand out with personal branding. We also looked at how to include a link to your digital portfolio so the recruiter or interviewer can see more of your skills. So you have a perfectly edited and tailored resume – now comes the dreaded cover letter. Do you know what’s really supposed to go into a cover letter? Believe it or not, a bad cover letter can make or break your application.

Here’s my most recent cover letter as an example:

Your Contact Info

This is a great place to continue your personal brand! I included both my color scheme and Jenna Sue font (downloaded off of www.dafont.com), as well as my contact information displayed across the top.  By keeping the same heading as my resume, it creates continuity across documents, as well as showing the recruiter/interviewer what my personal brand is.

Their Contact Info

The next step is including the recruiter/HR manager’s information. If you don’t have a direct link to the company from a career fair or networking event, research online or even call the company’s office. Explain that you are applying for the (insert job title) position, and you were wondering who to address the cover letter to. Make sure you include their name, position, company, and address.

Dear…

Always start your cover letter by saying “Dear Mr. Wilson,” or “Dear Ms. Wilson,” – never assume a lady is married (“Dear Mrs. Wilson,”). If you don’t know, always use “Ms.” – not “Miss”.

Paragraph #1

The first paragraph should include 2 main points. #1. Tell them why you are writing the letter. “I am writing this letter to inform you of my interest in the (insert job title) position at (insert company name).” This tells the recipient that you know what job you’re applying for. #2 Tell them why you want to work for their company, and if you have any networking connections within the company. In-house references are the best because companies value the employees that they’ve already hired.

Paragraph #2

In the second paragraph, demonstrate why you are qualified for the position. Pick out one experience that relates to this job and pull specific examples to talk about. In this cover letter, I talked about how my two current social media internships have been teaching me a lot about PR and SEO strategies, client interaction, brand voice, and creating social media strategies – because that’s what the job description I was applying for wanted. I always end my second paragraph stating “I have no doubt I can benefit the (insert company name) team while thriving in a (insert work culture) environment and continuing to learn more about (insert job skills).”

Paragraph #3

End your cover letter by placing yourself in the position. For example, I say “I look forward to joining the (insert company name) family!” Don’t forget to include your contact information in this paragraph. I even include the website address to my professional portfolio so that they have access to it on both my resume and cover letter. Last but certainly not least, thank them for their time and for the opportunity to work with their company.

Sincerely…

Conclude your cover letter by including a kind closing word, such as “Sincerely”. Don’t forget to include your name at the bottom of your letter.

General Rules

·         Use specific keywords found in the job description in both your resume and cover letter.

·         Use block formatting.

·         Double space your paragraphs.

·         Align everything to the left.

·         Don’t rely on spell check – double check everything on your own and ask a buddy to review your resume and cover letter as well.

·         Don’t say “my resume is attached.”

·         Don’t summarize your entire resume into the body of your letter.

·         Save your resume and cover letter as a PDF so your formatting will not be lost.

·         After sending in your resume and cover letter, wait 7-10 days before following up with an email.

As always, if you need help with your cover letter, reach out to one of the LACD interns, Peer Partners, or Lisa Snodgrass! We’re more than happy to critique your resume and cover letter for you.

5 Tips for Design Students

By: Samantha Werry

All students in or going into graphic design should know these simple tips. Some of these tips come from a recent graduate out in the work world who is now a reviewer. He gives us fellow designers some great tips and suggestions to keep our design ways fresh and new. Like myself, designers always need to stay on top of the design world and practices out there. These 5 tips are just a small way of improving our knowledge of the design world.

Tip 1: Do not be afraid of the web

Internet development is growing! From my experience, we have only had a little work with web development, but I loved it! I am one of the few who actually WANTS to code! The Internets will not bite, I swear! The majority of classes out there are for some sort of print, but not much web. I know Purdue has web classes, but you do not have to learn only in school. But a book and take a crack at it! It is really important to at least understand how to design for the web, even if you cannot code a web page. Also, you absolutely NEED an updated portfolio website to showcase your work.

Tip 2: Do not be afraid to experiment

Go crazy! Make crazy, out-there, weird, scribble type, violate hierarchy rules, break the grid, and include hand drawn elements with vector elements. In classes, you are learning design principals so why not break them to see what is really wrong? Learning how they are wrong is a great way to go about things as well to really see why the right way is the “right way.” Design school is when you get the most freedom. You are the client and have to please yourself with the help of your teachers. Experiment with different design styles. This will help you learn and grow as a designer.

Tip 3: Always have business cards, and always carry them with you

It is a missed opportunity if someone comes up to you at an art show and wants to learn more about your designs and you cannot give them something to help them find more of your work. Business cards are so cheap and easy to make! You can get 100-250 cards for about $20. Keep them in your purse, wallet, portfolio, car, or even your pocket! If someone comes to you and another designer and you do not have a card but she does, guess what? You will not get the job.

Tip 4: Take your class projects further

It cannot hurt! Doing this will only further your skills as a designer and at the same time make you stand out as an over achiever to further employees. Say you were assigned a magazine cover and spread, why not design the rest of the magazine and make it look as complete as possible? Take a logo design assignment and further the identity and design a website. A goal every designer should have is to take a project farther. Always have extra examples than not enough. It shows you are passionate about what you are doing and that you want to achieve something greater. Do not be afraid to mention that you went above and beyond and took something further in a job interview.

Tip 5: Make a habit of talking about your work

If you are a graduating senior like myself, you need to make a habit of talking about your portfolio. Go to your teachers and ask for a portfolio review. It is a great way to practice for job interviews as well as learn about what needs to be improved in your portfolio. Also, practice around non-designers. A lot of the times when you are looking for jobs, HR departments will interview you and they will not understand designer lingo. So it is always best to practice around multiple different types of people.

Overall, designers need to do their best to stay on top of current design trends. Look up new information, do not be afraid to learn, and further yourself anyway you can. The best designers take an extra step to make them stand out in any way. Do not be afraid to do what needs to be done.

Information from: http://www.nikibrown.com/designoblog/2009/04/23/5-tips-for-design-students/