Handling the Business Side of Design

written by Tanvir Rahman

Many people dream about owning their own business one day and many designers have that dream. Most designers however, fail to realize just how much goes into owning and running a business. Here are some things to think about, not only for designers but everyone, when starting your own business.

Education

Designers tend not to be prepared for the business side of things after they get their degree so it is good to do some research and get educated on what starting a business is like. Looking into training is beneficial such as coursework in math, drawing up contracts, marketing to gain clients, and customer service.

Do it All

When you have a startup business you will find yourself in more than one job. You have to take care of your employees, clients, and networks. HR manager, customer service rep, sales manager, and social media marketer are examples of some things the boss has to do when starting up. It is important to realize that many of your skills are going to be called upon.

Marketing

One of the most important parts of starting up your own business is how you market your business. Designers are lucky because they can create many marketing materials themselves eliminating the need to outsource. Even if you are not a designer there are still many easy and useful ways to market yourself. Building your social media a great and quick way to build your brand and get it out to the world and best of all it is typically free. Networking goes a long way and building relationships helps spread your name around. Referrals and recommendations can really boost credibility and client retention.

Starting a business can be scary but making the right preparation can help greatly. Owning a business is great for designers but they many are not as prepared as they should be. With the right knowledge and preparation it should much easier to handle the business side of design. 

reference: http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/handling-the-business-side-of-design/

Summer Plans

written by Tanvir Rahman

As the semester draws to a close many of us are thinking of our summer plans and it is never too early to start planning. Here are some things you can do to be productive and make the most out of your summer.

Internship/Part-time Job

Getting an internship or job is one of the best things you can do for your summer. It is important, especially these days, to get some sort of experience in your desired field and school can only teach so much. Getting a real-life experience is great for learning new things and really experiencing your field.

Working Out

Summer is great opportunity to get in shape and exercise. Take advantage of your new free time to get into shape and really focus on your body and health.

Going Back Home

Summer usually means going back to the family and hometown. Take this opportunity to spend time with family and go on a vacation. Take advantage of time you have now to visit family because you may not be able to as easily depending on your career and location.

Summer School

It’s always good to check into academics. Summer can be a good opportunity to catch up on credits or get ahead.

Get Organized

Summer is also a good time to refresh and restart. Look into social media, organizations you’re involved in, and other things that need to be refreshed. Summer is a good time to plan for the following semester and set goals for what you want to accomplish. Get your resume, portfolio, and professional skills ready for the new year.

Relax!

Summer is also about relaxing so make sure to make time to do things that make you happy. Spend time with friends, family, or just have a night in at home. You should be productive during the summer but remember to have fun too! Summer is a good chance to travel and do something new!

These are just some of the things you can do during the summer but the possibilities can be endless. Take time to think about yourself and what you need to do. Think about what you want to accomplish and you can have great summer plans!

reference: http://blog.chegg.com/2012/06/03/10-ways-to-be-productive-during-the-summer/

Do More by Doing Nothing

written by Tanvir Rahman

We are always told that in order to achieve our goals and success we need to do more, however sometimes it is better to nothing at all. We are already busy and we cannot put more useless time wasting things on our plate. It is all about being productive and eliminating the things that can damage our productivity.

Anger

Anger is one of those things that will only damage your productivity. Some people might say it is good to get angry sometimes but it can also be that emotion that takes you over the edge. You have settle down and get perspective through patience and time. Sometimes when you’re angry, it is better to do nothing.

Paranoia

Paranoia is another emotion that can blind our productivity. Thinking about the worst things happening or what can go wrong will only make you worry and expect bad results. Sometimes we picture the worst things that will most likely never happen.

Tired

Doing nothing is the perfect thing to do when you are tired. You cannot effectively work if you don’t have the energy for it. Getting sleep and keeping up with hygiene is the best way to improve productivity and you will feel great. Stay away from work and get some rest.

These are just some things that doing nothing can be the remedy. Next time you feel like you are burnt out, losing productivity it’s best to just step back, sit, and do nothing. Get away from work and get yourself back together to that calm state of mind and you will be feeling great. Doing too much can burn us out and sometimes if we can do more by doing nothing. 

references: http://99u.com/articles/20576/5-ways-to-do-nothing-and-become-more-productive

Adjusting to a new City

written by Tanvir Rahman

Getting a new job after graduation may mean moving to a new city as well for many people. Adjusting to a new life with a new job in a new city can be hard, but there are things you can do to make it easy and fun!

A new city means new possibilities. It is important to be open to new things and explore what your new environment has to offer. Look into community events and festivals that you can go to. Explore your interests and what your city has related to those interests. To give you an example, one my interests is dance. If I were to move to a new city I would look into dance workshops, clubs, and other events like those. Staying in touch with your interests is a good way to meet new people and get comfortable with your environment. Even if your city doesn’t offer exactly what you like, there may be things to try that you would have never expected to do.

Moving to a new life in a new city also means leaving behind your old life. While it is important to stay in touch with old friends and contacts, communication should be somewhat limited so that you’re not relying too much on that. Keep up with current trends, gossip, and news through regular communication but an excessive amount will only make you wish you were there more. It’s important to keep in touch, but also remember that you have a new change you need to adjust to.

Being in a new city also means that you can be a new person. It’s good to try and build a reputation over time but be careful not to get too comfortable too fast. You will want to build networks and connections and get yourself established in your new job and city. Starting a new chapter in your life is a good opportunity to grow and learn new things. Don’t try to become the big fish in the small pond but remember you are there because you have something to offer.

Having something to look forward to can also help you get through the tough days. Look for events, hobbies, or opportunities and put them in your calendar.  Whether the event is big or small it is good to have something to look forward to, making your time in your city more enjoyable.

A new city means new experiences, you just have to put yourself out there and do some exploring. You never know what you can find. Stick with your interests or find new things to enjoy. Meet new people and work hard at your new job. A new environment can make you grow and learn so make the best of it. Taking advantage of new opportunities will make it that much easier adjusting to a new city!

reference: http://blog.brazencareerist.com/2008/07/25/5-ways-to-adjust-faster-to-your-new-city/

How to Effectively Handle Email

written by Tanvir Rahman

Email has become a primary source of communication for most people these days and it can be easy to become overwhelmed by the number of emails in your inbox. In your career you’re going to be dealing with many clients and communication through email so it’s important to be able to handle your inbox effectively.

Value

If your inbox has a high amount of mail, then it would be a good idea to prioritize the important emails from unimportant ones. If you can be doing something of value do not waste time with the emails that you are simply sending a reply to. You will just create more mail for yourself and not get much work done. Miscellaneous emails can get in your way as well. Delete messages that don’t require a response and/or from strangers. The key here is to make sure your essential job functions are being completed.

Limits

People can quickly get caught up in their inbox and a quick run through can turn into hours of lost time. Give yourself a limit on how long you will be looking at emails. Watching videos, reading articles, or any other learning should be set aside for later. Keep a folder of a to watch/to read list that you can go back to later.

Tough Emails

There are also the occasional tough emails, the ones that will demand a reply but also require some time for some thoughtful reply. Try saving those for later in the day so that you can quickly clear out your inbox and lighten your load. Another option is to skip email all together. You could also simply call or stop by in person to get immediate answers and not have to write that extensive email, saving yourself a conversation that could last the entire day or week.

Organization

Emails are also very easy to get cluttered and lost. If you have emails you need to save for later or have emails coming in everyday, it can be easy to become lost in your mail. There are many email clients out there so it is important to find the best one that works for you. Personally, I use Gmail because I find it the easiest way to stay organized. In Gmail you can set up different layouts of how you want your email prioritized. I have mine setup so that the ones labeled most important show up first. Gmail also allows you use labels and folders. Color coded labels help me stay organized visually and helps me access emails quickly. My Gmail is set up so that I have a group for important emails, and groups for my different organizations I am involved with. The rest of my emails follow. This can all be setup in the settings of your Gmail.

Start exploring to find what works best for you so that you can effectively handle emails!

refernce: http://99u.com/articles/19231/how-effective-people-handle-email

Using Instagram for Insta-Success

written by Tanvir Rahman

Instragram has become one of the top social media apps in the game right now and more and more businesses, artists, and freelancers are taking advantage of this phenomenon. Popular users are gaining followers by the thousands and finding a lot of success and networking opportunities. The best thing about Instagram is that it shares pictures instantly and easily from your mobile phone. What I enjoy about Instagram is the photo sharing because you get a clear visual of what’s going on and a picture is worth a thousand words! Many professionals are using this to their advantage to gain followers, customers, and networks.

Window-Shopping

Instagram is a great way to showcase products, merchandise, or even just services. One thing most people don’t know is that Instagram is also a website where photos are highlighted and organized. This is a great easy way to set up a portfolio to showcase work. Instagram has made it very easy to scroll through pictures and view all you have to offer. Viewers can see what your profile is about in a matter of minutes making it a quick and easy viewing tool.

Behind the Scenes

Instagram is also a great way to take pictures of you or your employees working hard on that next project. Give your followers a sneak peak of what’s to come and get them excited for that next product. One of my favorite clothing brands always posts pictures of their upcoming designs which always makes me wanting to see more. Getting a look at what goes on behind the scenes also helps connect with your followers or customers. It invites your consumers into your daily life helps connect with them.

Sales/Contests

Instagram is also an easy way to hold contests and spread your brands name. Having people like, comment, and/or share a photo you post and then choosing a random winner is an easy way to get more people aware of your brand and it helps build incentive to follow you. It is also a free way to get your followers to spread your brand’s name. Posting coupons or sales is also a good way to get your followers attention. Active users are on Instagram almost every day and this is an easy way to let them know of any sales or benefits.

Networking

Instagram also allows the ability to share and explore pictures from all over the world. There are similar accounts to yours and exploring them is very easy through the use of hashtags. Using appropriate tags in your posts can help boost awareness of your profile and lead to more followers from all over the world. I remember earlier this year I helped an artist from Georgia set up her exhibition and she posted on her Instagram asking any Indiana followers to come help. About 10 people showed up the same day. Instagram is also a good way to explore other talented people or businesses. It is a good way to network and find people that have things in common with you. From my personal experience, I found a graphic designer from Argentina whose work I really enjoy. I get a lot of advice and inspiration from him, just through Instagram. Most businesses are public so it is easy to follow and connect with them.

So Instagram has many potential ways to build your brand. It is a great and easy way to connect with your consumers or followers and gain more recognition. Instagram is unique in that it is a photo sharing service all over world with so much to explore. Instagram is a great way to gain more consumers and connect with other businesses like yours with professionals from all around the world. There are many great ways to use Instagram for insta-success!

references: http://www.businessbee.com/resources/marketing/social-media-marketing/top-4-ways-instagram-can-help-your-business/

Death in the Workplace

written by Tanvir Rahman

As depressing as the topic of death is, it is something that can come quite unexpectedly which is why I wanted to write something about it. It is especially hard to handle when dealing with losing someone from work. Death in the workplace is hard to handle for some people and it is something people don’t usually have a plan for. I think it is important for professionals to be able to respond to as many situations possible. The loss of a co-worker is one of those things that can blindside an employee or supervisor.

Help Yourself

The first step when dealing with the loss of a co-worker is to make sure you yourself are in a good state to help others. The recovery starts with yourself before you can get back to work and help others recover. It is important to find an outlet whether that be a friend, family, or mentor that you can call on. This can be a stressful time so it is important to do healthy things like reading, exercising, meditating, or whatever best relaxes you. It is also important to give yourself time to grief but you should try to keep your routine as normal as possible. The death of an employee can bring on many emotions but providing yourself with the best self-care is important to prepare you for the steps ahead.

Help your Staff

Not only as a leader, but as a member of your workplace, it is important to help others around you deal with this difficult time. If you’re a leader it is good to gather everyone up and let them know of the passing of their co-worker. There will be an array of emotions. Allow your workers time to sit and talk. Your co-workers are going through the same hardship so it is good to share and reflect. Co-workers can use each other as community support. This is an important time to come together and help each other.

Pay your Respects

After the passing has processed, there should be an opportunity for closure. Things like holding a ceremony or planting a remembrance tree as a group. There should be some sort of event held as a group so that everyone can say their goodbyes. The key element here is to provide your team with some peace. Plan with the rest of your co-workers what works best.

Business as Usual

Getting back to work can hard, but it is important to keep moving on. Motivation and productivity will most likely be low for the next few weeks, but being patient and understanding will benefit the team. There are also many technological issues to deal with. Changing voice mails, forwarding emails, delegating work are all some of the little things that need to be taken care of as you would for a terminated employee. The former employee’s office space can be a sensitive issue as well. It would be helpful to brainstorm as a group ways to change the space. The goal here is to establish a comforting but appropriate change. The workplace can be a constant reminder to some people so it would be beneficial to communicate with your staff what changes would be best.

Conclusion

Overall it is important to stay as sensitive and sympathetic as you can reasonably be. Whatever you do, keep your staff or co-workers in mind. Do not leave your employee’s things untouched but also do not suddenly get a replacement. Eventually the company will get back to normal or even adopt a new normal. The leader of the organization is crucial in helping workers get through this ordeal. Although there are your co-workers to worry about, you should focus on getting yourself recovered as well. Do what is best for you. Find ways to relax and mourn. Remember that you have a group of co-workers dealing with the same issue and they can used as a community. Death is not an easy thing to prepare for but having some sort of plan in mind can ease the ordeal of death in the workplace. 

references: http://www.tlnt.com/2013/04/12/coping-with-death-in-the-workplace-what-you-should-do-to-get-through/

Mastering Your Inner-view

written by Tanvir Rahman

When it comes down to interviewing almost everyone freaks out and gets nervous, but over the years I have found some tips that can help get you more comfortable at the interview. There are many articles out there with many tips on how to interview but these are my personal tips that I have used and feel would benefit a lot of people.

Experience

Almost every interviewer looks for some kind of experience and I have found that the easiest way to get that experience is through clubs and organizations. Getting involved outside of class is one of the most important things to do while in college because it puts you in a work place scenario working on real life tasks and projects. The experiences and role you play in your club/organization can give you great work experience and also something to talk about during your interview. I often had big problems answering many interview questions but the more involved I got over the years, the more experience I made and became more able to answer those tough interview questions.

Your Inner-view

Another good thing to know for interviews is simply put, yourself. It is important that you reflect on yourself and ask yourself questions as to who you are and what you want. You need to know what are your strengths, weakness, and what you can bring to the company or job you are interviewing for. Most interviews are simply a time for the interviewer to get to know you and if you know what kind of person you are and what skills and strengths you have it will make the interview a lot easier for both you and the recruiter.

Practice

The biggest thing that will help you with interviews is getting enough experience and practice. The more you interview the more comfortable you will become at interviewing. When I first started interviewing I was always a nervous wreck but after every interview I saw myself getting better and better. As you interview more, you find it easier to put yourself in those situations. You also learn more about what questions are being asked and how you can better prepare for them in the future. It is never too early to start practicing and even mock interviews can help greatly.

So it is important to put yourself out there in clubs and organizations so that you can have some sort of experience. It is a simple easy way to find answers to those tough interview questions. You want make sure you know a lot about yourself because you’re in a way, presenting yourself to the interviewer. Make sure to practice and practice to get comfortable with interviewing making it easier to answer questions. Interviewing is all about conversation and talking about yourself. You want make sure that you know yourself well enough so you can master your inner-view! 

Advance Yourself!

Written by: Shahd Khawaja

Being a university student almost guarantees that you’ve heard of graduate school. Some of you are one step ahead and are considering graduate school. Even better, some of you have started looking into and applying for graduate school. Whatever your situation may be, the graduate school fair Advance Yourself will provide you with extremely important information that may help you decide where you’d like to go, how you’d be able to get there, how you’d be able to afford it and when the best time to attend would be. If you’ve completely ruled graduate school out of your to do list, at least make it an educated decision. Don’t miss out on something until you know all the details regarding it and are sure it’s not what you want. Advance Yourself will take place tomorrow October 3^rd Purdue Memorial Union, West Main Lobby. Panel- 9:30-10:20, networking with the universities: 11:00-3:00

Bring all the questions you may have with you and make the most of this opportunity! Hope to see you there!

Boosting Your Creative Process

Written by Tanvir Rahman

In today’s world creativity is everywhere and it is something you definitely need to outshine the competition. In today’s business world new ideas, better strategies, and creating something new is always desired. Creativity is an amazing thing that takes a lot of work to produce but nothing feels better than coming up with your own original idea. Although creativity is something that happens in the mind there is actually an overall planning and preparation that goes into it if you want that powerful lasting idea.

Before you start drafting or brainstorming, try to familiarize yourself with a process that will get you from start to end. Ask yourself questions that will answer the basic needs of your client or project. Imagine yourself as the customer of your client or project and look at your project from all points of view. This will give you a sense of what needs to be done so that your ideas aren’t all over the place.

The creative process is all about balancing the extremes. When an amazing idea hits you, your fist impulse is go with it but you may be blinded by the idea that you have something great. When that brilliant idea comes to you draft it out and put it on paper or the computer and look at it the next day. Save it for a time when you’re not in the heat of the moment and have fresh eyes. I know personally, when I create a work of art I am so eager to start going with my amazing idea but I don’t always feel the same as I did the next day. It’s all about looking at your ideas from different angles to push your creativity.

Although that amazing idea may not hit you right away, it’s important that you don’t force your creativity. Whenever I am looking for new ideas for projects I always fall into what I call designers block. I just cannot think of anything good and it is very frustrating. The important thing here is to find your inspiration and let it come to you naturally. Now I am not saying to just sit around until something just comes to you, because that most likely will not happen, but you should go out and find what inspires you. For example, I try to get out of the house and look at my surroundings, I do research on similar projects or concepts I am going for, and I simply do a lot of brainstorming of ideas. Inspiration gives life to your creativity and it’s important to find what inspires you.

Creativity can be a complex thing and it’s not as easy as turning on a switch but nothing feels better than coming up with that brilliant idea for your projects. Learning about yourself and what inspires you is key to boosting your creative process!

 reference: http://justcreative.com/2012/07/18/improve-creative-process/

Do What You Love, Love What You Do

Written by Tanvir Rahman

When thinking about your future career I think it is important to choose something that you really want to do. Something that you are passionate about and know you will work hard at. For me, my passion lies in Visual Communication Design/Graphic Design. Although this is my passion now, I didn’t always know that. I came into Purdue majoring in engineering. I thought it would be fun creating the things that make this world work but I just did not like the work I was doing and felt that this is not what I signed up for. So after talking with different counselors and taking career tests I found VCD and have stuck with it ever since.

Now, just because you are doing something you enjoy or have fun with does not mean your future job is secured. It takes a lot of hard work and tenacity to get where you want to go but when dealing with your passion that journey can be a positive and eventful one. For me, I want to become a graphic designer but I can’t just jump into it. It takes years of studying and practice to improve your skills and knowledge. Right now I am working to get my degree and also working on projects outside of class to better my skills as a designer. Getting that degree is important because it shows how much work you went through and the skills you have obtained in that long journey. It’s a lot of hard work but in order to be “great” you have to do “great” work. 

The phrase “hard work” may seem like a negative one but it really isn't. In my field projects with short deadlines are assigned all the time and it takes dedication and commitment to meet those deadlines. However, I am doing what I enjoy so when I am working on graphic design projects I spend a lot of time on them but there’s no other work I’d rather be doing. I can see what I’m learning and how I’m growing and it makes me want to learn and grow more. My philosophy is that when you are doing something you are passionate about the hard work, commitment, and desire to do great all come naturally. I was always a slacker when I was younger and ever since I switched to VCD I have never worked harder in school and in my professional life. My cousin once told me, “do what you love and the money will come.”

So if there's anything to take from this article it's that you should be working in what you are passionate about and have a desire to succeed in. It takes a lot of work to get to that dream career but you will have a strong desire to put in that work when dealing with your passion. I love my major and whenever I am in class or working on projects I am so interested in what I am doing I just want to keep learning more. I think it is very important to enjoy what you are doing or won't have any motivation to succeed in it. So when you're doing what you love, you'll love what you do.