It has been over a year-and-half since I graduated from The Art Institute of Portland. In this time I have found out what things I have learned from school have been most valuable to me as a person and a designer.
There are countless times I was glad to follow them. And countless times I wished I had followed them better. Now I would like to share them with you:
- Save early and save often.
- When estimating your timeframe for a new project, imagine the maximum amount of time it will take, and then add an hour.
- If the deadline is ten minutes ago, ignore the previous rule.
- Presentation is half the project.
- Professionalism is half the pitch.
- It is ridiculous to get nervous, it just makes other people nervous.
- You have to be the first person to get excited about your work.
- Critique is like a warm Red Bull: Disgusting to the taste but gives much needed energy.
- Your client probably knows more about their own business than you do.
- Like a good stew. Leaving a project alone for a while can increase its tastefulness.
- A successful design that uses photography goes through this hierarchy: Photoshop < Stock Photography < Taking the Picture Yourself.
- Get to know who is who in your area. Learn who the Designers, Producers and Decision-Makers are in your area.
- And finally: Be sure to get a life!