When do you Consider you are a Successful Designer?
Written by Tara: Freelance Designer on Tuesday, 22 of May , 2007 at 7:50 am
So when do you consider you are a successful designer -
When you are making good money?
When you enjoy what you do?
When you win awards?
When you go freelance?
When you own your own company?
This is a subject posed by Lauren at www.laurenmarie.net who said
I struggle a lot with seeing other designers who have been around for 5 or 10 or 35 years and thinking “Gosh, I wish I my designs were that good.” It’s hard to keep in mind that they have been at this for so many years and I am brand new. I want to be that good now!
I have been working as a designer for about 15 years now, these are my answers to Lauren’s questions
1. How did you get started in the business?
I went the traditional route in the UK, general art and design course (foundation) followed by an HND in Graphic Design. I can remember being totally elated when I got my first job after sending off about 100 letters and CVs. My first job was a graphic design one year internship in the marketing department at the college producing marketing materials.
2. What kept you going in those early years?
I had always wanted to do something related in some way to art - at five years old I wanted to be a famous artist. I sold a few watercolours at 14 years old but the famous artist thing didn’t quite work out 
.
I have always moved jobs a lot, I am not necessarily saying this is a good thing but after a couple of years, once I had learned all I could at a company, I would move somewhere new. This meant I was constantly learning new things and working on different projects.
3a. Did you ever feel like you weren’t good enough or you would never make it in this industry?
One of my worst moments, when I thought I should perhaps give up was while I was still at college. One of my tutors suggested I go and see a design company in Leicester to show them my portfolio. They completely ripped me to pieces saying I would be unlikely to get a job in the industry.
3b. How did you work through that?
It was something I wanted to do, I couldn’t think of anything else I would have preferred. I knew it was all worthwhile when a few years later I went to an interview for a design job at another company. The company interviewed me and said they were interested in me coming back for a second interview with one of the other directors. I asked to see their portfolio of work and realised my work was better than theirs, so turned down the second interview.
4. Do you look at others today and think “Wow, I wish I were that good”?
That’s easy - yes.
I used to work at a company where I sat next to a designer, who to be honest was the best designer I have ever seen. He could make the most beautiful layouts you have ever seen and it was effortless. I would sit there for twice as long and it still wouldn’t be as good. He was wasted at the agency we worked in, he should have been working in a big city agency. Seeing loads of fantastic online designer’s portfolios makes me green with envy too.
Whereas new designers worry about their lack of experience I am always aware that I need to stay in touch with what is happening in the industry. I need to try and learn some of the new technologies and become more au fait with web development.
5. How do you measure success?
If you are happy doing what you do, to me you are successful.
6. By your standard, do you think you are successful?
In the sense that I have always wanted to be a freelance designer and work from home, yes.
In the sense that ultimately I would have liked to have made my fortune by now with a big idea and have loads of free time, no
I would love to hear other designers’ answers to Lauren’s six questions and so would like to start a meme - “When do you Consider you are a Successful Designer?”. To take part just answer the 6 questions as listed above. Please give Lauren at www.laurenmarie.net a mention. Anyone who would like to take part is welcome to, but to start things off we would like to tag:
Vivien at www.inspirationbit.com
Johno at www.redsil.com
David at www.davidairey.com
Char at www.essentialkeystrokes.com/
Charity at www.designadaptations.com
Paul at www.paulenderson.com
Steve at www.cymru66.com/
Ahsan at www.ars.barelyaverage.com
I hope some of you have time, no problem if you don’t I know you are all busy people
Thank you to everyone who is taking part, these are links to some of the posts:
David Airey’s post
Paul Enderson’s post
Char’s post
Vivien’s post
Randa’s post
Marc’s post
Aaron’s post
Charity’s post
Category: Freelancing, General Graphic Design
- Add this post to
- Del.icio.us -
- Stumble it! -
- Digg
Comment by inspirationbit
Made Tuesday, 22 of May , 2007 at 8:48 am
WoW, thanks for the tag. You’ve just added another tab to my blogging debt I’ll try answering Lauren’s insightful questions in a not so far future.
I enjoyed reading your answers, Tara. You’re not the only one who wishes to be as good as some really talented designers. For instance, I wish I was as good as you with Graphic design
Comment by Tara1
Made Tuesday, 22 of May , 2007 at 9:03 am
Thanks Vivien, I look forward to your post. Thanks for the compliment - I wish I was as good as you at web development and design
Comment by Paul Enderson
Made Tuesday, 22 of May , 2007 at 10:40 am
Welcome to the Mutual Admiration Society. Please mind the gap. Blimey - why don’t you two get a room?
Thanks for that tag. Working on my finely-scripted reply as I type this… Well, not literally - I only have one keyboard.
Sorry… One of those days.
Comment by Steve
Made Tuesday, 22 of May , 2007 at 10:51 am
Tara,
Thanks for the tag! I’ll put this on my to-do list.
Great idea and article..
–Steve
Comment by Tara1
Made Tuesday, 22 of May , 2007 at 10:52 am
Ha ha Paul..
Why do men always have to think like that?
No problem Paul don’t worry if you don’t have time - anytime within the next hour will be fine
Comment by Tara1
Made Tuesday, 22 of May , 2007 at 10:55 am
Steve - Thanks, I look forward to reading your post
Pingback by What Makes a Successful Designer? at reflections
Made Tuesday, 22 of May , 2007 at 11:28 am
[…] been tagged for this ‘accidental meme’ by Tara at the Graphic Design Blog, who was asked the questions originally by Lauren Marie Krause (a fresh new designer from […]
Comment by Paul Enderson
Made Tuesday, 22 of May , 2007 at 11:29 am
How’s 40 minutes?
Comment by johno
Made Tuesday, 22 of May , 2007 at 12:06 pm
Good idea. I’ll write something later…
In the meantime, I think this pretty much sums it up:
If you are happy doing what you do, to me you are successful.
Success is a yardstick peculiar to oneself. No need to use someone else’s.
Pingback by When do you consider you are a successful designer? : David Airey :: Creative Design ::
Made Tuesday, 22 of May , 2007 at 12:51 pm
[…] at the Graphic Design Blog recently asked me this question after a conversation with Lauren […]
Comment by David Airey :: Graphic Design Edinburgh ::
Made Tuesday, 22 of May , 2007 at 1:17 pm
Thanks for the mention, Tara.
I’ve written my thoughts on the questions and have linked to the post in my name above.
I hope my words are at least a little interesting.
Comment by LaurenMarie
Made Tuesday, 22 of May , 2007 at 4:25 pm
Tara, I had to feel satisfied right a long with you when you said you saw that your portfolio was better than the company you were trying to get a job with and you were able to turn down that second interview. What a confidence boost! Awesome! I’m glad you didn’t get too discouraged (enough to quit) when you went for the first interview. What I have seen so far of your work is beautiful and inspiring. I’m thankful you persevered because now I get a chance to learn from you!
Your observation about the difference between newbies and more experienced designers really stood out to me. Maybe it’s time to start thinking of how I can be better in touch with my industry, instead of focusing on how little experience I have. I would say blogging, especially with an international group, is a big step in that direction. I find it encouraging to read other people’s thoughts and opinions about the beginning of their careers. Thanks to all of you who have or will take the time to answer these questions!
Comment by Char
Made Tuesday, 22 of May , 2007 at 7:30 pm
Tara - thanks for tagging me! Since you and Lisa have both tagged me then I really need to get on this soon. Let me give it some thought and I’ll get a post up.
Comment by Tara1
Made Tuesday, 22 of May , 2007 at 9:25 pm
Hi Char
I’ll look forward to reading it, whenever you get time.
Comment by Charity
Made Wednesday, 23 of May , 2007 at 12:17 am
Tara - I take great comfort in knowing I’m not the only one who gets “green with envy” when I look at the work of other designers… thank you for sharing that! I suspect we all experience that feeling, but so few admit it. Seems like I come across a lot of designer/blogger types who are so vain it’s repelling.
Comment by Tara1
Made Wednesday, 23 of May , 2007 at 7:51 am
Hi Charity
I don’t know if you noticed but I tagged you on this one, would be great if you get chance to write a post with your answers to the questions above.
Comment by Charity
Made Wednesday, 23 of May , 2007 at 3:00 pm
I did notice Tara, thanks. Need to give it a little more thought. I’m not as quick as Paul! lol
Pingback by When it Comes to Design How do you Define Success
Made Thursday, 24 of May , 2007 at 2:01 pm
[…] Success is such an intangible concept! How do you even define success? Is success based on how much money you make or is it defined by the satisfaction you get from your work? Lauren Marie and Tara were discussing the concept and decided to start a meme about it. Basically, they want to know “when do you consider yourself a successful designer?” […]
Pingback by When do you Consider you are a Successful Designer? » Inspiration Bit
Made Saturday, 26 of May , 2007 at 5:00 am
[…] other designers think about success and what was their career path like. I got tagged by Tara from GraphicDesignBlog and then by Lisa Sabin-Wilson to talk about my experience as a Designer by answering to […]
Pingback by The Mark of a Successful Designer | Design Adaptations
Made Saturday, 26 of May , 2007 at 10:15 pm
[…] those who have been in the business for years. Inspired by her questions, Tara wrote a meme about considerations on success, and tagged a few others to do the same. Interestingly enough, I think a couple of these are […]
Pingback by What Makes a Successful Designer? | Asgeir Hoem | Design and Creativity
Made Sunday, 27 of May , 2007 at 2:17 am
[…] me to try to answer the question ‘When do you consider you are a successful designer?’. Tara, David and Paul, among others, have already posted their answers to this. I encourage you to […]
Pingback by How do designers define their success? :: miLienzo.com
Made Sunday, 27 of May , 2007 at 9:46 pm
[…] Tara from Graphic Design Blog has taken this discussion and formed something of a meme out of it, and now I have been tagged by Charity from Design Adaptations to contribute. […]
Pingback by Definition of Success as a Designer at Randa Clay Design
Made Saturday, 2 of June , 2007 at 1:05 am
[…] Recently I was tagged by Char at Essential Keystrokes to continue this discussion on how we define success as a designer that was started over at Tara’s blog. […]
Comment by johno
Made Wednesday, 6 of June , 2007 at 1:53 am
I really will have a go at this, as soon as I get a spare minute - thanks for the tag and links - you’re gem.
Comment by Tara1
Made Wednesday, 6 of June , 2007 at 9:18 am
Hi Johno,
Thanks, I’m looking forward to reading it.
Comment by johno
Made Wednesday, 6 of June , 2007 at 10:47 pm
I just re-read my comment; do people still say “gem”? I’ve lived in Japan so long that I’ve forgotten.
I’m looking forward to writing it too.
Comment by Tara1
Made Thursday, 7 of June , 2007 at 8:57 am
Hi Johno,
I know what you meant
Pingback by When Do You Consider Yourself a Successful Designer? | graphic design art and typography blog
Made Friday, 15 of June , 2007 at 5:09 am
[…] A topic inspired by a comment by Lauren Marie, and melded into a post by Tara over at the Graphic Design Blog, entitled “When Do You Consider Yourself a Successful Designer?” […]
Comment by Respiro Media
Made Wednesday, 27 of June , 2007 at 5:32 pm
More important than what I say is what my clients are saying. If they are saying that I am a successful designer… it’s OK.
Pingback by When do you Consider you are a Successful Designer? Blog - eyemaginemedia
Made Friday, 3 of August , 2007 at 11:03 am
[…] post has been inspired by Graphic Design Blog whereby I read a post entitled “When do you Consider you are a Successful Designer“ that was posed by Lauren at www.laurenmarie.net. I was interested at reading thoughts from […]
Comment by Marko Novak
Made Thursday, 18 of October , 2007 at 12:48 pm
When things start to move. When the new jobs are coming regularly.
Comment by Jay Lim
Made Thursday, 25 of October , 2007 at 3:38 am
1. How did you get started in the business?
Designing flyers for club promoters.
2. What kept you going in those early years?
Curiosity, opportunities such as universal records, bad boy records, paradise theatre cocerts, nightlife promotions, and now BMW.
3a. Did you ever feel like you weren’t good enough or you would never make it in this industry?
No, but i did feel disrespected and underappreciated (F*U halo media).
3b. How did you work through that?
Won an account with BMW.
4. Do you look at others today and think “Wow, I wish I were that good”?
Yes!
5. How do you measure success?
Doing what you love and making a living.
6. By your standard, do you think you are successful?
No, I’m just extremely fortunate to build my portfolio and resume with top companies and even celebrity clients while getting paid, something that most college kids are not doing.
Comment by Tara: Freelance Designer
Made Thursday, 25 of October , 2007 at 9:43 am
Hi Jay, thanks for your contribution.