Such amazing insight. On repeat.

Hi all! I recently was asked to give some advice to a new fresh Graphic Designer. I'm really honored and quite frankly scared that I should be asked such a question! So to maybe help other fellow creatives start getting to think about what it means to be a Creative, not necessarily a Graphic Designer, or an Animator like myself - I've put my ideas here for all. 

What you do all think? I'd love feedback too! Thanks!

Thoughts on living a Creative Life

First think I should say is to not think of it as just ‘Graphic Designer’ that title that’s too small. Yes it’s a job title but that’s not what you are. You are first and foremost a storyteller: A Visual Storyteller. You job is to create into reality the best and most clarified version of the vision of your client. That being said your client could be people, a company, a person or even yourself. You will learn to juggle opinions, social trends and deadlines. Even doubt and second guess yourself.

Sometimes your best idea is NOT what the client wants. Your job is to make their vision a reality despite what you know might be good design, good colour and good taste. This is something you will come to learn - Taste, tact and appropriateness. I know I’ve learned this through being exposed and experience. You should have a base understanding of the basics but then you gain an intuition by just living. I think more than anything I’ve just learned to also accept there are no rules. Sometimes things just happen and work because they do. They are called Happy accidents.

You are a facilitator to getting a client’s idea into reality. It’s also your job to make that experience as smooth and enjoyable as possible. NEVER do anything for free. Your work, your expertise and YOU are worth something. Even though most artists who start out want ‘experience’ don’t reduce what we do to nothing.

Have a life, learn from everywhere and everything. Don’t deny yourself a learning experience because that will be the best fuel for ideas. It’s ok to make mistakes. Mistakes seem to be what society tells us to never do… wrong. Mistakes have to be learning experiences and if you think this way, mistakes are just another term for work in progress – but make sure you hit your deadlines.
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The root of anything meaningful to people is you need to have a something rooted in something connectively emotional. Make people feel something. There is nothing more real than real. People connect with things innately because there is a human element in it. No reaction means you haven’t done your job right. Positive or negative it’s still a place to move from.
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I compiled a top list. By no means are these everything but it’s a start.

Top tips:

1. Have a life. #1 most important thing. You can’t create something ‘living’ if you’re not yourself.
2. You are forever learning – Never think you’ve reached ever a high point of creativity or knowledge. Technology changes, ways of thinking always are in flux. Know solid fundamentals then learn to clarify, be complex, break rules and create new ones.
3. Be proactive – Learn, grow and get good feedback from people you trust. Network. Yes it is a fact you will need to sometimes grind it out for work. Your ability to talk to people, reach for the next gig, communicate and take opportunity in your own hands will let you survive, be flexible and have longevity.  Tailor every CV and Reel for who you’re applying for. Know what they do and give them a good idea of your abilities.
4. Be professional – You are your own calling card. Your attitude is half why people want to work with you. The other have is obviously your talent. Fight for your ideas, challenge the current thinking but know when you’re going away from the brief. Show up to appointments on time. Deliver with a smile. Be sensitive when your colleagues need space to think and to breathe. You have to be a team player.
5. Be part Dreamer, part Pro– Artists are always lacking in the business side of things because they get so emotionally attached to their work. Remember you are fulfilling someone else’s visions. But don’t forget to continue to grow creatively – Skills like knives need to always be sharpened.
6. Ask for feedback – As your work will be viewed eventually by everyone – why not ask feedback from anyone? People might not have the vocabulary for why aesthetically your work works or not but I’m very sure they’ll be able to tell you how they feel about it. Your job is to be able interpret the feedback and refine. I cannot stress enough what a difference it makes to have good mentors as well. They’re knowledge will get you faster to a better result, but also don’t take a shortcut if it means you won’t learn anything from it. That’s called cheating. There’s nothing wrong with doing something more efficient, cleaner, faster. But know WHY it got you there.
7. Draw inspiration from everything - Then learn to filter down the essentials of what you need.
8. Don’t worry about self-doubt – Every single day you will feel this and it’s a good thing. It means this matter to you and you want to do a good job. So what do you do to remedy this? #1, #5 and #6. Don’t be so intimidated by the blank white canvas. Go backwards and see what other people have done in the past.
9. There’s nothing new and original. Everything has been done already. It’s a remix, a reboot a repackaging. What nobody has ever seen is YOUR take on it.
10. There is no such thing as a stupid question, just short tempers.
11. Have joy, humility and fun with everything you do. If you’re not then please see #1. Repeat.

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