gareth

I've noticed there's a good few design types lurking on here so was hoping to get some good advice.

My missus has just completed (with distinction) an ONC Graphics Design course. Apart from the general design stuff she's gained good skills on the Mac in Photoshop/Illustrator/Quark. I've been pretty impressed with the standard of the coursework she's turned out as well.

She's now carrying on with an HNC Graphics Design but doing this part-time with the hope of combining studies with some relevant work experience.

Because I'm a freelance IS consultant I would hope that ultimately she will be able to flog her skills on a freelance basis through my company. However in the short to medium term I would imagine she would gain most from being in a "real" job.

I guess I'm looking for advice on the sort of outfits she should be talking to, and how to approach them. For example, some people have said she'll only be able to get unpaid "work experience" in the first instance - that seems a bit negative to me. Also, is there the concept of "agency work" in design, i.e. could she make a living by picking up freelance work through agencies?

Any thoughts or guidance would be really welcome!

Thanks,
Gareth

Kippax

gareth

there's a place in stockport called specialised technical services who may be able to help. the're in the mcr south phone book.

stu

pisshead

I graduated last year from Salford uni with a BSc (Hons) in Product Design & Development. Currently working as a product designer in a design consultancy that specialises in sports equipment, and loving every minute of it!
Your miss's has to be prepeared to work for jack to start off with.. One of my lecturers was an american, and once told me that whether you design products, graphics, cars or whatever... there are more designers in London alone than what there are in the US!
When i graduated, i did about 3 different work experiences to build up my port folio.. Sept 11th made everything worse.. I was on the dole for 7 months. Continuing to work on my port folio, i was selected for 3 interviews and was offered them all! Took the one i'm in now with no regrets and a matter of days away from my new CTR arriving. Life is peachy!
Get her to send spec letters off everywhere.. Work from home in spare time.. Do web site graphics.. Do local paper graphics... Practise drawing icons etc using Adobe Illustrator.. These are useful tips for her to get into graphic design. Illustrator, Photoshop and Quark are the main tools that you will be using for graphic design.. Graphic designers tend not to use hand rendering techniques anymore..
Get her to construct and publish her OWN web site with a .com address (its not expensive).
She'll find that employers will DEFINATLEY look at the web site to view her stuff.. Also bung photos and other samples of her work with her CV when she sends them off.

It all sounds like an expensive ball ache does'nt it? She has to be prepared to work for little money at beginning, but once her foot is in the door then it is rewarding. The competition is fierce so stick in there!

gareth

Thanks for the tips (and BTTT )