7 tips from successful designers on starting your career
Starting your career in design and looking for advice on how to get started? You're not alone. But take heart: we put together some advice from successful designers on how young designers can find a foothold and get their career started right.
As the recent winner ceremony of the iF DESIGN STUDENT AWARD 2024 in Milan is still in our hearts and many young designers are currently trying to figure out what the future holds for them after summer, we compiled this short listicle with the best career tipps of international design experts.
1. Create something you love!
Create, something you love, something that you're proud of. If you do that, it's almost like you make it for yourself. Then you need to make some noise about it if you want it to get noticed. You'll find people who respond to what you make and love, and you build a certain community around it.
Lucas Zanotto, illustrator, designer and artist.
Read the entire interview here.
2. Be versatile!
Be willing to adapt. Brands are really stepping things up, it’s not just about the product or packaging design anymore, you need far more nowadays. What does the brand world look like, what is the brand experience, is there some kind of ritual with which a consumer might engage with the brand? New tools are coming into play, so embrace the changes and keep open minded as an idea can inspire anytime and anywhere.
Lauren Tutssel, corporate identity and packaging designer.
Read the entire interview with Lauren here.
3. Be vulnerable!
Be vulnerable, humble, and open-minded. These qualities will keep you curious about everything. Observe everything. Read everything. Listen to everything. Most importantly, question everything!
Henry Hongmin Kim, Vice President of Design Strategy at Samsung.
Read the entire interview with Henry here.
4. Redesign the system.
Sustainability has to do with large systems. Changing the way these systems work will require behavioral change. Give people a solution that improves their lives, but also makes it easier for them to live in a more sustainable way. A designer in a company has a huge and important role: an integrator and a facilitator for a broader perspective.
Elisha Tal, founder of I2D and educator.
Read the entire interview with Elisha here.
5. Be a collaborator, not just an author!
Be a conduit through which ideas flow from, from different stakeholders. Design is not something that's done by one person. And the more people participating in design, the more people that can benefit from it.
Stephen Burks, principal of Stephen Burks Man Made and educator.
Read the entire interview with Stephen here.
6. Give it your best shot every time!
Even if you're still in school, you never know who your teachers know and how they can help you if they're impressed with your work. Be prepared, hand in things on time. Your fellow students are going to be your future colleagues, and the reputation you build starts today.
Bruno Porto, graphic designer and educator.
Read the entire interview with Bruno here.
7. Go with your gut!
If you have something that you're passionate about and you want to try it out, don't hold back. It's not about money. If you start with your passion and your goals, money will follow.
Anuj Gala, lighting designer.
Read the entire interview with Anuj here.