Life after Love
By megan dealFebruary 14th, 2008
A few short weeks ago Julia and Brian were kind enough to ask if I would consider writing a short piece for this years Spine. We agreed that posting this essay on Pixelgawker might be a good way to generate some discussion from several different student perspectives. Their goal with this years issue, is to provide current undergraduate design students with an honest, helpful, and exciting look at what they can expect after leaving the classroom environment.
Somewhere along the lasting line of design school history, it was declared that life after graduation was the end of the world as we once knew it. The blissfully invigorating freedom we’ve all come so accustomed to, slowly sinks away when we enter the world of professional practice. Life after love is rooted in this restrictive world; a world where clients exist as the people to please, and our original and innovative design ideas vanquish in the face of subjection.
I find this particular way of assessing life after love a bit dispiriting. If love is supposed to be a formula for deep affection and intensely passionate feelings, then where does that leave one without it? In the absence of love, are we to be continually miserable? Are we to dejectedly mope around mourning the loss of what we once held so close, desperately longing for anything to fill the void in our loveless hearts? Is that what life after love really is? Is that what life after design school truly looks like?
More…
I was recently perusing our school’s library when I came across a book entitled, “Life After…A Practical Guide to Life After Your Degree.” Flipping through the contents, I quickly learned that this book was outlining, in 150 pages or less, how to best put a newly earned degree to practice, while acquiring and retaining the job of your dreams. In a carefully spelled out, step-by-step guide, this publication would help ensure its reader that they were on the right career path, help them learn how to keep their motivation levels high while searching for various positions, guide them through the wonders of networking, and explain the proper way to make the transition from “scholar to worker.” Of course, following these easy steps is guaranteed to ensure any candidate a fulfilling and “good life.”
How incredible, I thought. What a wonderfully convenient resource! How nice it was to have found this handy, travel-size life manual to help guide me through, the long and miserable path towards my loveless life. Of course, this book, like many others of its kind, assumes that current graduates will earn their degree, prepare an impressive portfolio, find a job, and live happily ever-after in a nice new office, supplied with nice new macs, working for well-paying clients. Indeed this is one scenario. But, on the other hand, what tends to be omitted from guides like this one, is the advice that tells a recent design school graduate how to adjust to professional surroundings after spending four exploratory years within a rigorous academic environment.
Perhaps this portion of life after our degree is left out on purpose? After all, the real world, I’m advised, can be somewhat discouraging. An instructor once told me that I better enjoy the freedom that I have while I’m still in school, for once graduated I’ll be at the mercy of a client and their design “expertise.” As a rather young student back then, I remember thinking, how awful of a thing to say to someone. It was just so pessimistic. I assured myself then that I wouldn’t be THAT type of designer, and remained convinced that I would surely be able to find a job that would give me maximum control over all my design decisions. However, as I’ve advanced further and further in my four year program, I too am leaning on the side of pessimism. As students, we continually hear about the “client driven world” we’re about to enter. We’re assured that the late nights and long hours still exist and that original work often gets disregarded in favor of the trendy or cliche.
Sometimes I feel like design students are subject to a massive prank. We’re taught how to think in new ways, and are exposed to innovative work around the globe, but are subsequently told that our authorial rights end when we leave school. If life after school is indeed all about succumbing to clients, budgets, and consumerism, then why do we spend four long years of our young adult lives, killing ourselves to create smart, idea driven design? What’s the point?
In the three and a half years that I’ve been a college student, design school has become a great love. Regardless of common opinion, I tend to believe that life after school will provide me with just as much satisfaction. To ensure that we’re all more apt to reach this fulfillment, I suggest that we instigate a new optimism into design culture and practice. Life after school mustn’t be viewed with such negativity and despair, but rather with fresh hope and expectation. Designers have a unique talent, granted the ability to alter the way we utilize, view, and experience the things and ideas in our everyday lives. Perhaps our next step should be to change the way society uses, views, and experiences designers. As class after class of young designers receive their respected diplomas, they are given a responsibility to fulfill. Rather then moan and groan about the way professional practice operates, why don’t we change it? Lets start believing in a different life after love.
I think this is a really wonderful subject! Sometimes after being told how hard and awful the “real world” is it gets hard to feel proud or excited…but I think you are totally right that we should be optimistic because when all is said and done there is nothing in the world I would rather be doing…
“Perhaps our next step should be to change the way society uses, views, and experiences designers” {I agree, this kind of relates back to the oh so you’re one of those… article as well, a lot of people don’t understand what we do, so why not redefine it?}
chilling.
I often feel like our success after graduation is solely dependent on our determination and drive to find that perfect job. I think probably enough jobs will come along, but they won’t all be as rewarding. We just have to hang in there until we get that one that is a perfect balance of loving what we do and being able to make a living off of it. I must say that for me personally I think a design job is the only type of job that could give me that kind of balance. In a way it’s reassuring to know I am following my dream to do something I love instead of for example become a nurse because of the money. Someone once told me you spend 3/4 of your life at your job, so you better like what you’re doing!
I also think you have to find a balance between the design you do at your job and the design you do on your own time. At school we have the luxury of designing for ourselves but in the professional world that’s not the case. I think the best way to stay “in love” so to speak, is to do your own projects on the side – whatever you’re passionate about. I think that’s how people keep the love going…
Indeed, love is balance.
Those that work with clients are consistently asked to convey messages of value, messages about value, or messages of no value.
Its up to the designer in the work place to find value in the most mundane of projects in some form or another, which can be extremely hard. I agree with jjeanguenat hit the nail on the head by mentioning ‘the best way to stay in love is to find time for personal projects because its those projects that we have full reign on, relating to our experience here in school.
I also agree with jjeanguenat. Taking time to do our own art is so important. This gives us time to explore things that we can’t in school. Its a nice break from what we “have” to do, allowing us to have full control of what we want to do. Its also a nice way to keep you excited about design and start thinking about what you want to do after school.
In addition, I think having non “design” hobbies and interests is just as important and keeps us well-rounded.
I agree with cjames, the work I do in my own time often gives me a chance to explore new things and reminds me why I’m doing this.
I have come to realize that when we leave CCS, yes we are going to probably abandon alot of our “conceptual ideas” to design “something cool” for a client unfortunitly not everyone out there is as well read on the subject of design like us at CCS. We must do what we must to get paid.
Interesting conclusion shanasty….so then would you propose that we abandon everything that we’ve been taught during our time here? Do you suggest that we “give in” and succumb to the desires of the “unread” clients that we encounter? Unfortunately, this is the exact type of attitude that lends itself to the general public’s misunderstanding of design as a professional practice. Without a critical voice, and without personal integrity, we are indeed the “mouse movers” and simple “makers of things” that we’re all to often pegged. Sure we have to survive; we have to pay rent, we have to eat, and yes…we have to pay back loans, but what’s wrong with changing the way we’re viewed in the process. Lets not give up or give in. What really do we have to loose?
It’s tough to change the way we’re viewed by some clients. At least that’s my experience. But occasionally you find that one job where the client understands who you are and what you do. And usually that job is pretty fun.
Of course all the great designers we look at today have had plenty of cruddy jobs that didn’t make it into their portfolios. I believe this is normal. Don’t get bent out of shape, get paid and move on. Strive for something fun and exciting. And if you can’t find it, make it for yourself.
Don’t listen to me, I’m just rambling.
“abandon alot of our “conceptual ideas” to design “something cool””
i hope this is never me in the professional world. if it’s you then pay less money at a different college to learn the programs.
NEVER SAY NEVER. MUAHAHA.
I think that often the “average joe” or really small companies looking for a logo/website don’t understand the value of good design, and they simply want something to “look cool” or as I would say, something aesthetically pleasing. Yet I still believe that that can, and should, be done in a critical way and with lots of meaning behind every design decision. It is not only your job to design something for your client, it is often also your job to educate your client on why good (thoughtful) design is important for them and their business.
And if said potential client does not understand the importance of research and process and is not willing to pay for that, it is always your right to decline their offer, though again, this should be done after you try to educate them on the importance of it all.
This is what I found so interesting about watching the client presentations in Practicum this semester for the A&WMA logo. I have never been presented with the idea to actually share all of the process with a client. It seems to add an extra value to the final result as opposed to throwing down a finished piece of “this is where I ended up.” Process is an education in itself.
But slightly back on topic to the original post with a random quote. A friend of mine once told me that “there’s a fine line between salary and slavery.”