How to be a graphic designer without losing your soul

In this semester break, the lecturer was given a task to study a chapter about Self-promotion from a book called “How to be a graphic designer, without losing your soul.” About the chapter, it explains what we can do and to promote ourselves as a designer. This chapter also discussed the different perspective and options for the cultivation of a reputation as well as how we can deliver good works to be recognised and acknowledged.

Here are a few points mentioned that stood out to me in this chapter:

1. Getting noticed

As a designer, we can't hide in a hole in the ground and expect to be spotted by clients. Hence, we need to build a reputation is to get noticed by doing great work. A designer can create effective, original and striking work full of emotional or intellectual resonance, they are likely to get noticed and recognized. With good reputation gives a designer the opportunities to show off of design into the bigger world and to build up strong connections with clients too.

2. Design competitions

Joining a competition seem like “competing” in a race. However, winning an award does not necessarily mean that your design work is the best. Instead, joining a competition is an opportunity for the designer to gain more experiences and knowledge.

3. Attending conferences and lectures

Attending talks, exhibitions, lectures, workshops, and conferences provides the opportunities to hear other points of view and to discuss pressing issues with different designers. But having attended conferences can open up to more possibilities and learned new things as a participant. Therefore, show and tell events can provide invaluable insight into the creative process for a designer.

Reflection

After reading the chapter, I have gained an insight of how we can promote ourselves as a designer. Not only that, building a strong reputation in the design industry is necessary. Although is not as easy as we see, however, there is no way to stop us from trying to get ourselves known in the design world as it helps a designer to open up opportunities and new perspective.