To 2020’s Design School Graduates

It was May 2012. My graduating class sat under a hot sun, outside on the Evan’s Way walkway, next to Massachusetts College of Art & Design…

The row I was sitting in was called up to get our diplomas. As I walked closer towards the stage, I felt the excitement and anxiety of leaving design school for the real world. I couldn’t wait to make money doing what I loved. My name was called, and I walked across the stage. I was officially a professional designer.

I’ve been thankful that the past several years were pivotal for design. Simply put, it felt like design became more “respected” by business. As UX/UI Design became more nuanced, product designers became more sought after by tech companies. Designers began making more because it became undeniable that good design brings value. Smaller design agencies began cropping up and competing against the older ones. In the midst of all this, freelancing became an even brighter career path than ever. By 2018 alone, about 36% of the working population was made up of freelancers. For a while, it seemed like there was never a better time to be a designer.

Now in 2020, the country is in a new recession due to COVID-19. New design school graduates have entered a working world with more uncertainty and pressure than ever. Full-time jobs are even more difficult to get. Smaller agencies and companies are feeling the financial stress. I’ve come to know many seasoned designers, as well as other creatives, who’ve either suffered pay-cuts or have been let go from their jobs. The world is scary right now, and there’s no denying it. As an adjunct professor who’s watched his former students’ careers blossom over the years, I’m worried that this will cause many new designers to abandon their careers. Young designers hold amazing value for any company or agency. They keep their ears to the ground for new design trends and techniques. They push creative thinking and concept development in ways that professional constraints may dull over time. They keep connected with their peers and grow with them. They’re curious, passionate, hard-working, and always ready to dig into a new experience. It seems like in contrast to the past few years, designers have to work harder than ever to keep current and get employed.

To every new designer out there, I’m rooting for you. I’m rooting for you big-time. You deserve the success you’ve worked so hard for. The world out there is uncertain, but what is certain is your inherent worth and value. Some of you maybe have jobs already. Some of you may still be on the hunt. Regardless, as you navigate these waters, I hope you consider the following:

Keep Pushing Your Skills

There’s no shortage of things to learn. What has changed is the amount of education resources out there. Whether it be Skillshare, Envato Elements, or Domestika, tutorials have never been more plentiful, or higher in quality. There are online bootcamps and courses led by companies like General Assembly, that not only do an amazing job with teaching, but also with connecting students with employers. In addition, sites like Dribbble, Behance, and InVision’s Blog continuously churn out great content, and showcase beautiful work. So keep that curiosity intact, keep those ears to the ground, and you’ll see substantial growth within yourself.

Be Honest With What You Want to Learn

I’ll never learn how to code. No matter how much I enjoy creating websites, I never liked learning code. I never had the focus for it, and after a while I stopped shaming myself to learn it. Now I hire developers for projects. With the amount of things designers are expected to know, we also need to be realistic with ourselves. There are some things we’ll love or hate learning. Especially for job hunting, why learn something you’ll ultimately hate doing? If you’re like me and don’t want to learn code, stick with design and own it. If you don’t want to learn motion graphics, but love 3D, find a Z-Brush or Blender tutorial and give it your all. Learn the skills that will help you grow, not just what will be more lucrative

Interviews Are a Two-Way Street

I’ve known many designers who’ve had great experiences at their first job. I’ve also known others who had bad ones. There are companies and agencies out there who will simply demand too much of you. There are some who won’t compensate you well. There are some with toxic leadership. Some seasoned designers would call dealing with these issues, “paying dues.” I call it abuse. The value you bring to a team or company requires protecting. Before you interview, research the company on Glassdoor and read the reviews. Attend the interview prepared with questions about things that matter to you. Especially with COVID-19 not going anywhere, ask about their work-from-home policies. Research salaries on AIGA or the Graphics Arts Guild, and ask for the salary you’re worth. Make a priority to ask about growth trajectories in the company. At the end of the day, it’s your decision too. Never feel obligated to work somewhere you don’t feel good about. I realize this all may sound very idealistic, especially with a poor economy. However, life’s hard as it is, and we work too hard to deal with potentially toxic workplaces with cheap pay.

Take Care of Yourself

For the past several months, we have been in an endless cycle of crisis exhaustion. Creatives are burnt out like never before. More than ever, we need to protect our general well-being. If not, we’ll be incapable of doing quality work. We need to be as present for ourselves as we do our clients. Get into a better morning routine. Journal, meditate, go for a run. Make yourself some coffee and go over your objectives for the day. Stick to routine working hours, and don’t go over them unless it’s absolutely necessary. Schedule and manage your projects so you’re not going insane. When you’re not working, make sure you’re getting enough sleep and have a support system you can rely on. Keep appointments with your therapist going. Whatever needs to happen so you can keep on keeping on, do it. You owe it to yourself.

The design industry has evolved during uncertain times throughout history. I’m confident these times won’t be any exception. If you’re a design school graduate reading this, I have no doubt that you’ll find your way and continue to do great things. Just be patient with the world, and yourself, while you figure out your next steps. Continue to make great work that represents you. I wish you all the best of luck, and hope I can help in any way I can.