I originally wrote this as an article for Tech-GFX awhile ago when I was still semi-regular there. I feel it is an appropriate article for those who truly care about this craft to read. This article highlights the most integral developments occurring in design today, and what is likely soon to come. If you design, and enjoy it, I strongly suggest you devour this article and take from it all you can.
The first section is primarily aimed towards those who haven't graduated high school, or have not moved on into higher education, but all could benefit from it. The second section applies to all of us, it is much more diverse in thought, but supports the first section. I encourage you to read both, I think everyone could learn something from this (opinionated) information.
THE SHORT PART, Part 1.
I see so much talent as I browse through our Artist's Corner. I know that with a bit of formal education, many of you could progress into a full fledged career in design, working for a print house, post house, magazine, marketing firm, game production company, etc.
I encourage anybody who would like to make a real career out of this to
begin developing a portfolio NOW. (it pays very well in the states if you have a good portfolio) Start moving away from signatures/tags, and progress into doing LP's. Even LP's are small for a design portfolio, I would suggest that people who are really serious design layout's in 1280x720 px dimensions. Consider if you are going to take this advice, that most jobs requiring that type of space do not need design elements covering the whole page. Go grab a magazine - pay attention to the article covers (not the mag cover) and observe the designers use of space, and allowance for text elements. When you watch TV look at the commercials - heed the style and the technique that is making current designers successful, and most importantly,
how you would improve it. I'm primarily suggesting you branch out from what you're currently doing. (keep coming to tech for critiques and to share the pieces of course!)
Some of you have been creating beautiful signatures and tags for a long time now, remember you can always go reference your .PSD's (or the gimp version, w/e) and pull layers and ideas out onto these larger pieces.
Think about it, think about how many sigs/tags you have made to this day - and then imagine applying that time to something bigger, something that will sell
YOU to a company/firm. In this industry
you are what you make, they don't care about your history, your criminal record, etc. I can imagine that many of you would be able to have a solid, professional _print_ portfolio, which would be a great way to enter into a design university, or directly into an internship or paying job by the time you graduate your current level.
THE LONG PART, Part 2.
Design, wait - no, lets make it simple - creativity. Creativity and empathy are going to be the most marketable skills in the coming years.
Humanity has progressed from the "Stone Age", through the revolutionary, industrial, and most recently the technological age.
The technological age was very successful to those who invested their knowledge in computer programming, web programming, engineering, anything requiring linear, left brained thought; creativity took a backseat to necessity and function. Now it is more difficult for people to land secure jobs in those industries, because it is all being outsourced to the lowest bidder. (
generally India, Pakistan, etc nothing against them 
) We actually have computer programs, that can write OTHER computer programs now. With such an overflow in this market, their is only one way the world as a whole can progress -
conceptualism.
We are now moving into the Conceptual Age.
The key to the Conceptual Age is abundance, so much of what we want or need that there is excess. We are in a time in the world where almost everyone in an economically stable country has a car, many have more than two. How many of you own a cellular phone? And of those who do own one, would you consider it a "necessity", or even more of a fashion accessory that has function?
Since we have so much (this is in general, and not in reference to anybodies personal situation), companies are scrambling for us right-brained, creative thinkers to make their product, image, even employees DIFFERENT, MORE PLEASING, to put it plainly -
PRETTIER. Aesthetics (the way something looks) are the only upgrades companies can make to products that have already been perfected in functionality. Don't believe me? Look at a toaster from 20 years ago, and compare it to a toaster you can purchase today. Look at your iPods/mp3players and try to remember the portable tape/cd players of yesterday. Look at a Sony PS1, then at the PS3.
Want more feasible proof? Look at one of the largest companies in the world: GE (General Electric.) GE recently laid off 300 (300!!!!!) MBA employees (
MBA=Master of Business and Administration) and replaced them with MFA employees (
MFA=Master of Fine Arts.) Why did GE make such a considerable power play? Because they know that in the coming years, its not going to be the cheapest products, or the best products per say that sell, it is going to be the products that are most pleasing to the eye, that customers can feel with; that will sell. Masters of Fine Arts have proven through their degree that they are more creative, "outside the box" thinkers, and could easily produce something much better, and tailored to GE's new plan than an MBA. GE even publicly declared that they are now in the ART BUSINESS. GE = ART???? Yes, GE = art, the cars produced in GE's child companies are no longer "automobiles", they are "moving, functional pieces of art" GE's kitchen appliances are no longer "appliances" or "tools", they are "functional pieces of art."
Since Ive covered so much of the design aspect of the conceptual age I thought it would be fitting to at least touch on the importance of empathy in this time as well. Why empathy? (
empathy=the ability to relate to another's feelings.)
Empathy is going to be just as much of a marketable skill in the conceptual age as creative thought. Empathy cant be transfered over a high speed line from an economically inferior country, you cant simulate empathy with a computer. Empathy, as well as the ability to persuade others to believe that you truly empathize with them cannot be replicated or replaced, it can only be performed by those who have trained in it, or possess the talent naturally. Some companies today that deal with customer service or when hiring for a company representative, will test that persons ability to tell stories and whether or not they can identify random peoples emotions, only based off of an introduction.
Conceptual Age = Abundance. Because this is true, people will pay big money to be comforted, comforted by their possessions, and comforted by people who "understand" and "relate." This means the people who will go the farthest in this time period are those who can think differently than "everyone else", and who can empathize with anyone.
In any industry you will see cutthroat competition, but we are so fortunate in the industry of design to be able to hand over a CD, or a notebook that contains "US", our work - at face value, no misinterpretations, plain and simple. You will either make the cut at the interview or not, and the largest factor will be your portfolio. I recommend anyone serious about this business seek ways to prove that you can think differently than anyone else, that your thoughts and visions couldn't be done by the schmuck applying for the job after you, and that you are the greatest asset that company could acquire.
I hope you enjoyed the read, and took some sort of value from it - it took a bit and half to write and seem at least somewhat organized.
- Rizla
gonna post a lot
