Success Secrets of the Graphic Design Superstars

[Gx3 Grafix]

I found this site a while ago posted in my design group on linkedin. I continue to find interesting, inspirational thoughts here so I thought I'd share.

Success Secrets of the Graphic Design Superstars

Carin Goldberg says:

• Never work alone. It’s essential to be in some sort of collaboration or partnership with someone.
• Cultivating a creative environment is essential.
• Become facile with technology and don’t make that a secondary thing.
• When you’re young and you’re a student you can learn fast, so get as much under your belt as possible.
• Be honest, generous, loyal, curious, organized, inclusive, accessible, confident, humble, dedicated, brave, well informed and nice.

Mirko Ilik says:

• If you don’t enjoy what you’re doing, they can never pay you enough.
• It’s much easier to think for 8 hours and work for 2, than the opposite.
• Follow your dream. Do whatever it takes. If it happens, that’s great. And if it doesn’t, at least you’ll know you tried. That’s how I built my business.
• Getting good clients is like dating. It’s about building a personal relationship, building trust

[ipshwitz]

That is some really great advise but it lacks 'real-world' perspectives.

1. Don't be afraid to trade favors. All of my printing is completely free. I designed and host a local printes site and in return, he prints my business cards, posters, flyers, mailers, etc. for free. I'm alsways looking at ways to deal in this... I've gotten some really nice things this way such as car banners, screen printing, hardware, etc...

2. Give up your social life. This is especially true when you are first starting out. There were times in the first 6 months were I was putting in 20 hour days. (Thank God I had a supportive wife).

3. Accept you will lose money in the beginning. Very rarely does a business start and then turn a profit (unless you are the guy who invented the pet rock). You will put your own personal finances into it and lose for a lil while. But with perserverance this job can really be rewarding in the end.

[Gx3 Grafix]

Those are some good additions. Completely agree!

It sounds to me like you need to be one of the featured interviews.

[.:FMD]

Great insite! It's good to hear that you don't always have to find a full time job and still be successful. I feel I am in Margo's shoes, I have yet to get a job (everyone says I need more experience) but yet no one is willing to give it to me, so what do I do, I find my own clients and get experience. I figure by the time I have enough experience I will be able to create my own company and will never have a "job" working for a studio or firm.

[Gx3 Grafix]

Well maybe that's what you should do. Like joining here, winning contests. Most of my clients are repeat customers of contests I had won and their referrals. The best thing that happens though, is people get to see how you work, what your work looks like, how well you take direction and follow design briefs. People are looking and it goes far beyond just winning a contest, it's a growing portfolio in itself, even if you don't win that's available to the whole wide world.

I've been working for over a year with a client who I met on a forum because he had seen my work in the contests and my posts in the forums. He could have chosen anybody. That's why it's important to become a good member, who helps out and shows great team skills in any forum you're in. I was just recently offered an executive position in his company.


Love what you do. Mirko was my favorite. Although I still enjoy reading all of them.

What I say is"

Believe in yourself, so much so that you imprint it in your mind that you WILL be successful. Surround yourself by people who believe in you, positive people and creative people who can inspire you and like Mirko, love what you do. It shows in your work.

[.:FMD]

Well maybe that's what you should do. Like joining here, winning contests. Most of my clients are repeat customers of contests I had won and their referrals. The best thing that happens though, is people get to see how you work, what your work looks like, how well you take direction and follow design briefs. People are looking and it goes far beyond just winning a contest, it's a growing portfolio in itself, even if you don't win that's available to the whole wide world.

I've been working for over a year with a client who I met on a forum because he had seen my work in the contests and my posts in the forums. He could have chosen anybody. That's why it's important to become a good member, who helps out and shows great team skills in any forum you're in. I was just recently offered an executive position in his company.


Love what you do. Mirko was my favorite. Although I still enjoy reading all of them.

What I say is"

Believe in yourself, so much so that you imprint it in your mind that you WILL be successful. Surround yourself by people who believe in you, positive people and creative people who can inspire you and like Mirko, love what you do. It shows in your work.

Yeah that is kinda what I am hoping for, I wouldn't really care if I lost of won, I mean granted having a few hundred bucks extra each month is not a bad thing, but you are right it allows people to see my work. See one of my problems is I don't have enough work to show yet.

Like take a few weeks ago, I went for an interview, he asked me how many logos I have made..and i answered honestly with like 3 or 4, then he asked how many I made that are being actually used and I couldnt answer that.

I hope they give me a shot at the design team, I love to design and I feel im an ok designer and that I need to just keep developing. With these "contests" this will help me hone my skills and build my port.

[Gx3 Grafix]

Next time you have a face to face interview try putting together a portfolio of all of your work, the best of your work. Let the presentation speak for itself, be confident and firm in your answers. Make a lot of logos just to show off your capabilities, it also builds a morgue for future creations and inspirations. There are also opportunities out there to sell your logos... if they are good enough. People search for branding and there are sites dedicated to this sort of thing.

[.:FMD]

Next time you have a face to face interview try putting together a portfolio of all of your work, the best of your work. Let the presentation speak for itself, be confident and firm in your answers. Make a lot of logos just to show off your capabilities, it also builds a morgue for future creations and inspirations. There are also opportunities out there to sell your logos... if they are good enough. People search for branding and there are sites dedicated to this sort of thing.

So you're saying to just make up a bunch of companies and create logos for them???

[Gx3 Grafix]

Make a bunch of logos that are icons, can be multi purpose, unique shapes, ideas.

Come up with creative names, research your names to make sure they are not already taken. If the url is available, buy it if you have the available funds. Make sure your logos are up to par and you can submit them for sell to open buyers looking for full branding. Do you have any work I can see?

[.:FMD]

my websites addy is in my profile.

[Coy]

LOL was just looking through your site.
Frozn:Motion & Design
some nice stuf there.

[.:FMD]

LOL was just looking through your site.
Frozn:Motion & Design
some nice stuf there.

hey thanks, anything that is not worth putting up there?

[Coy]

I think it all looks good.
The only thing that I might do different is seperate the printed stuff from the Logos. but that could wait till you have more logos maybe?

Can't see the motion stuff because of my work computer though. so no comment on those.

[Gx3 Grafix]

I agree that your logos should be seperate. Find what skill you want to market the most and have your website cater to that audience. You have nice work, a creative name and a hunger to do more. Don't give up on the ambition. It's a competitive world but with your skills and mindset to do more and learn more you can make it happen. Get to know people, join linkedin -professional networking, expand your reach to be visable to more people. They do say, it' not exactly what you know but who you know.

[.:FMD]

I agree that your logos should be seperate. Find what skill you want to market the most and have your website cater to that audience. You have nice work, a creative name and a hunger to do more. Don't give up on the ambition. It's a competitive world but with your skills and mindset to do more and learn more you can make it happen. Get to know people, join linkedin -professional networking, expand your reach to be visable to more people. They do say, it' not exactly what you know but who you know.

Great Ideas! I got most of my freelance gigs with who I know. Im going to have to get on linkedin...not sure why i never thought of that before.

I will let you know...On St. Pattys day I applied for a freelance gig at this company and I got it which turned into them highering me as an actual employee! He said he liked that my website was "easy to navigate and professional" He also said I had some really nice work...man I beat up on myself alot...I always think people say things to me because they don't want to tell me the truth.

Thanks for all of your help and kind words really! I am going to be looking at revamping the website within the next couple of days/weeks depends on how much free time I have now that I have a couple things going . Will definitely keep you guys posted.

Thanks again!

josh-

[Gx3 Grafix]

"I always think people say things to me because they don't want to tell me the truth. "

lol, I know what you mean but the one thing about being around designers is you'll probably get more of the truth than you want

One designer once told me.. What do you get when you are in a room of 100 designers? 100 ways they can do better than you.

[.:FMD]

One designer once told me.. What do you get when you are in a room of 100 designers? 100 ways they can do better than you.

haha! So true

[ScorpiosGraphx]

This is some good info. Especially since I'm new to the arena. I really wanna put my best foot forward.

[ScorpiosGraphx]

haha! So true

Ditto

[Dawn Shepard]

Thanks for sharing. I'm just starting out in design and it's nice to hear encouragement.