The Everyday Designer #21 — Maybe being a designer isn't for you and that’s okay.
Guest post by Madison Rogers.
If you’re a person that always wanted to pursue a creative career, but never felt like you fit any of the typical roles, like a designer, this is the blog for you…(and this is coming from a previous designer).
It can be difficult when your creative ambition doesn’t come with a label. But I am here to tell you there is a WAY you can find your WAY.
Tip #1: Figure out what you DON’T like.
It can be just as valuable figuring out what you don’t like, instead of solely focusing on what you do. And this doesn’t have to be a job role in totality, but rather identifying what aspects aren’t pressing your creative juices. This will give you the ability to weed out those options. And don’t mistake this for you not having the ability to be talented at various roles, but rather building a brand that is unique to you. I feel like when the older generation tells us things like: “you have the rest of your life” or “the sky's the limit” or “you have tons of options” they believe that is comforting. In reality, it is overwhelming. It’s about giving yourself a pond to swim in, not the whole Atlantic Ocean where there are a lot of creative fishes swimming around. As long as you don’t drain it to a puddle you’ll be good. Enough metaphors though, how do you figure out what you don’t like? You try something!
I worked as a designer for 2 years and changed after graduating design school and over time I realized there were aspects of the role that didn’t fit my creative sizing chart. For me, being a designer was too production heavy, and skimping on the ideation. It made me realize I craved something with a little more conceptual flavour. It didn’t mean I disliked all the responsibilities that came with being a designer, it just meant there was enough leading me to another creative pond.
So, from there I did some research on what kind of role could provide me that conceptual satisfaction, and that is when I discovered the world of strategy. I know a designer becoming a strategist, not the usual.
Tip #2: Talk to people that inspire you.
I lied a little bit in the last part, I actually discovered the world of strategy FIRST from a co-worker of mine at my first agency job. His role had many hats like many small agency jobs do. He taught me things like writing a brief, building a strategic plan, content creation, research, social listening, etc.
So, when I developed this interest, he saw my potential in this new stream of creativity and encouraged me to pursue it.
So, talk to people, especially the ones that inspire you. Start cold calling, coffee chatting, networking. They can tell you first-hand what it’s like in their pond, giving you a better idea if you want to dip your toes in or not.
Most of my networking came from alumni my professor suggested, based on what he knew about my skills. At the time I was completing my Bachelor of Creative Advertising Degree, and felt like I was getting caught in the undertow of Copywriting, Art Direction, Accounts, and Strategy currents.
By talking to people in the industry, it allowed me to realize things that I didn’t even know were possible or existed. For example, my role now. I had no idea what a Creative Strategist was and what the role entailed. But thanks to industry professionals who did, I soon realized it was the perfect role for me. Allowing me to fulfil the strategic role I was longing for, without having to sacrifice my designer roots.
So, go on the search for a school of creative fishes that are swimming in a pond that reflects the type of creative you want to be.
Tip #3: Make your role.
There was a reason I had no idea what a Creative Strategist was, ONE because it’s not an industry-standard position, and TWO because my now boss, mentor, and advertising Rockstar Jacquie Kostuk pretty well invented the role. Jacquie, is the Director of Creative Strategy at my current agency FUSE Create and felt the traditional advertising pairing of Copywriter and Art Director needed a more insightful third wheel.
With all this being said, if you can’t find a role that checks all your career boxes then make the role! You just have to ensure it’s something an agency is in the market for. But this will help you stand out among other creatives that are trying to squeeze into certain creative boxes that ultimately aren’t the right fit for them.
Tip #4: Tailor your book to what you want.
If you’re a Strategist, that doesn’t show thought-process.
If you’re an Art Director, that doesn’t show visuals.
If you’re a Copywriter, that doesn’t show writing.
If you’re an Accounts person, actually you don’t need a book you’re fine.
Then you are doing it wrong.
Ensure your book reflects the type of work you want to be doing. Don’t worry about being too specific about it either. You don’t want your book to come off to ACDs as someone who is all over the place. Make it known to them what you are specifically looking for in a role, and how your portfolio work is that role in action. This doesn’t mean your role can’t be a mash-up. For instance, if your aspiring role does have a blend of copywriting and art direction, your writing has to be at the same level as your visuals, and vice versa. If you want to be a renaissance creative, your book has to be your Mona Lisa.
Tip #5: It’s okay to be a jack of all trades and a master of them all.
If you are a person who likes a little bit of everything, that is okay! People seem to think if you don’t hone in on one thing that you can’t excel. I like to think if you are a creative that has the ability to be a living, breathing swiss army knife of copywriter, designer, strategist, etc. then you can be a valuable tool in way more upcoming projects.
If you want to sharpen one of these roles more than the other that is okay too, but having more than one area of expertise will always come in handy.
Tip #6: You don’t have to stay in your lane, pivoting is okay.
Just like Ross Geller likes to say “PIVOT!”
Once you go through the journey of discovering the creative pond you can swim in, it doesn’t mean you can’t take a dip in another one once this one gets a little lukewarm for you.
The great thing about being a creative jack of all trades, is it gives you the ability to dive into many roles that you want to try. Don’t feel like just because you’ve been treading in a particular pond for a while, that you can’t give another one a go! Take it from me. Like I said, my path from designer to strategist isn’t very common, but I couldn’t be happier that I changed lanes.
And my years as a designer weren’t for nothing, they enriched my offerings as a Creative Strategist. For example, when building a strategic social content plan, I can also design the posts. Providing my client with the proof and the pudding.
Conclusion
I know I’ve used a lot of metaphors in this blog post, but from one Designer turned Strategist, it’s okay if you don’t know which creative pond you’ll want to swim in. Feel free to follow these 6 tips before taking the creative leap into the deep end.
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🌊 Currents
I love sharing what I’ve been up to lately and this is one way for me to let you in on what’s been happening in my life.
🤯 Currently freaking out: Oppenheimer trailer — Christopher Nolan just DOESN’T MISS. Literally cannot wait for this movie to come out, I am going to go watch it in IMAX. I am going to go watch it multiple times. I am probably going to cry. The cast, the soundtrack, the director, the theme. Let’s go.
🎥 Currently watching: Life of Riza — just stumbled upon this creator on youtube and her vlog style is pretty captivating. She’s got some cool unique take on vlogging that I haven’t seen in a while so I’m excited to see where she takes it.
📕 Currently reading: Thinking 101 — almost wrapped up with this book, and safe to say, one of my favourite reads ever, just learning about psychology and behavioural science and why we act the way we do, and how we can notice those things and make those changes has been massive.