Looking for some additional content on my previous post, "What does a graphic designer do?" I stumbled upon this great satire that relates to my first post reviewing the book "Growth Hacker Marketing".
Anyone that does or does not know what "Growth Hacking" is should enjoy. Let me know.
My favorite?
"Well, I think, I think you already know what that is, if you, if you know what I mean."
In a similar vein, I just contributed to this kickstarter campaign highlighted in this Fast Company article.
Having been paid to be one for 20 years now, you would think I have a clear defining description for my job title of Graphic Designer. I do have several responses to the question. Depending on the age, gender, occupation, eye contact, and general true interest, I will respond a number of ways.
My colleague, @PaulTrani shared this image recently that I feel best visually sums up my responses. All are correct.
I adore my role in business relationships. I am a problem-solver. A visual communicator. A listener. An informant and educator. Most times my software and computer skills take precedent over design and communication skills for clients. I wear many different hats, making it difficult to quickly spat a decisive answer, such as, "I sell propane and propane accessories."
I am lucky to have entered into "commercial arts" at a time when desktop computers were just gaining traction. I had a hand in rubylith and hand-lettering in college, then cut my teeth with Quark Xpress and PostScript in the work place. These are all just tools for what I do.
Ridiculous amounts of food money was spent on Syquest and Zip Drives and disks.
Print was where all of my designs and concepts landed, but CD-ROMs and the internet quickly diverted focus and my definition of responsibility.
It was at this time in my life, I realized that a designer could be just a "Print Guy" or she could be a "Jill of All Trades" which quickly entailed (but not limited to):
videographer
website programmer
multimedia developer
sound-recording artist
Microsoft Office engineer
photographer
legal representative
topographer
animator
sign maker
branding police
stage manager
editor
marketer
photo-manipulator
instructor
database administrator
file converter and
IT troubleshooter
All this leads to my most recent embarkment into the realm of HTML5 and Web Apps. Which is an amazing technology, that like all of the roles listed above, could be their own stand-alone professions.
Side Note: I am nearly done with this great Udemy online class on creating your own Web App, instructed by my friend, and colleague, @ChrisConverse that I highly recommend. It is a fantastic price for the world of knowledge he provides.
Learning this or any new technology has been par for the course for my profession. One I welcome, but feel is deeply under appreciated and undervalued. I mean, clients have a hard enough time paying for what I already am an expert in (see the satirical video at the end of this on The Vendor / Client Relationship), let alone paying for another learning curve.
It did give my heart great pleasure to read this recent Fast Company article that defines the roles of new technology designers, partly because I can now add User Interface (UI), User eXperience (UX), Motion Designer, User Researcher (UX Researcher), and Product Designer to my ever-growing list of things that I do. I can also refer to myself as a Visual Designer, but I think I will refrain from abbreviating that title.
Have a similar experience? Share it. I would love to hear others' stories or references to similar articles or videos.
I have contributed to many fund-raising campaigns through Kickstarter and IndieGoGo over the past three or four years. There are a lot of great ideas being developed with these great funding tools. Occasionally there is a product that I can't help, but have to fund. Today, there is one such product, The Coolbox.
Suggested to read by a friend, this was the correct length for the subject. It is a clear game-changer for the typical marketing-based business structure. Much of it I have acquired through reading articles on many of the businesses highlighted, and practicing with small-business clients.
My one disclaimer though: Although Mr. Holiday is insistent on promoting a business with a small marketing budget, he does not clearly define the difference between Marketing and Graphic Design / User Interface / Website Functionality for the businesses used in his examples. I feel that many people (not website programmers) will confuse "Marketing" with these essential needs for a successful product and business. ALL of his example are masterfully designed and coded for optimal presence and online functionality.
Great for anyone in business for themselves or thinking of starting their own business.
