My Future Self- Ashley De Villers

My Future Self: Sharing Career Stories

Project outline

Through this semester one of our projects was about getting the class to understand opportunities in the workforce. The class was expected to learn the plethora of jobs umbrellaed under the graphic design major, and what would be one of the many ways to reach that job position. When the project got introduced first, the class was asked about what they tend to look for in a job. Once the class created a list, we then had to search for possible jobs we would like to do after college. When I was looking into the types of jobs I possibly wanted to pursue, there were a few requirements I wanted the jobs to meet. Firstly, I wanted to have benefits like insurance and PTO, the job to have a variety in work, I also wanted to job to be within the marketing side of a company. I also wanted to end up in a job that dealt with managing and being part of a team. When looking for jobs with these criteria, I found in general, being a project manager was the way to go. After our research on actually seeing related jobs, we got to find designers already out in their field of work to interview. When doing this I found most of the designers on LinkedIn. I contacted 5 different designers, and 3 got back to me. Two came from linked in when searching for designers in a project manager or higher position. One of them came from the word of mouth of a family friend. For interviewing a designer, the class created a list of set questions, as well as adding on any of their own. Two of my designers were interviewed through email, while the other was done over a zoom call.

Dustin James:

Dustin is originally from Green Bay Wisconsin. He went to college online through university of Tennessee, where he learned about graphic design. When he was finished with college he went freelance for a couple years. During this period he pushed his work out into the world,, getting more recognition and clients. Eventually he got reached out to by fuko, where he then helped to create the packaging design, logos, and illustrations for the company. He continues his work and expanding his skills with the company, jopeling to reach a director status within the company

Layne Halvorsen:

Layne is from Green Bay Wisconsin, She went to college at University of Stout, where she majored in Graphic design. When she finished college she went to work for the company. Here she has been creating packaging illustrations for different brands partnered with the company. Shecontinues to work at the company hoping to eventually become one of their creative directors.

Becca Kaegi:

Becca is originally from Waukesha

Wisconsin, she went to college at University of Stevens point, where she majored in Graphic design. She has gone on to create her own business called One 10 Graphics LLC. Here she creates many different types of designs and formats for upcoming, smaller businesses.

Ashley De Villers 2023

DESIGNER #1 DUSTIN JAMES

Education

Dustin went to college at Southern New Hampshire University. He originally went there to study theater design and performance. After graduating he went to work in theaters for a couple years. He helped out with the costume design of the actors, performed on stage during some of their showings, and helped out their graphic design team in some of their projects. During his years working in theaters, despite the creativity and joy of being on stage, Dustin found it hard to

keep up with bills and long hours. This was partially because of the city he was living in at the time. He determined that the career was not sustainable enough for him and quit, going back to Southern New Hampshire University through their online schooling program. When he went back, he decided to go with a graphic design and a marketing major as it still gave him the creative and artistic freedom, he had doing theatre. While Dustin was in college, he was able to get a job as a program manager for one of the college’s programs. This job entailed planning and marketing the events to the students and surrounding community at the school. Through this job Dustin learned more about real world graphic design skills that are needed and advanced his abilities in classes. During this job he also got to work alongside and train the new interns. With this Dustin was able to not only learn how to manage, work with, and mentor newcomers, but also received the satisfaction and pride of helping others hone their skills of marketing and perfect everyone’s skills of using design in marketing.

Jobs and internships

Dustin went to college at Southern New Hampshire University. He originally went there to study theater design and performance. After graduating he went to work in theaters for a couple years. He helped out with the costume design of the actors, performed on stage during some of their showings, and helped out their graphic design team in some of their projects. During his years working in theaters, despite the creativity and joy of being on stage, Dustin found it hard to keep up with bills and long hours. This was partially because of the city he was living in at the time. He determined that the career was not sustainable enough for him and quit, going back to Southern New Hampshire University through their online schooling program. When he went back, he decided to go with a graphic design and a marketing major as it still gave him the creative and artistic freedom, he had doing theatre. While Dustin was in college, he was able to get a job as a program manager for one of the college’s programs. This job entailed planning and

marketing the events to the students and surrounding community at the school. Through this job Dustin learned more about real world graphic design skills that are needed and advanced his abilities in classes. During this job he also got to work alongside and train the new interns. With this Dustin was able to not only learn how to manage, work with, and mentor newcomers, but also received the satisfaction and pride of helping others hone their skills of marketing and perfect everyone’s skills of using design in marketing.

DESIGNER #1 DUSTIN JAMES

Projects

Dustin has contnued to create playful, colorful, and beautifully modern art work throughout his graphic design career. He has his own webpage that acts at his portfoilo. Through this portfoilo, here are some of his artwork from past projects. These include some business cards, apparel designs, books, character designs, and packaging designs.

DESIGNER #1 DUSTIN JAMES

Interview questions

When given the chance to interview Dustin, he provided very detailed and instightful thooughts on his experiences. He really drove the point of one of the main ways to be successful, and that was through networking. He seemed very open, excited, and confident in his work. That created a very enjoyable, thoughtful interview to help answer just a few of the following questions. Here are a few of the key answers Dustin gave that stood out as being very helpful advise as one advances in the program.

7.how did you network with people when you first started?

How do you continue to network?

LinkedIn is a great resource! Connect with other artists, design managers, art directors, etc. Put your work on your page! Even using Facebook was a great way for me to create a “business page” for my business D Graphics, to show case my work and market myself. I put out Facebook ads for my freelance business. I also used online resources like UpWork.com for freelance work. LinkedIn will be your best friend when trying to connect with other industry professionals.

10.how do you plan to evolve your work?

NEVER get stuck in a routine or aesthetic.Always look at other artists work and see how they create things,use online resources to learn new techniques and styles. I am always looking to try something different with my approach to design. Artists go get too stuck in their ways,are the ones who don’t make it very far.

29.Is your family supportive about your profession?

Yes,because I’m successful. But I come from a culture that doesn’t think “art is a real job”. I had to prove that it is. And that’s unfortunate. Don’t let people tell you it’s not a real job. It is. You got it!

11.what’s the most challenging aspect about design?

Same as any industry. Just trying to keep upon whats new. Design is always changing and there’s new programs andnew techniques. I’m a good designer, but there are AMAZING designers that are there that do things I could never do. So I’m always trying to learn and grow. It can be challenging and intimidating to feel like you don’t know what you’re doing. But I just keep asking questions and researching.

20.What advice would you give to someone starting out?

INTERNSHIPS AND NETWORKING!!!! Sooooooooooo important.Get yourself out there. And build a strong portfolio!VERY important. Create fake projects if you need to for your portfolio. Employers wannaseeyourprocess and your ability to take a concept and create something. Doesn’t matter if it’s not for a real client. Just make it up.

14.what is your design process like?

The biggest thing is research and sketching and just doodling ideas. The moment I get a new project I immediately start asking questions, doodling, and online research. It’s easy for artists to be introverts who like to just sit at their desk and create.... but a big part of the process is collaboration and taking new ideas and asking questions and taking feedback. That’s important, and I keep myself as open to feedback and ideas as possible.Then I just create. I present my design to the client and explained why I made those decisions. And then I make revisions and continue those steps until they’re happy

What was your college experience like?

Here’s a truth that professors won’t like. Professors are often designers who have real work experience and have been working in the industry for years.So they have great insight on the real design process, smart design choices, and giving you industry standard insight. But sometimes they are stuck in their ways of design and their aesthetic and forget what’s new or fresh. So listen to your professors,but don’t let them decide what kind of designer or artist you’re going to be. That’s for you to decide. Take their feedback, applyit. But don’t lose yourself as a designer

9.what impact do you want your work to have?

Making people smile. Simple. I love that people smile when they see my work. Art should give people a experience. So seeing people react to something I created in a positive manner, is worth everything.

Summary:

Dustin provides a grat example of what a person’s possible future could be when they may not think about being in graphic design right away. His work pops with color, and simple, fun shapes in all of his work. With working for Fuko, Dustin has been able to accomplish his dreams of staying creative. while providing excellent packaging to communicate their products. He believes people will have better chances if they start to network as soon as they can and on as much as they can.

DESIGNER #2 Layne Halvorsen

Education:

Layne Halvorsen went to college at University of WisconsinStout. She studied Graphic design for communication with a minor in art history. She figured out that she wanted to go into a graphic design or art related major because she believed she’d been a more artistic person in high school. However, she knew she did not want to just make art on her own as she feared being a starving artist. So, as she looked at the other types of jobs in the art field, she came across the field of graphic design. She saw that there were many, many, many opportunities for those that would go into the career, and she knew she would enjoy the different elements within the job.

During her years at Stout, she was able to have a lot of fun in classrooms and through their social aspects. She would be able to hang out with friends a bit while also learning and developing her skills further. If she were to go back to college, Layne would like to learn more about how to code and gain advanced skills in web design. While in college and where Layne currently works, she never really found specific designers to help gain inspiration from. However, when she does need inspiration or ideas, she would look over to Pinterest and see what a variety about designers are creating.

Jobs and internships

When Layne was in her senior year of college, she was able to achieve a paid internship and move to where she currently works through events and connections she’s made. During her senior year, the biggest way she was able to share her abilities was through the connections of her professor and through the senior show. This combination had let her get in touch with a company called space 150 and get a paid internship with them. At space 150 they are a independent, ever changing company, changing their identity every 150 days. They are a purely digital business and offer high tech opportunities to individuals and other companies. They have dappled in engineering, creative

design, brand campaign and identity, analytics, and creating partnerships. She stayed in this company for a few years before leaving to go to another company. With Space 150, she left due to the work culture. The work culture there to her was more clicky and reminded her of high school stereotype groupings. She is now located at Gaslight Creative, working as their graphic designer on the marketing team. The company she works for is an agency that helps brands create successful communication about their products to possible and loyal customers. They offer their customers help with branding, web design, hosting, printing, video production, animation, photography and much more. Gaslight Creative are more focused on being authentic with their work, having an approach that is more downto-earth, and being very easy and fun to work with. With this type of atmosphere, it fits her personality, work style, and project layouts better than pervious jobs. Where she works she has been able to work with multiple brands, including coca cola, Nike, and the YMCA.

Interveiw

When given the chance to interview Layne, she was very open about her job, and understanding when a few technical difficulties were raised. She provided answers that were in depth and that connects to each other. With her interview being through zoom rather than through email like the other two, I was able to feel like I was getting a better sese of what she was talking about. She was also much more relaxed and laidback during the interview, cracking a few jokes and being very open about her line of work. Here are a few of the key answers Layne gave that stood out as being very helpful advise as one advances in the program.

DESIGNER #2 Layne Halvorsen

2. Are you still as passionate with your work as you were when you started?

I still enjoy being creative with my work, however it can still be draining. Not fun with ads as well as they are harder to manipulate with your vision.

11. What is the most challenging thing about your job?

I would say the most challenging thing in my job are deadlines. We have many projects at once usually, and though I have ways of planning, projects can get close to the deadlines or need some adjusting with the client. For example one time we needed to get done 3 new logos.

6. How did you network with people when you first started? How do you continue to network?

Within the industry, it’s SO important to know someone. They can help you reach where you want to be through their own connections. At my seinor show, Space 150 saw my artwork, and my professor recommened them to me. It has also helped and coninues to help with being part of AIGA. As of now, my main one are LinkedIn, Behance, and Dribble.

10. What’s the most challenging aspect about design?

I would say the most challenging thing in the design world is being original. It’s hard to keep doing things in a new way, like logo making. Things can get to a point where it will look similar to something else, so its VERY important to make sure your not copying.

12. What’s the most rewarding thing about your job?

I would say that it’s the most rewarding when I can see my work being printed. I feel proud and happy when my work is put out there, and is sucsessful in geting consumers to view the products.

13. What is your design process like?

Design precess is a big thing in the work life. When starting a project I like to create a mindmap. After that I start getting research ready, most of it comes from pintrest, it’s easy and has so much for inspiration. I also like to do refrernceing on what a client wants and what their intended audience likes. I’ll also create sketches, I mostly use illustrator for this part as it’s where I’m most comfortable in and know most if not all the tools.

14. How do you deal with the prioritizing of multiple projects/workload?

One of the ways I keep tracked with what my workload is, is with using a calender. I also will ask my boss what projects need the most Prioritization. I’ll also be able to baseed on what I know what will take me a while or what ewill be quick based on my skills.

16. What skill sets are valued most in the job you have?

During my time working, Iv’e seen that the mojor things companies value in a Graphic Designer are creativity, versatility, and being able to do alot, especially in a small firm.

18. What’s your work-life balance like?

My experience with work balence has changed depending on where you are working. At my current job, I get to work from home, and go into the office twice a week for check ups and meetings with clients. I work four days within a week and around 9-10 hours a day. However my days are flexable, it depends on the projects if they require more time from our usual set hours.

19. What advice would you give to someone starting out?

When someone is first starting out in their career, there is one big thing that alot of people can get stuck doing. It’s tgat the very first thing that you create, is probably not your best work. I would suggust keeping it for references and as a backup, but I would coninue to think and create other work.

22. What are some beginner mistakes that should be avoided?

I would say the most common mistake I see when someone is just starting is just turning in a project right when they believe they finished it. Always double check your work. Make sure there’s no random dots, everything’s aligned, all that jazz. It’s also extremely important to learn how to print and the process. When you learn that it makes printing easier and faster for you and the vendor, always use CMYK when printing!

23. What’s a skill set you wish you learned earlier in your career?

I know that even now I still struggle with typography, experimenting, and using motion graphics, specifically adobe after effects. There is a lot to fidget with in type amd motion graphics has been another.

36. How much freedom do you get in projects to add your own style/ creativity?

I can be really creative with the work I do, especially in the social media aspect.

34. Why did you want to go work for a company/ go freelance?

I looked into freelance actually, and it seems fun. However, it also sounded really hard with trying to do your own market prices for you, for your work, and figuring out the taxes. I decided a company would be more suited to what I want to do, and let others have those usually already sorted out.

Summary:

Overall, Layne is a very energetic, straightforward and eager person. Though she is relatively recently out of college, she has been producing experienced level work for the companies she’s been and continues to work for. With her education gearing towards communication, she has gained more experience than those in software on how to gear products design to an audience. As she continues in her job, she hopes to continue learning software that’s not as familiar with like InDesign, and grow better with understanding typography. In the future she hopes to be at a higher position, gaining more experience and leading others, while increasing her pay that better reflects her skills.

DESIGNER #3Becca Kaegi

Education

Becca Kaegi went to college at University of Wisconsin Stevens Point. Here she studied the graphic design program. When she was at the college the program was called another name, Computer Graphics. She then went on to further her education at Iowa University. While she was at the university, she really enjoyed getting more involved with the campus

and hanging out with the friends she’s made there. Becca had also met her husband at the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point. She took many creative classes at the school, broadening her abilities and knowledge of different professions she may encounter or have for in the future. She has always been a very creative person as a child. She learned the best through visuals and wanted to help make these visuals clearer. Originally, Becca was interested in architecture, however as she took more classes within the subjects, her plans changed, and decided to look into the other Art programs offered. While at college, she learned about what qualities are required as a graphic design major, while finding the type of style she enjoys. She would love to try and come back to college and learn about a different degree. However, because her time is very limited with her own business, and has concerns about the money aspect, she has decided not to.

Internships/Jobs done

While Becca was attending Steven’s point, she was able to pick up a few internships along the way. These jobs became available to her as she networked through word of mouth and talking with local business owners. She has also got involved with the Econ Dev and the SBDC offices, as well as being with the Chamber of Commerce and Business Councils. Becca had one of her internships at a copy center within Stevens Point. Here she learned about the process of how files should be created and fit what the copy center needed to print. After her internships, she moved away from stevens point and started up her own business called Graphic Designer at One 10 Graphics LLC. At her business, she creates logos, as well as any type of print designs like brochures, gift certificates, banners, and business cards. She also creates digital designs, T-shirt designs, website maintenance, vinyl designs, video editing, photography, and much more. One 10 Graphics LLC is a business that was created from Becca’s experience of being in a corporate company. She wanted to push herself further,

give more then her best to each project that came her way. Despite this amazing attitude to her work, her managers would tell her to tone it down, and work with 90% effort, not the 110% that she wanted to put in. Becca’s goal for her business is to provide her clients with cohesive branding and marketing to give them an edge on other bigger companies. She wants her business to help others tell their stories to potential customers, and giving them consulting of their existing designs, offering 110% of her efforts. Her daily work at the job consists of creating layouts about the projects to be made, corresponding her ideas with the clients, consulting the clients on their current products and assessing what can be done, and continuing to network herself and her company into the world.

DESIGNER #3Becca Kaegi Projects

Becca has continued to Simple. interesting, and modern art work throughout her graphic design career. She has her own webpage that acts at her portfoilo. Through this portfoilo, here are some of her artwork from past projects. These include some business cards, apparel designs, logos and photography.

DESIGNER #3Becca Kaegi

DESIGNER #3Becca Kaegi

Interview

When given the chance to interview Becca, she provided very concise, and straight to the point answers. While there wasn’t much in detail, she really drove the point of one of the main ways to be successful, is through understanding what the client may want and what they don’t know they need. While our schedules were off each others for a few weeks, she was very understanding, and had a welcoming and pleasant interest with sharing what she learned, knows, and talking about her work.

Interview

2. Are you still as passionate with your work as you were when you started?

My passion has changed as I have learned the tricks of the trade, but yes I still enjoy what I do

41. How do you plan to evolve your work?

In this line of work, you have to evolve or you get left behind. I do much more virtual/digital work now.

10. What is the most challenging thing about your job?

Consulting with the customer on what is best practice and finding new clients

12. What’s the most rewarding thing about your job?

When someone loves my design

13. What is your design process like?

Depends on what it is … I need to see what the client likes and doesn’t like so I am not aiming in the dark. Do they like simple? Intricate?

Illustrated. What is the purpose of the piece or design, who is their audience, what do they want to portray?

16. What skill sets are valued most in the job you have?

Logo design, email marketing

18. What’s your work-life balance like?

Because I own my own company, my hours are fairly flexible, but I try to stay within the 7:30 to 5 pm work day. I charge double for vacation work and a little more than standard for off time.

19. What advice would you give to someone starting out?

Don’t let the big dogs intimidate you into having imposter syndrome. Be creative and always talk to people and businesses. What do you have to lose?

Reflection

Overall, this project has been successful in helping to learn more about the common mistakes made by those at entry level, and what attributes are looked at from employers, or what is needed when creating your own business. Through interviewing each person, I have gained a better understanding about what I may want to do, and what I should work on refining, and improving. Through my interview with Dustin, I got to understand the importance of networking. I understand that networking is one of the, if not the biggest way to improve as an artist, gain connections to more designers and venders, as well as promote yourself as a designer and competitor. Through my interview with Becca, I was able to see what going freelance can lead to. I was intrigued by her designs, her ability to make things simple but detailed in a way that pushes the message. When I got to learn more about the process of going freelance, and how she created a striving business, it helped me be more open to the idea of that as a possibility. Through my interview with Layne, I felt better knowing there were people out in the workforce that have the same struggles that I currently have with my own design process. When going forward, I plan on continuing to connect with other designers out in different positions to gain more understanding of other job titles. This will also help benefit in growing the amount of people I can reference to, and as for guidance while continuing the Graphic Design program. I also will be trying to look at and find tutorials on the industry used programs. This will help to have a basic understanding of those not learned in classes while advancing the tools at my disposal with the ones used in class. I plan on looking at more work related to these three styles, as they are all modern, colorful, fun, and simple which are what tend to catch my eye. I also will be trying to relate their experiences with my internship and future jobs. By looking at and interviewing these three designers I have a better understanding of being a designer in the real world and will have a head start on implying their thoughts on my learning outcomes over the years.

Citations

Becca Kaegi - Remote Graphic Designer - One 10 Graphics LLC - Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/in/becca-kaegi-20a4b77a. Accessed 11 May 2023.

Dustin Wagner - Packaging Designer - Funko | Linkedin, www.linkedin. com/in/dustinwagnerwi. Accessed 11 May 2023.

“Home.1.” DGraphicsDJ, www.dgraphicsdj.com/. Accessed 10 May 2023.

“Homepage.” Space150, www.space150.com/. Accessed 10 May 2023.

Layne Halvorsen - Graphic Designer - G aslight Creative | Linkedin, www.linkedin.com/in/layne-halvorsen-146363206. Accessed 11 May 2023.

“One 10 Graphics LLC.” One 10 Graphics LLC, one10graph ics.com/. Accessed 10 May 2023.