The Designer's Guide to Business and Careers: How to Succeed on the Job or on Your Own

by Peg Faimon

Overview

Find Your Niche and Be Successful

Inside are the tools you need to get your design career off to a strong start–and maintain it for the long haul. Peg Faimon provides a comprehensive guide to basic business issues in today's competitive marketplace. Whether you just graduated from college, are building a freelance business, or are starting your own firm, this book will give you the confidence and knowledge to create a successful and fulfilling career. You'll learn how to:

• Research different career paths in design and organize your job search
• Craft an effective portfolio and master interview techniques
• Maintain a professional image and network to ensure a consistent stream of paying projects
• Collaborate effectively with clients, other designers and experts in other professions (like printers, writers, marketers and executives)
• Establish a freelance business, develop your in-house career or kick start your own firm
• Stay fresh and move forward in the ever-changing world of graphic design

In addition, real-world advice from working designers and an interactive format will help you apply your new skills right away. The Designer's Guide to Business and Careers will give you everything you need to experience immediate success in your career.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781440307898
Publisher:	Adams Media
Publication date:	05/15/2009
Sold by:	SIMON & SCHUSTER
Format:	eBook
Pages:	320
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

An Adams Media author.

Table of Contents

About the Book 1

Part 1 Knowing Your Career Options 3

Chapter 1 Design Specialties 4

Chapter 2 Other Career Paths 29

Part 2 Searching For Design Jobs 41

Chapter 3 Job Search Strategies 42

Chapter 4 Persuasive Résumé and Business Correspondence 55

Chapter 5 Effective Portfolio and Self-Promotion Strategies 67

Chapter 6 Interviewing Skills and Etiquette 76

Part 3 Practicing Critical Skills 91

Chapter 7 Basics of Effective Time Management 92

Chapter 8 General Communication Skills 102

Chapter 9 Key Ethical Guidelines 116

Part 4 Staying Fresh 126

Chapter 10 Continuing Education and Professional Development 127

Chapter 11 Community Involvement 135

Chapter 12 Creativity and Innovation 141

Chapter 13 Design Thinking and Strategic Synergies 152

Part 5 Working With Others 160

Chapter 14 Partnering Effectively With Clients 161

Chapter 15 Collaborating With Other Creative Disciplines 174

Chapter 16 Working With Other Designers 182

Part 6 Doing Your Own Thing 191

Chapter 17 Freelancing and Running Your Own Firm 192

Chapter 18 Setting Up a Successful Work Environment and Business Structure 206

Chapter 19 Pricing, Proposal and Contract Basics 213

Chapter 20 Intellectual Property Basics for Designers 228

Part 7 Practicing Production Basics 243

Chapter 21 Working With Printing and Paper Companies 244

Chapter 22 Printing Processes 257

Chapter 23 Pre-and Post-Press Production 265

Part 8 Emerging Design Perspectives 274

Chapter 24 Trends in Digital Marketing 275

Chapter 25 Universal Design 286

Chapter 26 Sustainability 297

Resources 306

Index 308