How to become a graphic designer...when you’re studying Archaeology*
When I was 18, I found myself in the peculiar position of studying Archaeology and Anthropology. I guess it shouldn't have taken me by surprise. I’d applied for the course. I’d written my personal statement. I’d attended the interviews. But nevertheless, sometime around the end of November 2012 - perhaps just as I was being handed a bag of mud to rummage through in a lecture - I realised I might have just got this whole university thing a bit wrong. And, thanks to the recent nightmare of increased tuition fees, that wrong step sang to the tune of around £36,000 (plus interest).
*or really any subject other than Design, I’m not picky.
But there was one upside; I loved my university. I didn’t want to pack it all in and start again. So I decided to do both - get my degree, complete with teary graduation ceremony, and also work hard on the side to see if meddling with design could go anywhere. And, because the stars aligned somehow and miraculously everything came together, I’ve now been a full-time designer for five years.
Here’s a handy list of what I did, what you can do, and how to turn that degree in Archaeology / Zoology / Physics into more of a quirk than a downfall when applying for design roles.
Volunteer where you can to get your name out there
I am Queen of ‘Creatives Shouldn’t Work For Free’ and Head Cheerleader for ‘Know Your Worth’ chat. But listen: if you’re just starting out, and you’re studying, there’s no harm in cracking out a few posters. Some people will tell you to walk into shops with bad branding and offer to redo their logo for them - I am not going to say that because I am not insane. So here are some much more realistic ways to kick off. Charge £20 and a packet of a crisps if you must, but it’s important to be working on actual real live briefs with deadlines and a print budget.
Does your university have a drama society? They’ll put on shows and plays and they’ll need marketing. This is a chance to work with dramatic creatives and see your work splashed around a bit. You’ll garner a reputation as the Person With Photoshop in no time.
University is full of people with Big Dreams and Failed Startups. Perfect for sorting out your Illustrator skills and cracking out some logos for a Mozzarella Stick Delivery service (TM).
People like Yearbooks. Offer to design yours and you’ve got a printed layout in your portfolio, and evidence of managing a big design project start to end. Smashed it.
Bother everyone you know to get an internship
One thing you’re not short of is spare time. And yes, I’m ignoring any enraged shouts from the back of being ‘busy’. I had three essays a fortnight, exams every term, and two part-time jobs, and yet I remained, staunchly, not busy. So use your time to approach agencies and ask for a week or two to make teas, attend brainstorms, and bother Senior Designers. Alternatively approach your Student Union: they’ll likely have an in-house designer themselves who might be willing to offer a helping hand and a friendly chat.
P.s okay okay, I get that some of you might actually be maxed out. There’s a real pressure that comes with moving away from home and trying to balance everything. All I’m saying is to try and squeeze in what you can - even a ten minute phone call to say hello can work wonders.
Don’t be shy: ask for advice
Google for local graphic designers and agencies and get in touch. But don’t email a generic ‘Hello@’ address; you’ll need a name, so dig for one either on their website or in the murky depths of LinkedIn. And for the Love of God research the person you’re emailing - don’t send out a blanket email with some offhand questions, nobody will reply. I know this because I don’t reply. Tell them what work they’ve done that you like, and offer to take them for coffee in return for any Knowledge Nuggets they may have.
Find local meetups. The Design Kids is brilliant and there’s local chapters globally, and if you’re a Design Gal (excellent work), check out your local Ladies Wine Design for a glass of red and a pop at whatever monthly activity they’ve got on.
Make it relevant
I studied Archaeology and Anthropology, which is pretty far away from design as subjects go. If it were a game of football, I’d have hit the goalpost. Doing medicine would probably mean I was at the wrong stadium in the wrong kit.
Nevertheless, there were still opportunities for me to link the two; whether that was talking about Design in the Neolithic, art amongst early humans, or the expression of design in various cultures, I managed to shoehorn it in. I would say my tutors were impressed but I’m pretty sure they didn’t even notice.
For best results, be willing to compromise
You could do all the above ten times over and still not waltz straight into your dream design job. Hands up, you’ll face challenges. You won’t be involved in a student design showcase where you can meet and dazzle prospective employers, and nobody is going to be handing you any Design Awards right off the bat.
Once I finished university I was stacking shelves for a few months and occasionally crying in the stock room. But in the midst of all that I was applying away, building my portfolio, and emailing every contact I had. Pals were sending me job listings, and my mum was cutting them out of the paper and posting them to me. I got interviews, rejections, and accidentally slept through one interview (don’t ask), but it all came good in the end: a job offer from my DREAM agency, dogs and all.
That’s the lot. If there’s one take-home message it’s that if you feel you’re on the wrong path, don’t beat yourself up. It seems ridiculous to make a bunch of hormonal teenagers decide on an expensive subject to study for three years whilst they’re also balancing their A-Levels, a part-time job, and half a shaved eyebrow because they thought it was too tufty. Mistakes happen - and if you meet the right people and ask the right questions you’ll turn out a corker. And also grow that eyebrow back.
