Mike Rigby

Words Of Wisdom

Firstly Mike started talking about what the profession Graphic Design means to him. Mike started talking about the benefits of being a Graphic designer:

• It’s a good job, no two jobs are the same
• You get to collaborate with some amazing people, and artist
• You get to do Photography shoots with are glamorous, and even some tie get to go abroad with them
• Award nights and ceremony nights when you win awards, which often leads to nights out
• Strong design community, but a tight knit group of people
• People are helpful and everybody knows everybody
• It is easy to work for yourself, to set up your own design firm, it costs very little
• Good to work abroad

Mike then also talked about some of the bad points:

• Long hours and you often do not get paid for the overtime
• Difficult to get a job
• A lot of pressure, deadline do not move
• Initial pay is not good
• You can lose pitches which is time and effort
• Client interface and clients can often get involved with the design to much which can spoil the work
• Bad design does affect the environment

Mike also described some of the structure and the hierarchy or some design agencies, but he did mention they can and do vary from agency to agency.

1. Creative Director

2. Financial manager

3. Strategy Manager

4. Office Manager

5. Design Manager

6. Art Worker

7. Senior Designer

8. Middleweight Designer

9. Junior Designer

10. Placement

Mike then went on to talk about whom he did his placements with. He worked at imagination London for 6 months then moved to Manchester and worked at The Chase. He then got offered a job later on at The Chase.

Mike said working on a placement not only makes you contacts for later on in life. It also makes you aware of the speed you need tot work at. You get to work on real projects, Mike said especially when you realize the project can go to print, and when you see them out in the environment, it puts a smile on your face. Also free nights out are a big plus side.

When Mike worked at Imagination London, he was getting paid £150 a week. But when he got offered a job at The Chase he was earning £13,000 a year, he said he wouldn’t work for anything less.

How to get a Placement?

• Have 6 solid projects,
• Good strong ideas behind the work
• Impress the tutors
• The interview, be normal

TAKE PROFESSIONAL PRIDE IN EVERYTHING YOU DO! IT WILL GET NOTICED. Be pro-active, positive attitude, enthusiasm, asks questions, be eager and hungry, Socialism and always make a brew. Rejection is a part of design, do not stand still.

DON’T GET SINICAL TO EARLY!