AboutChristopher Quereau Expertise Owner of a Creative Services firm in Northern New York. Available for questions relating to the business of design, client relations, billing, design startups, employee management, production, brand and print development.
Experience GrafiQa has a combined experience of over 30 years. Our client list is extensive. We have developed brands for companies across the state of New York. Visit www.grafiqa.com to learn more about what we do.
Question Hi!
I am a high school student, and I am looking for information on the career, graphic designer. I am very interested in design,and I was wondering if you are able to answer some questions for me that deals with graphic design. I hope you will take some time in answering them and replying back. Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Tammy Chung (orange.tamster@gmail.com)
1.How did you get into being a graphic designer?
2.Who do you work for? A company or is it your own company?
3.What skills are required to be a graphic designer?
4.What type of designing do you do?
5.What are some challenges that you may encounter being a graphic designer?
6.What is the daily routine that you go through each day?
7.What do you enjoy the most in your career? The least?
8.Is there anything in your career that has benefited you?
9.Do you think the occupation of graphic designer may be different in the future?
10.What softwares do you use in your career?
11.How do you usually get your ideas in designing?
12.Are there any limits when working with designs?
13.How long do you usually spend on one project?
14.If you were not able to complete the assignment on time, what will the consequences be?
15.What are the experiences you need to be a graphic designer?
16.Do you find this career steady or freelanced?
17.Did you ever consider any other careers besides graphic design? If so, what may it be?
18.Is this job satisfying to you? Have you ever had second thoughts about it?
19.What influenced you in becoming a graphic designer?
20.Do you find graphic designing a competitive occupation?
Answer 1.How did you get into being a graphic designer?
I was always interested in being creative and very interested in computers - I was in college under another major and switched to the design department and right away I knew it was for me.
2.Who do you work for? A company or is it your own company?
It is my own company - but first I worked in NYC as a designer at an AD agency and then at a design firm - and I highly reccomend working for other people before you start on your own - no school can teach you more then the real world after you graduate.
3.What skills are required to be a graphic designer?
That is debatable but I strongly believe that all of the computer programs ie: photoshop, illustrator, quark, indesign - macromedia products, etc - are all ONLY tools - and you must have a trained and experience eye and skill to be able to weild those tools correctly. In other words being a designer is not about computers and software - but knowing them is obviously critical.
4.What type of designing do you do?
Print, Web, Identities ie: catalogs, brochures, logos, postcards, media kits, packaging, posters etc etc.
5.What are some challenges that you may encounter being a graphic designer?
There are tons of so-called designers out there but a true designer understands what the client needs and delivers a valuable solution - I dont like competing with lesser designers for large jobs - especially when the client can't see the difference. - It's important to keep your quality above the competition and always strive to be better at what you do.
6.What is the daily routine that you go through each day?
I typically am at my office 5 days per week starting at 8:30 and leaving at around 4:30 - 5:00. I work on whatever projects are on the agenda - and when i'm not working on projects i am trying to get more ie: going to Chamber of commerce networking events, planning a new postcard, taking out an ad, meeting with a client etc etc.
7.What do you enjoy the most in your career? The least?
The most would truely be delivering a grand slam finished design to a client who loves it - the least would be being a salesman sometimes and going out and trying to get new clients - but that's just me.
8.Is there anything in your career that has benefited you?
I do what I love, I'm self employed, and I make a good living.
9.Do you think the occupation of graphic designer may be different in the future?
Yes, like almost all occupations it will evolve ie: when designers first started they were pasting together manual mechanicals with no computers - most of them who could not keep up - lost their jobs when everything switched to computers - changes will keep occuring but its important to stay ahead of the game - i think that applies to all careers though if you think about it.
10.What softwares do you use in your career?
Photoshop, quark, indesign, flash, fireworks, dreamweaver, and several others
11.How do you usually get your ideas in designing?
Some times they just come, sometimes they are based on a formula, sometimes i will get an idea from somewhere ie: magazine, tv etc.
12.Are there any limits when working with designs?
The major limits are that as a designer you are not an artist - which means you need to design whats RIGHT for your client - not whats RIGHT for your artistic whim of that moment - the Key to being a successful designer is knowing and understanding what the client needs and delivering that to them.
13.How long do you usually spend on one project?
That completely depends on the client and the project a website can take 1 week to 3 months depending.
14.If you were not able to complete the assignment on time, what will the consequences be?
That depends on the client or your boss - they could fire you - but if you budget your time correctly and have adequete time management skills - i dont see why that would be a problem.
15.What are the experiences you need to be a graphic designer?
thats different for everyone but to be a good well-rounded designer I would say you need at least an associates degree in design and/or a good internship at a design shop where you do a variety of projects.
16.Do you find this career steady or freelanced?
It is as steady as you make it.
17.Did you ever consider any other careers besides graphic design? If so, what may it be?
not since college no.
18.Is this job satisfying to you? Have you ever had second thoughts about it?
Sometimes I want to run off to hollywood and make movies - but besides that no.
19.What influenced you in becoming a graphic designer?
Just seeing that i could work with computers and be creative most of the day was plenty of influence for me.
20.Do you find graphic designing a competitive occupation?
Yes it seems there are tons of designers out there and especially if you live in a city Like NY or boston, or LA - there are tons of good ones. - But there seems to be more then enough work to go around if you learn how to get it.
