1. Employment Profile: What exactly does a graphic designer, photographer do? |
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 What field is your job in?
design/photography
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What is your job title?
graphic designer, photographer
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Please provide a brief description of the firm or organization that you currently work for
(size and general description of what type of organization it is)
I am a self-employed freelance graphic designer and photographer working from my home office.
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How long have you been employed in this position?
Since Fall of 2003.
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How many hours do you work a week on average?
20 to 30 on an average week; 50 to 60 when deadlines are looming.
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Please provide a BRIEF description of your duties and responsibilities. (job description)
I specialize in providing affordable creative services to small companies; Typically, I will help a startup company with their logo, brand identity, website, and stationery. I also take on projects for larger companies that may involve creating a print ad or PowerPoint template. I supplement my design services with pet and portrait photography. I also shoot products and events.
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What was your gross income last year? Please include any bonuses or incentives received.
$25,500.00
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What is your expected gross income for this year? Please include any bonuses or incentives you expect to receive.
18000
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Please
list any benefits you have (Please include number of weeks vacation,
sick leave and type of health insurance, retirement plan 401k)
I have health insurance through my husband's employer; since I freelance, I do not receive benefits.
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Do you feel you are under/well/over compensated at your current position?
Freelancing is difficult; I set my rate at $50 per hour, but often lower my rate to help with small company budgets.
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2. Work environment! |
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Does
your job entail you working with others on a daily basis? Is this
something you like/dislike about your job? Explain
I miss the culture of being in an office. I was laid off from my job in 2002; at that company I was responsible for the holiday intra-office events. I work from home, but stay in constant contact with my clients. I like the one-on-one relationships I have with my clients, and have a friendly rapport with them - something you often don't get in an office setting. It's a trade-off, really.
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Do you work collaboratively with supervisors/managers?
No
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Do you work collaboratively with your co-workers?
No
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Describe
your work location (e.g., office, home, theatre, in the field) and what
you like/dislike about working in it
Since it's just me, I don't really have anyone with whom to collaborate! :)
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Please rank in order of importance from 1-8 (1- most important 8- least important) Assign each number once.
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4 Income
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6 Work Environment - co-workers
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7 Work Environment - supervisors
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5 Benefits
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3 Hours
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2 Level of responsibility
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1 The actual "work" you do at your job
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8 Job Title
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3. How should someone new to the workforce get a J-O-B like yours? |
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If someone wanted to go about getting a job similar to yours, what would you recommend for him or her to do?
Work at a temp agency for a few years first, to get the feel of working on several different projects and in several different environments. Be part of a creative team, and gain collaborative experience before you strike out on your own. Being a creative designer is a talent, but you cannot ignore basic communication and collaboration skills!
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What
skills do you think a person should have if they want to pursue a
position like yours? Please be specific and explain why (e.g., social
skills, organization skills, technical skills)
Project organization, first and foremost; you will need to be comfortable working on many different projects at once, and you will have to track expenses and billing accordingly. Next, understand the needs of your clients; you will have to be very patient with people who are not skilled in knowing what to ask for, and you'll have to be even MORE patient with those who think they know exactly what they want, but actually don't. Be able to internalize several different personalities of your clients - you may work on vastly different projects, and will have to be comfortable taking a unique approach for each client. For instance, designing a website for a caterer is going to be a different experience than helping a baby-goods retailer with starting her business.
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Do you feel that you need a certain level of education or training to be successful in your job?
Design and business skills. I highly recommend a college degree. I have a B.A. in English.
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What advice would you give to someone who was about to start work in your position/ line of work?
Be humble. Creativity is a highly subjective area of expertise, and design is part art and part science. Once you define your audience (I targeted small business owners), be prepared to learn new perspectives on your approach to working. Design is an always-evolving medium (as is photography), so you should never feel that you know everything!
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