Job Responsibilities
Client meetings to determine their needs. On a weekly basis I
would attend 2 client meetings.
Design brochures, pamphlets, signs, displays, newsletters,
publications, ads, displays, Logos and brand identity. Weekly
this is where most of my time is spent. This is approx. 5 hours
out of an 8 hour day. Designs are presented/pitched to client
assuring that all of the specifications, needs and desires have
been included in the design.
During a month 1 to 2 presentations of final designs would be
done. If there are tweaks or revisions needed, it would be
considered in the "designing" hours of a day. At a senior level
few re-designs or serious revisions should be taking place.
Designers at this level should be able to ask the right
questions in the initial client meeting in order to get to the
right design.
Quoting out prices on printing, photography and illustration is
also done. For each project this may be a total of 2-3 hours per
project. Including writing the request for quote, replying to
questions asked by the suppliers.
Producion prepress is done once the project has been proofed,
approved and signed off on. Depending on the size of the project
i.e. is it a 40 page publication or 1 small ad. Generally
producion should take aprox. 10% of your design time.
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Job Requirements
Traditionally in Canada graphic design studies have been done in
a 3 year college level. Recently several universities are
offering 4 year degree programs. In college most if not all gd
programs adhere to the practices of our associations. In Ontario
the Registerd Graphic Designers of Ontario, in the rest of
Canada, The Society Of Graphic Designers of Canada. The workload
is tremendous as you work through hands on projects in several
classes simultaneously.
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Uppers
At a senior level, clients have faith in your ideas, so very little hard selling
is needed. Hence, few revisions and changes or altering your direction is needed.
Being in the field this long allows you to have many contacts in the industry.
This allows for great networking and people to call when you need assistance on a
project, or answers to a technical question.
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Downers
If you are working in an in-house department, working with the
same look can become boring and stifeling.
Unless you move up in skill level with software, art direction
or management.
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Lifestyle
The lifestyle of this field depends on what part of the industry you are working
in. As a senior designer in public health, I am not meeting with outside clients
only internal public health teams. Our office has a work/life balance that is
unheard of in the advertising industry where many designers work. My hours are
flexible and dress code is casual. There is no travel in my position. I may train
junior designers and supervise or art direct on projects.
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Compensation
Usually designers are paid per hour. I currently make $26. per
hour,am part of a union. This is on the mid to high level for
Graphic Designers doing design without any other duties in
Canada.
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Advice to Jobseekers
I think it is a great occupation. But you must be prepared to
continue to learn and continually upgrade software skills. If
you have a technical background it adds to your resume. Being
able to listen and decipher what the client is telling you into
a visual is key. Joining a professional association either the
RGD, GDC, or AIGA is extremely important for networking,
education, best practices, and friendship.
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