10/08/2008

I’ve had questions lately about self-promotion and thought I’d take the time to go over some of the things I was taught to do and have found works best for designers and clients alike. This is just a shortlist, so feel free to get in touch with me.

To make you all feel better I’ve included some of the variations my website has under gone since leaving the program at SLC.

Step 1: Brainstorm

What matters most to you? Where do you excel? Who are you and where do you want to be? These questions really help define how your material will take shape. Strike It Up is an extension of my experiences at Scout Design and social design techniques.

Step 2: How do you like to work?

This is really about your personality and the way you prefer to interact with potential clients or other professionals. I’m pretty laid back and enjoy sitting down with a pint, so, again, a matchbook — formerly the pick-up tool from bars before the smoking ban — was a fun way of starting a conversation. The burnt edges of my stationery and envelope also speak to how passionate I am about my work and fit with the concept.

Step 3: THE BIG IDEA

How are you going to get noticed in the piles of self-promo from all the schools and all experience levels? Cliché doesn’t cut it and cheeseball only goes so far. It’s a chance to create something fun and interesting that shows to what degree you’re willing to pursue an idea (i.e. René’s paper finger trap).

Step 4: Campaign

This isn’t just a self-promo it should be like a campaign you’d do for a major client. All your materials need to be in-line with one another. Your stationery, business cards, envelopes, a mail-out piece and website need to sound and appear to be one in the same. Not identical but seem like a tight campaign package. Research your website, play with wording and find a way to use it to your advantage. My website took 50 searches to find one that would work with my idea and that’s how the finalized name was chosen. It’s not supposed to be easy.

Step 5: DIY

Investing in your idea is very smart. But, doing it yourself show your dedication as long as you’ve done an awesome job. A good designer tries to do it themselves because it’s fun. Show your passion.

Step 6: Research a shortlist

Where do you want to work? Who has the kinds of portfolio pieces that you’d kill for? Aim for 10 to 12 of them and go full out. Use employment resources like the RGD job board or Design Edge Canada. Finding a job should be your full-time job!

Step 7: Mail it!

E-mail is so convenient but it’s not near as effective as actual mail — yes, actual mail, like at the post office. E-mail is alright in some cases but most designers want something physical and not just a PDF with a clever e-mail — written in the same tone and in-line with your campaign as well. ;)

Step 8: Follow-up

Designers are busy people. Project turnaround is typically a matter of days or sometimes hours — or even less. It’s easy to forget about you. It’s not that we don’t care we’re just busy trying to make ends meet and out-doing ourselves on a daily basis. Phone but remember to be keen, not annoying.

Step 9: Ask questions

You’ll never learn if you don’t ask questions about where you went wrong and where you went right. Don’t let someone editorialize you and take out the creative spark you wanted in there but other people have opinions and some will be really helpful in the future.

Step 10: Learn from your mistakes and try to get better

No one’s perfect and, especially as students, you aren’t expected to be. Watch your spelling and grammar mistakes because those do make you look silly. Also, be thorough and consistent. Your confidence will show when you know your stuff is in good order and making you look sexy.

Again, shoot me an e-mail with any questions. This is purely my opinion but I’ve done a fair bit of this for myself, studios and clients, so I hope I’m getting better at it but there’s always room to learn more.

Cheers!