Comments on: In-House, Studio or Freelance Designer?

By: LaurenMarie

LaurenMarie — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 16:45:20 +0000

Nikki, I'd say you're on the right track. Honestly, big corporations are nothing more than people. I worked in the corporate office for franchiser Prudential Real Estate (as in subsidiary of Prudential Financial, the international life insurance company) and it wasn't anything spectacular (I mean to say, it was just normal, probably a lot like your office). We had about 130 people in the corporate office and only 8-12 in the marketing dept.My advice would be don't settle. Always look for opportunities to improve your designs by studying what you think is good design. Pick out what's good about it and try to incorporate that in your work (for ideas, see my elements and principles of design articles). Work with different grids, see the benefits and drawbacks of 3 vs. 5 column grids, try different combination of fonts. Study typography books, and improve your technical skills by reading and practicing tutorials for programs like InDesign and Photoshop.Does that help?

By: Nikki Meunier

Nikki Meunier — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 14:34:02 +0000

I graduated college in May of 2008 as a graphic designer and quickly picked up my first in-house designer job with a state trade association. At times I am very insecure about my work because I am fresh from school and don’t get the regular feedback/critiquing from professors or fellow designer classmates.

Along with the communications director and staff writer, our team of three is the communication vehicle for this association.

I have never worked with an agency and as a college student I picked up some freelance opportunities through work and a few more after graduating. After working as a in-house designer for a year now, sometimes I question whether or not this is the best for me. I have nothing to complain about besides the typical office politics (which cannot be avoided). What do I need to do to well-round my experience for possible future endeavors. I’m not technically designing the same materials all the time. We offer two conferences a year and I have designed the theme. We also incorporate articles in our bi-monthly e-publications, in which I layout in a magazine spread.

I eventually want to work in a design department for a corporation, but not sure what experience I need to gain a higher position with these companies. Or if I’m on the right track?

Any comments or suggestions from Design/Art Directors would be helpful and greatly appreciated.

By: Muneeb

Muneeb — Thu, 21 May 2009 06:53:51 +0000

i been freelancing and working in small web and ad firms, but i had recently applied for an in-house designer job which would consist of doing both web and print work, the interviewer said it was unjustice for to join a job where work isn’t spontaneous as we would be working on one brand and books and proposal designs .. i was blank, to how to response back other than the job would be comfortable and not much client hassels and contracts but was shocking when she said i would get bored at the job … :S

By: LaurenMarie

LaurenMarie — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 21:13:34 +0000

Luc,
Thank you for a different perspective! It makes sense about the ego issue at agencies now that you mention it, but I wouldn’t have though about that before. Best of luck with your freelancing! Thanks for stopping by to add your thoughts.