Visiting professional

Harrison Park of Studio DBD came to visit and shared some insight into his professional practice. 

The relationship between client and designer can be a strained one. Sometimes the client has a specific view on what the final outcome of the brief should be, which may go against the design treatment and rationale behind the original idea. Thats why as Harrison explained its always good to have multiple possibilities to the brief to fall back on.

A normal day in the studio isn't as creative as it seems. What slows it down are the hundreds of emails he receives everyday, dealing with clients, printers, etc and the process of after-branding, doing small design adjustments to projects already greenlighted by the client. This lead onto to his point of how design studios will often showcase the bigger more professional briefs in their portfolio but to keep them afloat, a lot of small briefs would have been done that they won't show you. 

Working for two studios, it was clear which one he enjoyed working for more. In Studio DBD, there's a more flexible atmosphere unlike the more corporate environment he works for during Mon to Wed. He explained that the briefs are more time focused and everything has to work to a certain schedule, which illustrates how that studio is money focused. This contrasts against his time at Studio DBD where the work he feels, is more creative and a friendlier atmosphere. 

Accepting the first job offer you receive after graduating may not be the best option. It is more beneficial to 'play the field' and to see which studio aligns with your design practice. Otherwise you'll be "doing it for the meal and not doing it for the reel" as Aaron Duffy explained at OFFSET. Being at a job that you align with will help develop your practice and passion for design. But sometimes if it means interning for a year, personal sacrifices have to be made.

Harrison explained that working freelance is a good stepping stone to starting a design studio. Even though working freelance isn't a personal aim, it will help build more personal relationships with clients, printers, etc. This will be useful once setting up the studio as the connections will help bring in work, and reduce the need to find resources. Working in the professional field as well, it is beneficial to produce your own work alongside the professional briefs. This will demonstrate your time management and creative outlet to potential employers.