AIGA New York’s Post

The Dark Side of Becoming a Self-Taught Designer 🌑 Highs and lows, struggles and wins in the journey of becoming a self-taught designer. 🚀 The Quest for Clarity: Navigating the sea of online resources can be overwhelming, leaving designers unsure of where to start or what to learn. 🔍 Loneliness of the Solo Quest: Self-teaching can feel isolating. Without a mentor or peers, doubts and questions can linger without answers. 💡 Lack of Structured Learning: Formal education offers a structured curriculum, while self-taught designers often piece together their education, leading to gaps in knowledge. 😔 Battling Self-Doubt: Without guidance, self-taught designers may question their skills and doubt their ability to compete in the professional world. 💰Finicial Problems: Not having enough money to subscribe to courses, classes and tools for their core development. ⏰ Time Management Struggles: Balancing learning with other commitments like work or studies can be challenging, leading to burnout or neglecting other areas of life. 🌐 Navigating the Online Maze: Scouring the internet for valuable information can be like searching for a needle in a haystack, spending too much time and energy. It is a hard journey but the end result is extraordinary talents.♥️ These young designers need to be guided, mentored, given opportunities and supported through resources, ideas, collaborations and internships to make them better designers. 🔥 ------ P.S. Follow me into this journey where I'll help young designers leverage resources, tools and ideas to craft a successful journey. #DesignJourney #EmpowerDesigners #grafikdesign

Three times… That’s the amount of times I’ve hired someone “unqualified,” That turned out to be invaluable to our company. 1. College intern Highly motivated. Suggested a book for him to read when working for us— He finished in a week, and listed out lessons he learned from it. Someone that motivated? They can learn anything. 2. Barista turned developer Met him while he was making an espresso, expressed interest in coding. Brought in a couple books for him next time I stopped in. He finished the books, finished a coding camp, and I gave him a job at my startup. Another invaluable employee. 3. Editorial designer turned product designer Could a designer for magazine layouts also be a product designer? They had a firm grasp of design and aesthetics… If they could design a layout, they could design a webpage (or so I figured). Not so. I won’t lie: it was a painful process. Lots of sweat and tears— It wasn’t working and we nearly ended it. But we paid for them to go through General Assembly bootcamp and rehired them once they finished. The second time was a charm. you don’t always need a degree in something to learn it effectively— Sometimes, the best talent you recruit will be unexpected.

Part two of my journey towards officially certifying our media design students Grafisch Lyceum Rotterdam is almost complete. Just two more days, and then a lot of students will be double certified. "So what?" I hear you thinking. Well, what's the big deal? It's really quite extraordinary. The challenge we faced was clear: raise the level of software knowledge. The advantage of these Adobe and Certiport - A Pearson VUE Business tests is that each student is assessed in exactly the same way. There's no room for debate. Pass, and you're good; fail, tough luck. Naturally, we set the bar high, so a passing grade on these tests is at least a 7 out of 10. With two days left, why am I posting this now? Because I'm incredibly proud of my mentor class. Only two students out of the entire class need a retake for the second test. Everyone else passed on the first try! Twice! How awesome is that? I think that's quite an achievement, and I just had to share it. And those two... they'll nail it in the retake. They know exactly where to improve and will definitely pass. Not only will they receive certificates and online badges for their resumes, but they'll also get these fantastic buttons to display their achievements. The great thing is that by using a combination of Photoshop and either InDesign or Illustrator, they can also refer to themselves as "Professional Visual Designers." So, when a student comes for a job interview for their internship at your company, there's a good chance they're certified and really know their stuff. We have another period ahead of us where we'll continue to focus on software skills. We'll be doing this in collaboration with some partners (Carnero concept + creatie, Handen van Humanitas, De Oud- Rotterdammer), and I'm really looking forward to it. To be continued... #glrvibes #adobeeducreative

Happy Monday, A little bit out of normal posting, but a question for my human factors and UX community!   If you had to introduce someone to our discipline and field, what article, book, or piece of media would you tell them to check out? I recently started chatting with some freshmen in college who are interested in pursuing a career in HF and UX, but they don't know much about it. So I led them to a couple articles, but I would love your input as to what you would lead them towards! #humanfactors #earlycareer #Students

🎨 Have you ever felt passionate about your work, that unstoppable energy propelling you forward? That's the fire we all know as artists, creatives, or in any field we love. But as we grow, reality sets in. The industry cares less about your passion and more about results. 💡 We as designers must have envisioned ourselves as the next Manish Malhotra in childhood, but the journey isn't as glamorous as we imagined. It's about nurturing ourselves daily and staying passionate about our craft despite the challenges. 🌟 Being a designer means constantly honing your skills and staying inspired. Yet, there's a gap when we enter the industry. In college, we were taught to explore and be wild in our creative thinking, but the real world demands results. 🛠️ As newcomers, we face numerous hurdles: 1️⃣ High educational investments without proportional opportunities. 2️⃣ Our creativity is acknowledged, but we're expected to achieve tangible outcomes. 3️⃣ Underpaid and overworked for the sake of learning & exposure. 4️⃣ Our unique design process can sometimes be misinterpreted by those unfamiliar. 💡 Solutions to bridge this gap: 1️⃣ Evaluation criteria for internships in colleges should focus on real-world impact. 2️⃣ Industry should value a designer's potential to learn and grow. 3️⃣ Designers and industry must align for mutual benefit. 4️⃣ Fair compensation and respect for work-life balance are essential. 🤝 Let's reflect on our journey as newcomers and share insights in the comments. Together, we can strive for a more supportive and equitable industry. #DesignIndustry #CreativeJourney #DesignerLife #DesignCommunity #CreativeChallenges #IndustryInsights #DesignSolutions #CareerReflections #DesignEducation #ProfessionalDevelopment #CreativeProfessionals #DesignThinking #IndustryAlignment #CareerGrowth #CreativeMinds #WorkLifeBalance #DesignCareer #ProfessionalJourney #CreativeIndustry #CollaborativeEfforts

In "What Our Best College Instructors Do", a sense of belonging was tied for the most common theme in the sample of students currently enrolled in an undergraduate degree program. For the student participant, high levels of communication and in-class discussion facilitated community building and value affirmation. Instructors play a crucial role in enhancing students' experiences in higher education. However, instructional and learning experience designers also have the potential to create experiences that begin to establish a sense of belonging for students. 1️⃣ Interactive and Collaborative Activities: Include group projects, peer review, and discussion forums to encourage interaction and teamwork. 2️⃣ Personalized Learning Experiences: Offer assignment options that allow students to choose topics or formats that interest them, catering to individual preferences. 3️⃣ Supportive and Inclusive Environment: Develop a comprehensive welcome module with a course overview, FAQ, and orientation on navigating the course and incorporate culturally inclusive content and activities that represent students' diverse perspectives and backgrounds. 4️⃣ Community Building Opportunities: Create informal, non-course-related discussion spaces (e.g., a virtual café or lounge) where students can socialize and connect on topics unrelated to coursework. 5️⃣ Course Layout and Visual Design: Use photos, illustrations, and graphics representing various cultures, backgrounds, and experiences and incorporate interactive elements such as videos, animations, quizzes, and simulations to engage students in diverse ways. "What Our Best College Instructors Do: Reflections by Students about Meaningful Learning Experiences" via Every Learner Everywhere https://bit.ly/3KBoqfV #LXD #InstructionalDesign #Belonging #OnlineLearning #eLearning #CourseDesign #InclusiveEducation #CommunityBuilding

🌟Stepping onto campus was like walking onto a blank canvas—my excitement and curiosity were bursting from the seams. My goal? To explore every possible aspect of the first year , meet new faces, and dive headfirst into the world of learning. I went deep into joining several clubs and communities, learning and experiencing them—photography and videography, environment activism with Reef, and technical innovation with similarly inclined peers. I didn't let any opportunity slip away. I didn't emphasize much on coding skills as everyone was already running behind. I didn't want to go with the flow. The photography club honed my skills behind the lens. Reef introduced me to a world of eco-consciousness and worthwhile relationships.I can say, hands down the best part of my first year. The friendship and the bond I made with my seniors is just incomparable with the skills I learn. Meanwhile, the technical club sharpened my competitive edge, preparing me for challenges beyond campus boundaries. At Arceon, the college magazine, I found my niche as head designer, refining my graphic design ability and creating unforgettable visual stories. In fact, one of my designs even lit up Instagram—a testament to what creativity and passion could do. Now, as an intern at Progressia, a dynamic startup, I am honing my UI/UX and graphic design skills, all while working on real-world projects that push the envelope and inspire innovation. From a blank canvas to an rainbow of experience and achievement, my first year of college has been nothing short of amazing. Here's to seizing every opportunity and painting a future full of possibilities! #CollegeJourney #SkillsGrowth #OpportunityAwaits

How was your experience starting your Creative career? There is a growing hunger to pursue the industry but the metrics of doing so still seem mysterious to many 🔮 Some of the points in this article really rang true for me during my schooling and upbringing - if you get a chance its definitely worth a read! 🔮 - Is there a disconnect between higher education and the realities of working in the industry? 🔮 - And, does this perception of inaccessibility start in school and how creative students are somewhat steered back toward STEM careers? #creativecareers

Insightful article from 1stdibs Introspective Magazine that sheds light on the transformative initiative, United in Design. This pioneering movement is not just a response to the disparities within the interior design industry but a beacon of hope for a more inclusive and equitable future. In a world where diversity and representation are increasingly recognized as essential components of success, United in Design emerges as a catalyst for change. By providing mentorship, networking opportunities, and financial support to underrepresented designers, this initiative is breaking down barriers and fostering a community where talent knows no bounds. The article delves into the stories of designers who have benefited from United in Design's programs, showcasing how access to resources and support can unlock untapped potential. From mentorship programs to scholarships, the initiative is not only leveling the playing field but also nurturing the next generation of design leaders. Initiatives like United in Design are instrumental in reshaping industries for the better, by championing diversity and amplifying marginalized voices, we not only enrich our creative landscapes but also cultivate environments where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. I love United in Design's mission, its recognises that it is only united that we can build a future where talent knows no boundaries and where the beauty of diversity shines through in every design. #UnitedInDesign #Inclusivity #DiversityInDesign #InteriorDesign #Equity #CommunityBuilding #TransformativeInitiatives

As part of my apprenticeship with Centre for Digital Public Services / Canolfan Gwasanaethau Cyhoeddus Digidol I recently had the opportunity to attend Accessibility training - UX and Visual Designers as part of HSBC's train 1000 scheme, which was delivered by Hassell Inclusion. The training was informative and rewarding. The facilitators expertise and passion for the subject, was evident throughout. I really benefitted from the real world examples given. I found the reoccurring emphasis on user research and understanding user needs invaluable (especially as I was on my user research placement at the time). It served as a valuable reminder of the importance of user centred design in creating inclusive designs and services. One aspect that stood out was the emphasis on screen reader accessibility. I hadn't realised the depth of considerations needed for screen readers until these sessions. However, I felt that other aspects of accessibility needs, such as BSL and mobility & cognitive difficulties, could have been explored more comprehensively. Since attending the training Jonathan Hassell has shared that Hassell Inclusion's webinar on 23rd May addresses this - focussing on Vulnerable users and accessibility. As an apprentice, I initially thought some of the topics might be too advanced for me, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that I could grasp most of the content. I believe the insights gained from these sessions will be invaluable as I embark on my interaction design placement. Excited for what lies ahead! 🚀 #InteractionDesign #Accessibility #UserResearch #InclusiveDesign #LearningJourney