So, you want to work in a design studio?

7 lessons every graduate should learn before they start work at a graphic design studio.

After the fantastic recent Werkhouse workshop, where 20 design professionals help 30 young designers tackle a brief over a weekend, I thought it would be good to share some thoughts about starting a career in a design studio...

With 25 years under our belts at Mytton Williams, we like to think we know a thing or two about design studios, and we’ve employed and interviewed our fair share of graduates. But experience aside, we all remember our first job in the industry. You’re out of the familiar territory of design school and in at the deep end. Even without a pandemic to contend with, the process can be daunting. So we thought about what we could do to help. From interviews to pay transparency, we wanted to shed some light on what working in a design studio is really like—and hopefully make that first step a bit easier.

1. First impressions count

Design is a small world, and people talk to each other. Try to remember that when you’re in the thick of applications.?

Approach each application with intention and care, don’t allow avoidable mistakes to let you down. Infamous examples include getting the company name wrong, dissertation-length emails and generic mass applications. A real person is reading your application, and making a bad impression won’t help—no matter how incredible your work is.

When it comes to portfolios, we’re expecting a PDF or website, with about 8 projects, the stronger at the beginning and end.?

You’ve landed an interview? Congratulations. Come with questions, follow up with a thank you and keep in touch. Even if you aren’t the right fit at the time, you’ve made a positive impression. You never know when your name might come up for other opportunities or in conversations with fellow studios.

Before you know it, it will be your first day. Don’t be late (be early). Check the map. Think about what you want from the experience. Expect to be shown around the studio, where things are, who you should talk to if you have any problems or queries. You should hear about Health and Safety. You will be set up on the system the studio uses, be it Teams, Slack or Miro, every team has a way to share information. You may have to sign an NDA—more on that later. Imposter syndrome creeping in? See Lesson 2.

2. You don’t need to be the best at everything

Fresh out of design school? You’re not going to know everything, and no one is expecting you to.

Sell your strengths and accept you can’t be the best at everything. You’ll soon realise everyone in a studio brings different strengths to the table, and that’s what makes a good creative team and collaborating on projects necessary—and fun.

Working on a variety of briefs will naturally lead you to find where your strengths lie, and you’ll start to attract more of those projects. Something you’re not brilliant at? Be open and willing to take on advice. A studio environment is one of the best places to learn from other designers, so don’t be shy about learning from your fellow designers’ strengths.

Your first 3 months will likely be a probation period. Be curious, ask lots of questions—even the ones that feel stupid—and find your place within the team.

We’ve had some great young designers who were not team players. They usually don’t last. The ones who stay tend to be the people who help out, are curious and always ready for feedback, who learn about the company, ask about the projects, and offer to make the tea or coffee—it’s always appreciated.

3. If you want something, you have to ask for it

You are in charge of your growth as a designer, so you’re going to have to learn to advocate for yourself.

Feedback is your best friend. Don’t be afraid to initiate a conversation with your boss or colleagues about how you’re doing. Getting comfortable with this kind of discussion will help you down the line when working with clients—where open dialogue is vital.

The ‘money talk’ can be another awkward conversation. So, once again, get comfortable with being uncomfortable. Whether you are negotiating a salary, freelance fee or asking for a pay rise at your current job, asking to be paid properly for your work doesn’t make you difficult. It makes you someone who knows their worth as a designer.

Your employer should set out the details of your employment clearly from the start. You should receive a formal offer letter with the basics (salary, role, work hours, start date etc). Once you’ve started, it’s good practice to be given a formal written contract and a full job description, so you know what is expected of you.?

You should have formal appraisals annually where you can discuss how it’s going and talk about training needs. A job description will come in handy again here, as it makes it easier to ask for a pay rise, based on how the scope of your responsibilities has grown.

4. You deserve to get paid

Like every industry, design isn’t perfect.

In my 30 years as a professional designer, I’ve heard many tales of young designers doing substantial ‘work experience’, or even starting work, for no pay. I appreciate that in such a competitive environment, young designers are keen to get their foot on the ladder, and work experience at a design agency—especially a well established studio—can look good on a CV and potentially ‘open doors’. But if you’re given a brief or asked to work on a project, and are doing something of value in the studio, you deserve to be paid. You can find further advice here: www.gov.uk/employment-rights-for-interns

Doing your research and building confidence is the key to getting paid what you deserve. Platforms such as Creative Lives In Progress provide transparent advice about navigating your finances as a creative, and you can find salary insights for a potential employer on Glassdoor.

For those under-represented in design, this can be even harder. The pay gap problem is another issue the industry needs to face, but support is out there. Collectives like Kerning The Gap offer mentorship opportunities, resources and networking events.

5. Get used to signing NDA’s and contracts

I’m a creative. Why do I have to deal with contracts??

Once you join a studio, you’ll soon learn that signing contracts and NDAs (Non Disclosure Agreements) are just a necessary part of the job. At worst, contracts are there to protect you when things go wrong. They set out the guidelines for the project as well as the expected outcome from the studio and the client.?

While a project manager in the studio might handle the contract side of projects, get used to reading the small print. If you choose to do any freelance work down the line, you’ll be glad you paid attention.

6. You’re going to make mistakes

Even the most seasoned designer makes mistakes. So when you’re just making your way in the industry, you’re bound to make a few.?

Made a mistake? Own up to it. Fix it. Learn from the experience.?

It might feel like the end of the world at the time, but mistakes are a fact of life. Everyone in the studio will have moments they’d rather forget, errors they caught just in time and pitches that didn’t go quite to plan.?

7. The industry needs you

New designers mean new blood for the industry—and new growth.?

Once you’ve figured out the ins and outs of the studio, don’t be afraid to bring in fresh ideas and challenge the status quo. It might seem daunting when you’re the new kid on the block, but a fresh pair of eyes and a different perspective is invaluable to any design studio wanting to keep up?as the industry evolves.

Welcome to design in the real world.?