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How to be a Graphic Designer Without Losing Your Soul
Designers are quick to tell us about their sources of inspiration, but they are much less willing to reveal such critical matters as how to find work, how much they charge, and what to do when a client rejects three weeks of work and refuses to pay the bill. How to be a graphic designer without losing your soul addresses the concerns of young designers who want to earn a l...more
Paperback, 160 pages
Published
September 22nd 2005
by Princeton Architectural Press
(first published September 1st 2005)
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Aug 30, 2009
Claire
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
fledgling & flailing designers
Shelves:
onhand
This book is an excellent resource for freelancers in general. Shaughnessy is a graphic designer by trade, but his insight into what it takes to become a business professional in the creative world is invaluable. I would recommend this book to writers, artists, house-painters... pretty much anyone who works from home.
I have read this before… when I first became a student. It was on the reading list, and I had heard good things, so I picked it up and read bits and pieces here and there. Now I’m in my second year of freelancing and in the middle of trying to update my website, get more exposure and improve my skills, and I thought it would be a good place to start.
This book is full of gems, that I have found extremely helpful for specific elements of my work and in general. In the first chapter, Shaughnessy di...more
This book is full of gems, that I have found extremely helpful for specific elements of my work and in general. In the first chapter, Shaughnessy di...more
Sep 02, 2009
Caitlin
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Anyone working, or wanting to work, in creative industries
Well, this was a brilliant book. I should probably admit that even though I have a postgraduate design degree, I'm not a designer - I'm a classical composer and web interface developer - but in spite of the title, I think this is a fantastic book for anyone who is aiming to work, or trying to set their own business up, in pretty much any creative industry. The advice, while design-centric, can mostly be easily applied to other creative areas, and it gives a really fresh perspective on finding jo...more
This was a pretty good book. It covered a lot of the less glamorous areas of becoming a designer: things like actually getting a job and dealing with difficult clients. It also discusses the benefits/downsides of getting a job in a studio, in-house, as a freelancer, or setting up your own studio. I’m still not entirely sure where I plan on heading once I’m done school, I think working for an existing studio would be pretty cool, but I don’t want to rule anything out just yet.
I should note that w...more
I should note that w...more
I picked up this book solely based on its title, which I found to be, disappointingly, misleading. It would be more accurately titled The Practical Aspects of Being a Designer That No One In Art School Bothered To Teach You. It weighs the advantages of working for a firm versus going freelance, talks about the process of finding clients and proposing work, and provides a number of other pragmatic tips for the working designer. These are all unbelievably valuable, but not what I was expecting fro...more
A fantastic & perfect book for freelances and artists who wanna starting out, it''ll teach you things that Art school won't bother to teach you.
Mar 10, 2011
Danielle Nelson
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Designers new and seasoned, creative business owners
Fantastic book cover-to-cover. Not only new info, but plenty of reminders about things we all know but don't necessarily do.
Jun 03, 2013
Cara
marked it as to-read
I really really wanted to read this, but then I read the Kindle sample and found it very tedious. Is it just the copious amounts of front matter (two introductions and a foreword, totaling 10% of the book) that are boring, or is the whole book the same? Reading the table of contents made me want to buy it; reading the sample made me want to not. :P
Sep 26, 2011
Michael Graber
added it
This book gives practical, from the trenches advice for creative professionals. We read it as a group at The Southern Growth Studio. Everyone could relate. You could simply replace the word "designer" with such terms as writer, actor, etc. ... and make the content relevant for any creative who has to hustle with integrity to make a living.
A really informative book aimed at students and recent grads. I have little else to say than to tell you to go get it. Full of brilliant information that I feel as if I will take to heart for the rest of my life. One of the only books I own that I have defaced by highlighting some of the contents. Need to read this again.
Dec 07, 2008
AIGA Charlotte
added it
How to be a graphic designer without losing your soul addresses the concerns of young designers who want to earn a living by doing expressive and meaningful work, and who want to avoid becoming hired drones working on soulless projects.
Read at June 2007 by the Book
Read at June 2007 by the Book
One of the best design books I've seen yet. Adrian isn't dishing out a lot of eye candy here, just enough to keep the reader inspired, but he offers a rich lineup of real-world suggestions for any practicing designer or students looking at surviving in a competitive field.
Anyone just getting into graphic design (or those of you who might be losing your spark) need to place this book on top of your list. The design of the book in itself is inspirational, and the messages inside are at once humorous and practical.
If you've read Mike Monteiro's "Design is a Job", this is the book you should read next. In my case I read it first, a few years ago but it's a great book to turn to anytime you need to be reminded what your job actually is and how to do it.
This is a good book, but I found it didn't really answer the question of how not to lose your soul. A lot of great advice for graphic designers starting out - especially on preparing a portfolio, interviews and seeking out mentors.
This was an interesting book — not exactly what I expected, as I was thinking more along the lines of a “philosophy of design” book, and this is a book about the business and practice of being a working designer.
The author demonstrates and obvious and clear knowledge of the field, having worked as a designer for many years. Those just starting, or who are setting out on their own, will find this book an invaluable resource.
There are some chapters about the philosophy of design, and I found the...more
The author demonstrates and obvious and clear knowledge of the field, having worked as a designer for many years. Those just starting, or who are setting out on their own, will find this book an invaluable resource.
There are some chapters about the philosophy of design, and I found the...more
This is a fantastic book on how to be a graphic designer in the competitive market. If you reverse its point, it also helps a lot in understanding how to interview designers when piles of portfolios and resumes arrive at your desk.
Jul 26, 2007
Cathy
rated it
2 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
soon-to-be-established graphic designers
contrary to what the title states, this book won't tell you how to be a graphic designer.
it WILL tell you what to do once you've acquired the software skills, graduated from a fine arts school, developed an eye for design, and found a partner with whom to start your own agency. it will tell you "how to be an experienced graphic designer".
so it didn't do that much for me - a lot of common sense advice, a few informative interviews with eminent designers, and a page layout that was easy on the eye...more
it WILL tell you what to do once you've acquired the software skills, graduated from a fine arts school, developed an eye for design, and found a partner with whom to start your own agency. it will tell you "how to be an experienced graphic designer".
so it didn't do that much for me - a lot of common sense advice, a few informative interviews with eminent designers, and a page layout that was easy on the eye...more
Good read for the aspiring designer or the seasoned designer. Lots of ethical and practical responses to all the questions we ask ourselves as designers everyday.
Sep 07, 2007
Susie
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
freelancers, especially the arty ones
Shelves:
i-commented,
favorites
i don't remember who recommended this book to me, but i owe them a debt. this inspiring and thought-provoking text is a must-read for any freelancing graphic designer/illustrator/arts professional. reading it before i had started my own business would likely have reduced my confusion and helped me build the confidence, patience, motivation and professionalism i had to learn the hard way instead.
excellent read, excellent advice, excellent philosophies for any working creative pro.
not a text about...more
excellent read, excellent advice, excellent philosophies for any working creative pro.
not a text about...more
Very easy to read, very helpful and just really indispensable for any graphic designer. Highly recommended!
This is a great book for graphic designers and artists who wanna start their own business. Really inspiring!
a gift from Meenal. I haven't read it cover to cover, but it had some good insights and testimonials.
This book is good for someone who wants to learn the reality of working in the creative industry.
Feb 22, 2012
Daniel Apt
is currently reading it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
stopped-reading
Started it a long time ago, but now've set my mind to finishing it.
So far a great read.
So far a great read.
If you're a serious graphic designer with aspirations of starting your own firm you MUST read this.
Un excelente libro para todo aquel que pretenda ser diseñador gráfico.
Sep 10, 2009
Patrik Berg
added it
Fascinating stories about the how/why/when essentials of a design practice.
Worth reading, but buy it used and sell it after...
Jan 06, 2011
Matthew Pfahlert
is currently reading it
Really well done so far...soul searching.
:)
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