Doesn’t everybody wish they could be famous in some way? Well is it worth it? What about in the design world?
In chapter 8, it talks about the confusion of being famous vs. having a reputation. I think that when it comes to business a lot of people confuse the two, well if you’re famous doesn’t that mean that your have a good reputation? Not necessarily having a good reputation or even one at all is more important to your company then being famous. Being famous in the design world could be the end for your studio in the future, if you weren’t built on a strong foundation to begin with the stardom won’t last long.
Getting noticed is still very important and it can be done without the corrupt fame that leads to the death of a studio. The most important thing in getting noticed is just doing great work, you will get noticed that way whether you like it or not. Other ways to get noticed would be to help new designers out, give talks at schools or at conferences and write about design, blogging is such a huge social network and it’s a good way to share your knowledge with the world.
To be successful in your studio it is important to design for your portfolio then to design for yourself, not that you shouldn’t ever design for yourself but when you do to keep it separate from the studios work. People want to see straightforward work when looking for a studio to hire. They don’t want to see this artsy over the top work that you might design for a competition. Also speaking of competition they can be very rewarding for you and for your studio but be aware that you are competing against the entry’s and not the best out there because they do cost money.
A designer is someone who needs to keep up with the times almost on a regular basis, with the trends changing constantly and the technology and software always updating. There are many ways to keep up with your fellow designers; visiting conferences, this is where designers go to hear about the latest in their world from other designers and to see the competition work. Attending lectures is very important, especially if the subject is knowledgeable. Also having a relationship with art colleges, this is a great way to get your name out to the up and coming designers of the future.
