Found via Stuff no-one told me (but I learned anyway), just because.
A while ago, I wrote a post on my own blog about the things that I’d learned on placement, I’d learned so much in such a short space of time that I wanted to look back. A bit like Stefan Sagmeister’s “Things I’ve learned in my life so far” and like Jamie Wieck’s “50 Things..” I wanted to pass on my experiences so other people can learn from them too, maybe. You can read the original post here but here is the new and improved version after 4 months of placement and almost 3 months of employment.
It’s not all about making the tea!
That old cliche is that, interns make the tea, and well, it may be true. But more importantly, it’s all about the other stuff that you do, most of the time whilst you’re not making the tea.
Fitting into a 1cm square on the tube became an every day thing but with time, I ditched the northern line and resorted to quieter, less stressful ways of getting to work. The morning commute doesn’t have to be stressful.
Likewise Being a commuter isn't as hard as it was in the beginning.
At the beginning of my placement, it was a bit of a shock having to travel 18 miles each way morning and night to get to work each day. I was sure that I would never get used to it. But I have. It took about two months to do so but I got there. The things that you will need for a seamless journey into London every day are:
- an iPod (or similar mp3 player) full of songs and battery charge.
- a good book, I've read 9 whole books since I first started in October, more than I usually read in as many years.
- a not so new hobby of people watching, I wonder where they’re going, what their day has been like, and what they do.
The importance of organisation. (This should really be top of the list.)
Organisation becomes so important when it comes to file naming, folder organisation, images, fonts, copy, emails and your time. It is so so important and I can't emphasise it enough. My notebook never leaves my side for notes and lists etc.
The importance / value of time.
Time is so important when it comes to deadlines, especially when you have 10 minute deadlines (when a client comes to you and says I need this in the next 10 minutes!) I heard that old cliche of “I need it done yesterday,” and didn’t quite believe it, until a client asked me if she could have something done “this morning if possible” and I said to her “you do realise, it’s 12:10pm!” Now, I know that this isn’t quite an extreme case of “I need it done yesterday” but you get the idea.
The importance of absorbing everything around you.
I've realised how important it is to research and have your eyes open at all times, you don't always get time to research so having a mini library of research on your computer, in your mind, sketch book and collection is a great and priceless idea. It's handy having the Tate Modern just over the bridge from work too.
Choosing a typeface isn't as easy as it was at uni. Choosing imagery isn't as easy as it was at uni.
There are quite a few restrictions when it comes to designing for a client. You can’t just design how you did back in University. It seems an obvious point, but it’s something that I’ve noticed and found the most difficult to get to grips with.
The last piece of design is the best piece.
This may not always be the case, but when designing something, at the time it seems great, next week it’ll seem rubbish and you’ve done something better. It doesn’t mean that your work was rubbish last week, it means that your work is getting better.
“Challenge yourself a little bit everyday”
I will write that sentence very big on my wall, I tend to forget it lately. “Seeing the world like a child again” is another thing I tend to forget.
“The best design is the first” only works for lazy people… and unfortunately, for ten minute deadlines.
I feel refreshed after reading your post… thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Posted by: Gerhard | 23 May 2011 at 12:43 PM