What difficulties did you face at the beginning of your career?
Lack of sleep! I worked way too much. I designed full time at an agency (40 hrs) and then did 20–30 extra hours of freelance a week. I’ve since learned that having a life balance is much more important than having a ton of work.
What should a young designer do in order not to get hired by anybody?
Forget to be courteous. Say please or thank you! I’m a firm believer in being kind.
Are there any things you wish you knew at the beginning of your career?
So many things! But I guess that’s just how life goes, right? I wish I’d paid more attention in my business practices class. When I started freelancing, I just had to learn taxes, contracts, billing, etc as I went. I’m learning from my mistakes.
Are there any rules or habits that help you do your job more efficiently?
I’ve learned over the years that I do my best work early in the morning. I’m usually up by 4:30. No one emails me at that time. Everything is quiet. It’s my favorite way to work. In addition, I always take a “nature break”. Sometimes it’s a walk around the neighborhood; on a busy day, it’s just a sit on my porch. I’ve learned that I’m most productive when I get fresh air.
Would you recommend some books that young designers might find useful?
When I’m in a design rut, I often turn to Maira Kalman’s The Pursuit of Happiness. I think she’s just brilliant and I’m always inspired by the way she sees the world. I also am a huge fan of Print Magazine — it’s a great way to stay in tune with the design world.
Amanda answered the questions on July 2, 2014.
The answers were published on July 3, 2014.
The answers were published on July 3, 2014.