What difficulties did you face at the beginning of your career?
Oh well, there are a lot of difficulties but I was and I still am thankful for all of them. The biggest challenge is time management and managing expectations with your partners and clients. These things have pretty much nothing to do with your craft as a designer, but they make the difference when it comes to your success & happiness.
What should a young designer do in order not to get hired by anybody?
Great question, and the more I think about it, the answer is pretty simple. In order to not get hired, don’t do anything, just sit there and do nothing.
Are there any things you wish you knew at the beginning of your career?
I guess my answer here will be different every year you ask me. But if there is one thing, then the fact that politics also rule the creative world. I’ve always been very good at ignoring this, and every once in a while I learn it again and again.
Are there any rules or habits that help you do your job more efficiently?
Even though I’m German, I’m actually pretty ‘unorganized’ compared to others. I don’t keep to-do lists, I don’t have any notes and not use my calendar really. My habit is to just work & get things done. Getting things done is highly addictive, so I usually try to keep a good momentum as a constant habit in order to keep the energy flowing and do things right away instead of letting them wait for too long. There are no right or wrong habits/rules usually, everything can work as long as it’s compatible with the people who work with you, that’s the only variable.
Would you recommend some books that young designers might find useful?
I actually don’t read any design books, but I can highly recommend The Art of Choosing by Sheena Iyengar or Ignore Everybody by Hugh MacLeod.
Tobias answered the questions on July 5, 2014.
The answers were published on July 8, 2014.
The answers were published on July 8, 2014.