What difficulties did you face at the beginning of your career?
I think a lot of things in design were not taught at school so I had to learn on the spot. For example, I still haven’t master the art of dealing with clients, I still don’t understand production too well and not knowing too many people to help out on projects...
What should a young designer do in order not to get hired by anybody?
Hmm… Interesting question. Everyone likes hard-working and nice people. So be lazy and mean, you won’t get hired!
Are there any things you wish you knew at the beginning of your career?
I wish I knew that I will spend at least half of my day answering emails, a quarter phone calls, a quarter design. Also, not everything you designed the client can accept or afford :-(
Are there any rules or habits that help you do your job more efficiently?
Set deadlines for myself, force me to work faster. Taking breaks is also super helpful! A breathe of fresh air is the best!!!
Would you recommend some books that young designers might find useful?
Depends on what kind of design you are interested in. Since I do branding mostly, Introducing Culture Identities: Design for Museums, Theaters and Cultural Institutions is one of my absolute favorite.
Zipeng answered the questions on May 24, 2014.
The answers were published on the same day.
The answers were published on the same day.