Hello all! It's been a while. I've realised that I need to start blogging more frequently. So this is post one of hopefully many to come in 2012. Happy New Year by the way! I hope you all had a fantastic time celebrating and all had a lovely Christmas too. Now, how many of you have dropped your New Years resolutions already?
This year I intend to become a better designer. I have the flare, I feel the need to do something about it and feel like I'm on the verge of having a brilliant idea that would spur me into the Graphic Design spotlight here in Cardiff... If only I knew what that idea was. It's that feeling when you think there's someone near you, so real that you can grab onto but when you turn around there's nothing there. I'm trying to figure out how to remove it's 'invisibility cloak' so that I can become the designer I yearn to be and to keep to my New Years resolution of becoming more successful. I have until March 31st to get the ball rolling, when my casual contract at the Welsh Government ends.
So far this year (all 17 days of it), I've launched my new look website (http://www.rebecca-lloyd.co.uk) emailed countless companies, had one interview and haven't gotten very far. A word to students - even when you have close to 2 years experience in this industry, you will still struggle to find your foot in the door of a company. It is all about patience and perseverance, and giving it time. And finding the right company who will give you a chance and sees your potential. I feel eager to push forward, but so far haven't applied myself completely to it. I intend for that to change as of right now. I'm done with not feeling excited about the new adventure that is of moving on and upwards, excelling myself and my skills. The potential inside me to improve and be brilliant is right on the surface, it's just finding the right place to let it burst open. It's just a daunting task and very disheartening when you're really eager to get out there but everyone's doors are closed.
As I have said, so far I've not gotten very far. So my other plan of getting some freelance work in seems like a good idea. Now it's just finding the clients... So I'm back to emailing design agencies, marketing companies and the like. Who I've already emailed... I have the plans, I've just not found the right place to carry them out. I'd love to do some marketing to raise the general public and small businesses of my presence, gain some regular and new clients, but the aspect of being jobless by the end of March is making me a little stingy with my money. Plus, everyone else is careful with their money thanks to the prospect of the country going into recession again, and having design work done just isn't on people's priority lists at the moment. I wish it was! I know that they say that you need to spend money to earn money in this industry, but really, right now isn't a great time.
I don't know about you lot, but I'm the sort of person who feels the need to achieve something with their day, be it designing a nice bit of work for someone, or just cleaning the house. I go to work, do the best I can while I'm there and come home. And can't relax. I feel like I need to be looking, emailing and applying for jobs even when they're not advertised. So I do, and it never feels enough. I feel like I'm achieving nothing, and trust me it's not a nice feeling. So I email some more, look around more, try and invent the "invisibility cloak" to reveal the brilliant idea that I feel close to finding, and yet here I am, day 17 and I'm no closer to getting the ball rolling. It's barely inching forward.
I should listen to my own advice (being patient) - I'm the most impatient person I know, and when I want something, I want it now. I want to buy a desk and chair from Argos, set it up in a room in my rented house and sit in front of my big 27" Mac computer that I still need to buy (and the money to buy it with), despite the fact I've gotten nowhere with getting any clients. I refuse to doubt myself and my ability as a designer to deliver high quality designs, to clients or to work in and part of an agency. I'd blame for the lack of work. Heck, I've been working for the Welsh Government for a year, within 18 months of graduating (something I like to think of as a great achievement). I consider myself to be talented. I know I have a lot to learn, but I'm not useless. Doubting myself would bring me down to a level where I would resort to just throwing in the towel, and losing my passion to be a great designer. I'd be letting myself down, and the people who have given me the chance to better myself so far since being out of University. All I can do is hope I find the next person who will give me a chance, who I can aspire to and learn from, preferably in a design agency in Cardiff, to be great and become the designer I know I can be.
I hope my fellow graphic designers, web designers and illustrators are having all the luck in the world at finding a job. And if any of you have found one, please send your luck my way. I could do with some!
Until next time folks, I'll sign off. Have a fantastic rest of the week!
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