your first job

[controlandchaos]

Its been a month since I started working. My first job as a graphic designer. :)
Its a  small agency with a lot of work. I'm not used to such a fast pace but so far I've been able to keep my head up high and managed to do lots of projects. Most of the things I've done seem to be ok... at least thats the impression I'm getting.

I work with 3 designers

Comments

[kittycult]

when you finish a piece...who do you show the work to?
did they state why they didnt like your work they rejected?

[controlandchaos]

"who do you show the work to

[kittycult]

oh that's interesting.
well for far from my experience- i've been working for about a yr and a half.... i've done internship, in-house, a few freelance gigs for agencies, and right now im part-time (wish it was full-time) with a independent designer who owns her own business.
and there's almost always someone to check over my work before it gets submitted to a client.
which honestly i'm tired of, but at my jr. level i am always working under someone else. so lucky you! but it sounds like you are in need of feedback. which im surprise they dont give you because you are at jr. level.

if you are unsure of things, or what the right direction is to go- ask questions!
that's definitely something ive learned... listen and ask questions.
sometimes criticism is hard to hear but i always try to not take it personal, and grow from it.

[puella]

Yes this is definitely totally normal. At my first job it was just me "against" a super talented seasoned art director and my concepts would go up against hers. Clearly hers were much better! This process is how you learn. Keep asking for feedback and critique from the more experienced designers and you will absolutely continue to get better.

[luvlorn]

Ask someone there if they might be willing to look at some of your work and offer some feedback. People generally like to give feedback and help people improve.

Focus more on the positive. Your clients are happy and happy clients mean you're worth something to that firm.

When I worked in marketing (which I often felt like you do which is why I prefer production) my marketing boss and I had weekly meetings where we went over what I was doing for his team and where we wanted to go with it. Those seemed to help get things more accomplished and gave a better sense of direction.

Don't feel bad if your ideas get pitched in the trash during a brainstorming session like that. The whole point is to throw out whatever comes to mind so that eventually someone's mind pops out a great idea. That's how they're born. In those cases stopping to offer feedback can slow the flow of ideas so that might be why you're not getting any.

[ponta1anime]

I just got my fresh-from-college job a week ago, it's a small studio with 15 people, only 4 of them are designers besides me (the rest do all sorts of other multimedia things). So I still feel totally and completely unsure of myself, but I just try to challenge myself to do my best. I am lucky so far in that they usually show me what the other designers have been working on, and then have me do some concepts too, so I try to do something completely different from what they do. At this point, I'm still at "Shut up, observe, and do what is asked without too many dumb comments" stage, but I'm sure I'll learn a lot.

[fearz]

can I see some of your work? I just want to see how competitive the field is. Tiny Agency's always are like this, they don't seem to want to give input. But you got to start small, then YOU will be the one who will end up quitting and move on to a bigger Agency. Its a good experience... but you said if you will improve or not? If they don't give you input or tell you what to change, I don't see how you will become better. Because you got to learn from your mistakes and they aren't showing you how.
BUT, just get creative ideas and learn what your other employees are making. That's the problem with this field, its the pressure and you never know if you satisfy or not. But good luck, cause I may be in the same situation in a year when I graduate.