Designing Your Career in Design

If you are setting out to design your career in design, there are important elements that must be factored into your decision.  A career in design is much like a career in most other fields in that if you do not plan seriously, you may not be the one guiding your final outcome.  Instead your final path may be picked for you.  As a result, you need to be proactive and thinking about where you want your career to take you and what you wish to be doing in your professional life.

Much of one’s options in the fashion industry, interior design, or a score of other talent driven fields, will largely depend on your skills.  Having a degree from a very prestigious school or university is obviously important. If you do not have the skill sets necessary to do the job, there is no hiding that fact.  That stated, gaining admittance to a great design school is no joke.  It should be taken very seriously.  Your career in design may very well depend upon the school that you are able to attend.

Being able to demonstrate to a prospective school that you have what it takes is critically important.  A body of work is critical for any student that is hoping to gain a set in one of the world’s best design schools.  If you have what it takes, then it makes sense to put your best foot forward and have an impressive portfolio.  Keep in mind every prospective student can claim that they can do the work, but the trick is to prove it.

A smart designer is one that understands various different aspects of the industry.  As a result, you might wish to consider schools that will help you be as well-rounded as possible.  Consider programs that have built-in business classes.  Or, if you are really ambitious, consider adding a business degree or MBA to your portfolio.  If you want to stand out in the crowd, this will definitely improve your chances.

Remember design is all about exposure.  Be creative in how you find that exposure.  One potential avenue is to open up your own small business where you can promote your own fashion designs.  Yes, it’s a lot of work, but you will gain valuable business experience and you will be able to show your work daily.  Imagine that you have even a small shop, but that small shop has a store window.  That window could be full of your ideas and concepts!  If that doesn’t excite you, then you are in the wrong line of work.

There is also nothing wrong with a good old fashioned intern position.  Working as an intern may not always be fun, but you certainly will get a feel for how things are done.  This experience may teach you where you need to improve and grow.  More than likely, you will also have some valuable connections and likely a good letter of recommendation.  Moreover, play your cards right and some industry players may be looking at your work.  Even if they hate what they see, it is valuable feedback.

Most careers and fields reward those who specialize.  One way that you can tackle your career in design is to become a specialist, at least temporarily.  For example, perhaps you focus on jewelry or shoes or even belts.  You get the idea, find a niche and run with it.  In the worlds of fashion and design it’s all about getting attention.  Specializing is one way that you might be able to find that attention.  Plus, there is the added benefit of showing that you have focus and attention to detail.  Both of these qualities are qualities that employers always want to see.

Another one of the easiest moves you can make is to go to fashion shows.  But just don’t go to have a good time.  Bring a keen eye and study everything that happens, and not just the fashions on the runway.  Always be looking for networking opportunities, and absorb as much as you can about the business side of design.