How to judge if you are an A-list designer? How to show off your speciality to the commons? How to be an “Oscar” winner? or simply, how to be the top of the top? The answer is to challenge them, challenge myself, and take part in design contest.
I was a designer with pride and fame, I told myself, when I was a design college student. Any contests, named me, I would “definately” win with no surprise. I knew I could because I told myself I MUST win. It was the pressure that boosted me up to defeat everything that blocks my way. I knew I would gain my fame and victory.
Shell
I took part in a design project from Shell. It was a project which we needed to design a wall that situated at the recreational centre provided by Shell to its employees. The wall is mainly reserved for a photography club to exhibit their photos. Four in a group, and guess what, we won! The organiser was pleased to see such simple and straight to the point design that portrays the theme and also the identity of Shell. Well, happy to say that we were the one who spent less effort in doing the project. Through this contest, I did learn that clients’ taste and need are what we should consider, not your skills and exaggerating speech to convince client.
Domino’s Pizza
The second industrial project I took part was the interesting one. Domino planned to have a calender as a free gift for their customers. We were assigned to design a graphic that would bring out the good things about Domino to the customers. Since there would only be 12 winners from 200 over students, I have to work harder than the rest.
On the presentation day, I presented 4 ideas which I thought would capture the organisers and judges hearts. Just like what I thought, I was crowned Mr. July. I learnt the lesson again, always prepare more for the client to choose. Let them be impressed of your efforts.
I gained fame. But sooner I realised one thing, fame will fade. Will your passion fade with the fame too? There are many top graduates who cannot find their dreams and end up changing their career, there are very few lucky enough to join big agencies, but their lives are tense and tiring. What about me? I am fine. I am an in house designer, working just like any other designers. Living just like any other designers’ lives. No more fame, no more pride. But the competitions are still there, just that winner is not always winner. There are so many unjustice and exploitation happening in this industry. People do not treat us designers as a professional. Maybe quantity affects quality. Maybe there are too many bad cases that disappoint the public. Maybe I should do something to tell the public we are not a bunch of people that come from rich family. We are group of professional that treat design as a serious career. Respect our knowledge, respect our applications for credit cards… and respect our lives as designers.
