A Design Comedy #3: Paradiso
How to protect yourself as a designer in modern business world
Things look up — You find a project that connects with your mission
And then she turned her gaze up toward the heavens.”
― Dante Alighieri, Paradiso
Having traversed design hell redeeming themselves from decisions they were forced to bend to in the name of business, and passed through purgatory by reconnecting with their design mission, the designer feels the first breeze of design paradise when they accept a project that reflects the true goal of design and aligns with their principles.
All it takes is having the guts to move away from the herd, some networking and a leap of faith.
How to vet job ads before applying — finding good design jobs
- Scour the job boards for suitable opportunities; treat it like a day job and make a short list of potential opportunities.
- Do your research about any company before applying even if the ad is very attractive; find employees that work there and get mentored, read employee reviews on Glassdoor and educate yourself about their existing work.
- When you find one that checks all boxes, do the following:
- Tailor your resume for that opportunity, use keywords from the job ad.
- Spend some time writing a very nice cover letter, outline your interest in their mission, and why you would be the perfect match for the job. This one got me noticed by InVision (I loved you!) a couple of years back.
- Apply normally by sending your resume & cover letter.
- The extra mile: find hiring manager or a high-level manager’s email (us ladies are better at this, we can get someone’s great grandma’s maiden name in a few minutes if we need to 🙃😁) and send them an email with a sample you’re really proud of and your CV.
I guarantee that this method will definitely get you an interview, after that, practice presenting yourself & your work and again, get mentored if you need interview practice.
Staying in Design Paradise — How to set the right expectations and protect yourself as an employee
When it gets to contract signing stage after receiving an offer, you need to be very clear about your principles. Mention any red lines that you refuse to cross as a designer and get it in writing.
An employer must not force you to work on anything that does not align with your mission, and if they do, you are allowed to quit with enough compensation and no legal consequences. If that is in your contract, they are forced by law to adhere to it.
“These are the radiancies of the perfected vision that sees the good and step by step moves nearer what it sees.”
― Dante Alighieri, The Paradiso
If you are honest about staying on the good side, the world will bend to your will.
Protecting yourself as a freelance designer
It is a little easier as a freelancer, you own your business and you write your contracts, so make sure you add a term that
- Allows you to terminate the contract with full pay if the client forces you to work on something you don’t approve of.
- Frees you of any legal consequences should the client decide to take any measure you don’t approve of. Anything like using licensed images without paying can get you in trouble if you don’t add this to your contracts.
We’re in design heaven, and we’re here to stay 😇.
“God’s greatest gift to man
In all the bounty He was moved to make
Throughout creation-the one gift the most
Close to his goodness and the one He calls
Most precious-is free will.”
― Dante Alighieri, Paradiso
Here we are! all done! I had to write this trilogy because after years in the business world, I felt like I hated design- which is my joy in this life- so I had to share my experience in fixing that with all designers to help whoever lands in the same position.
Design is beautiful, don’t let business ruin it for you.
“L’amor che move il sole e l’altre stelle.” 🩷🩷🩷
‘Till next time, lots of love! and #keepdesigning!
