So. Its been over 8 months since I last posted. A lot has gone on. Or I could say a lot hasn't. Since June 2012 I have been looking for my second design role, with not much success. I have had interviews but nothing has come about. My portfolio has nothing new to add, so I have kind of just left things, and nearly a year has passed. It gets me down, thinking I studied to get a job in something I am passionate about, and I have kind of lost that passion a bit, considered other options, as I have to do something in order to live, have an income, even if its working in a shop.
But I can see whats happened. The market for design isn't doing great, I mean from personal experience, people do not want to pay for design, they just do it themselves, to a low quality standard, which they don't have to charge someone for, and they like it so why pay someone, if they can be satisfied with their own work? A classic example, my uncle, a London black cab driver, whinges and moans that he don't make as much money because of the mini cabs. Mini cabs are not as safe, but they are cheaper, so people in this day and age are doing everything to save money, so they go with mini cabs. It makes sense, but to him it isn't fair because he has learned the knowledge and yet his money is poor at the moment. The same applies with this industry in design; their will be a time when it picks up again, people will pay the money for good work, rather than saving and doing a poor job themselves, just not now. And this same uncle, has a fellow cab driver design their monthly magazine using Photoshop. Yes, he lays out the magazine and types it all in Photoshop. The magazine looks poorly laid out, text is pixelated, its rubbish. I have offered on occasions to help, but its the fact that someone can "use" Photoshop, so why pay me to do a better job and lay it all out properly? And he wonders why his cab trade is bad? Bit of a hypocrite really.
But back to the subject at hand. I knew from when I started working at Printing.com that the design trade wasn't doing great. It was where we made most of the money, from artwork, not printing, because customers were tightening their belts a bit, so I knew I wasn't going to be there long. It got to a point where customers were bringing in their own artwork, and just paying for print. Since I left, their company has got their big customers online templates of their artwork, so rather than the staff making amendments, the customer can amend their templates themselves. Again, taking away the design and artwork from us. They were looking at other ways to make their money.
So the plan now is to start something new. A new project, just to get the creative juices flowing again, and continue this as a hobby, and apply for work and see what happens. I know work isn't going to fall in my lap next week, then again it might do. I am just looking at things realistically. At university, they paint this picture for you, making like you will live the perfect life, find the best job. But it isn't, you have to work hard, and be prepared for the emails saying you haven't got the skills for a role, I have had loads. Its tough, not a walk in the park. And this same university, is closing now because the government upping student fees and course fees, had toppled them, so it isn't just the design trade doing badly, all areas are doing bad. Its this countries government, they are basically rubbish. I have considered if I get another job, working for a while and then trying to get into Canada. But I am thinking to far ahead now, so to anyone who does read this, watch out for some new work coming up on here, new updates, and maybe more. I am not giving up, yet. :)
