I doubt it.. but i do it.

David Thompson; co founder of a design agency called 'Telling Stories' came in to speak to us; to be quite honest after our talk with Thompson I left feeling like some of the others; very disheartened, he was pessimistic about the graphic design industry, and his 'quit while your ahead' attitude, didn't go down to well, and made for an interesting conversation.

"Design week reported how more than a third of art and design graduates are still without a full-time job more than three years after graduation. Research

from a Higher Education Statistics Agency report showed those graduating from creative art and design courses were also more likely to be unemployed than most other UK graduates." (www.guardian.com)

Many of us on the course know what were up against, we are not ignorant to the fact that employment figures are falling and the graphic design industry is one of the worst hit, but should we not be more optimistic about the opportunities we have, we have two years left at university to experiment and to grow as designers, surely if we stay true to ourselves, and we are determined enough, then we can make that job we want come to us? Employment is a big issue for designers, undoubtedly, but we are in a similar situation as many other graduates, trying to get in to other professions. For me the biggest professional issue is about the need for us as designers to be ourselves, and if we can be ourselves, then the job will come to us.

"Times have changed and now the answer to the burning employment question is yes, you will get a job if you want to get a job. As with any other programme of study, those students who put a bit of effort into finding a job will find one" (www.graphic design blender.com)

When researching the employment figures for graphic design graduates, a majority of people explain how the industry is tough, but there is more jobs out there than we may think. Thompson's talk moved on from employment to about us personally, and he raised and reiterated how we should always be ourselves, I did understand and agree with this point of the discussion. In my opinion and from what David explained, people can get lost from themselves once they become employed. He explained that he moved around and he had worked in various agencies, but felt most comfortable in his own agency, where he could be himself. I have always thought that working for a big design agency would always come with it restrictions; conforming to there 'style' and how as an agency they want to be presented. During my first year at university, I have learnt that you have to be yourself. I come from a different background to others on the course, and I have tried to be a 'graphic designer' but it just didn't work. I found myself completely lost on assignments where I had approached it from what in my mind a 'graphic designer' would, the outcome was work that was uninteresting, and I struggled to pull my ideas together in to a solution I could be happy with. Looking back, my stronger work is where I have been myself and followed my roots, I'm not sure I would want to go to some big design agency and sink into the background creating normal, bog standard work that clients approve of. I think once you have lost yourself, you can no longer be a successful graphic designer, and this is our biggest professional issue, being ourselves with integrity.