advice for design students... from a few years out

advice for student designers…from a few years out

john hanawalt

comma-stop.com

[email protected]

johnheartstype

johnhearts

My time at stonehill•GraphicDesignMajor,'10

•In-HouseDesignDesigner, Creative Director

•RollingStonehillCreative Director

Blogging with

the StarS

Pop singer Sara Bareilles

talks with

our staff. r

ead

the interview on our blog.

Advice…From a few years out comma-stop.com@johnheartstype

Since stonehill•PromptCommunications

Boutique PR

•SmallArmyforaCauseNonprofit Project Manager

•Freelance

•AndNow…


•StartedNovember,2010

As a Print Graphic Designer

•CreativeServices&SocialMediaManagerArt direction and design for web and print, social media, supervise web & print associate


86.2% OF LGBTSTUDENTS

EXPERIENCE ABUSE OR

HARASSMENT AT SCHOOL.

89% of transgender students have been verbally harassed in the past year at school because of their gender expression and/or sexual orientation.

Drug and alcohol use is 340% greater among bisexual teens than their straight peers; it’s 400% greater among lesbian teens.

54% of all cases of HIV infection or AIDS among young people aged 13-24 during 2003–2006 were from male-to-male sexual contact.

40% of homeless youth identify as gay or transgender.

89% OF TRANSGENDER STUDENTS HAVE BEEN

VERBALLY HARASSED IN THE PAST YEAR AT SCHOOL BECAUSE OF THEIR GENDER EXPRESSION

AND/OR SEXUAL ORIENTATION.86.2% of LGBT students experience abuse or harassment at school.




40% OF HOMELESS YOUTH IDENTIFY AS

GAY OR TRANSGENDER.Drug and alcohol use is 340% greater among bisexual teens than their straight peers; it’s 400% greater among lesbian teens.



86.2% of LGBT students experience abuse or harassment at school.

54% OF ALL CASES OF HIV INFECTION OR AIDS AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE AGED 13-24

DURING 2003–2006 WERE FROM MALE-TO-MALE

SEXUAL CONTACT.86.2% of LGBT students experience abuse or harassment at school.




DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE IS 340% GREATER

AMONG BISEXUAL TEENS THAN THEIR STRAIGHT

PEERS; IT’S 400% GREATER AMONG LESBIAN TEENS.

86.2% of LGBT students experience abuse or harassment at school.

54% of all cases of HIV infection or AIDS among young people aged 13-24 during 2003–2006 were from male-to-male sexual contact




Beginning Your search


•StartEarly

•BeFocused,ButKeepAnOpenMindOpportunity can present itself unexpectedly

•BeRealisticKnow your strengths & limitations

•BePreparedHave resume and work samples ready


Know Where to look•Design-SpecificJobBoards

AIGA, Behance, Coroflot, Creative Hotlist

•SetUpAlertson"UsualSuspects"

•Industry-SpecificJobBoardsIdealist.org for nonprofit industry

•FollowAgencies'Websites,SocialMediaPresences


Applying for the jobresume,coverletter,worksamples,onlineandpresentationportfolio


your resume•Clean,Well-Designed

Show you know how to structure information

•BewareTheInfographicResumeNot everyone who views your resume is a designer

•TailorYourResumeForEachJobHighlight relevant skills & experience. Edit less relevant information, fluff.


John Hanawalt [email protected]

857.234.0177 Somerville, MA

PORTFOLIO

comma-stop.com

SOFTWARE

Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe InDesign

Adobe Acrobat Pro

Adobe Dreamweaver

Adobe Fireworks

Adobe Flash

Adobe Bridge

WordPress

Microsoft Office

Powerpoint

ADDITIONAL SKILLS

HTML & CSS

Social Media Planning

Blog Management

Event Planning & Support

Writing

Public Speaking

Studio Art

November 2010–Present

COMMUNICATIONS & DESIGN ASSOCIATE FENWAY HEALTH

PRINT Conceive and execute concepts with internal clients under

the supervision of the Associate Director of Communications. Solely

responsible for all print advertising, branding, and publication designs.

WEB Direct artwork for new web projects including fenwayfocus.org,

sidneyborum.org, and a redesign of fenwayhealth.org for 2012. Create

graphic assets for web properties, including web sites, mobile devices, and

social networks. Assist with development as necessary.

SOCIAL MEDIA Manage Fenway Health’s social networks, including

multiple Twitter and Facebook pages, Foursquare, and Yelp. Launched

and manage content for the Fenway Health blog. Track key metrics to

measure effectiveness of the social program.

June–October 2010

NON-PROFIT PROJECT COORDINATOR SMALL ARMY FOR A CAUSE

Managed the 501c3 founded by Boston advertising agency Small Army.

Coordinated all aspects of the non-profit’s annual fundraising event,

which raised over $100,000 for national cancer charities. Responsibilities

included development, direct communications, marketing, and social

media. Crafted creative briefs for design team as well as assisting in the

execution of concepts and delivery of final production files to vendors.

2008–Present

INDEPENDENT CREATIVE

Apply design acuity and communication skills to diverse roster of

clients including Boston Medical Center, Prompt Communications

public relations, Stonehill College, and artists in various media.

Past and current projects include web design, branding and identity,

corporate communications, and publication design.

Education

STONEHILL COLLEGE, EASTON MA

Bachelor of Arts: Visual and Performing Arts, Graphic Design concentration

ACADEMIC DISTINCTIONS

Philip L. Hemingway, Sr. Award, Valedictorian Honors

Summa Cum Laude

Class Speaker, Graduation 2010

Lambda Epsilon Sigma, Liberal Arts Honor Society

Fellow in the Arts—Martin Institute for Law & Society, 2009


Your Coverletter•First(AndMaybeLast)Impression

Write a concise and compelling introduction

•It'sACoverletterNotAFormLetterTarget it to the company, position for which you are applying

•KnowYourValueProposition"I want a job" is not a reason to hire you


your work sample•AlwaysInclude,AsALinkOrPDF

•5–8Pieces,IfNotSpecified

•TargetToCompany'sField&AestheticShow them you can design for them from Day One.

•ProvideSomeContext


5 ONE LESSINFECTION

I created the One Less Infection pieces to infuse my portfolio with a stronger social message. I envisioned One Less Infection as a campaign, starting with the poster (left) and flash banner (right, frames).

© JOHN HANAWALT // [email protected] // 857.234.0177 // COMMA-STOP.COM


Portfolio site•About,Resume,CategoriesOfWork

•SiteItselfDemonstratesQualifications

•ShowYourPointOfView,Personality

•ConsiderTheVisitorShouldn't have to look for what they're looking for. Make sure it's easy to navigate, functional.


The Interview


•DUHShow up on time, dressed professionally, with resume & portfolio

•AreYouAGoodFit?Looking not only at your work but how you would be as an employee, coworker, etc.


Q&A•"So,TellMeAboutYourself."

Have a 1–2 minute boilerplate ready that summarizes your experience, qualifications

•"WhyDoYouWantToWorkHere?"

•"WhatIsYourWeakness?"You are not a perfectionist. Frame as problem/solution


Be Prepared to ASK Questions•ComePreparedWithQuestions

•SpecificToTheJob

•CompanyCulture

•FlipTheScriptAsk your interviewer what they see as the company's biggest challenges, opportunities


Presenting your portfolio•ConsiderFormat

Loose or bound, big or small, how will you present?

•TailoredToTheJob

•5–10PiecesFirst and last should be the strongest

•LetInterviewSetThePace


Follow Up•ConsiderLeavingBehindWorkSamples

•ANoteLetsInterviewersKnowYou'reStillInterested

•AdjustForRound2Keep what Round 1 interviewer likes, swap out less well-received work for something new


Congratulations!(or,yourcongratulationsarein

themail,don'tgetdiscouraged)


Sharpen Your Edge•KeepLearning

Trends, technology

•BuildYourPortfolioPro Bono, Self-Promotion, Blog, Online Store

•BuildYourBrandSocial media, Networking


People WHo DIDn'T HIRE MEHillHoliday,WarrenGroup,ConoverTuttlePace,KornDesign,TANK,EggDesign,LibertyConcepts,GearonHoffman,BlackCoffee


There’s a big difference, though, between planning a life, drifting through life, and designing a life. —Tim Brown Change by Design


john hanawalt

comma-stop.com

[email protected]

johnheartstype

johnhearts

advice for design students... from a few years out

Career