Mining for Your Perfect Job
I’m talking goals and personalities, not psychiatry.
Now to go into generalizations for identification purposes: there’s at least 5 types of designers. Talking with a handful of creative directors I know, having worked with a lot of different types of people in my career, and having a circle of like and unlike minded friends in the same field – I’ve been able to recognize the different archetypal personalities. The “designer type (D)” in combination with “workplace type (WP)” can determine the happiness and success each designer can potentially have.
The 5 types of designers are:
D-Type N: “The Newbie”
The Newbie is just that — new to the biz. Can be young or old. Usually comes with some fresh ideas, but does need a lot in the terms of being shown around. But one of the benefits of being the newbie, is the freshness, the ability to acclimate to the demands and processes of their first job. This has pros and cons depending on where the first job is. If the newbie starts at a high-stress workplace (see workplace types below) — they can usually handle most jobs after that. If the newbie starts and lasts at a less stressful and enviable 9–5 workplace (like WP-Type H), then the adjustment can be slightly daunting, unless they take the newbie spirit of when they started and apply it to the new workplace.
D-Type A: “The Award/Advancement Seeker”
D-Type A is more than willing to work the hours to win more work in the shop, have more ownership of the projects, and have their names in the books. D-Type A can be an intern, a junior, senior, ACD, up to CD. In the firm I worked in before, we were all such. The firm’s structure was to compete for projects — and if you win it, you own it — which not only helped me drop the “N” off my designer designation quickly — but also kept me from not being complacent. It helped me become morecreative. I was working over 60 hours a week sometimes, but happy as a clam.
D-Type B:“The Balance Seeker”
I find more of the more experienced designers are D-Type B’s. They used to be Type A’s, but they have more things outside of the office that they consider important than they had when they started. They still want to be in the books — and will work very hard — but they’ll do it and still be at home in time to have dinner with their loved ones.
D-Type F: “The Frustrated Designer”
This type can be further broken down into FWO and FND “Frustrated/wants out of design all together” and “Frustrated/wants to explore a new direction.” D-Type F’s are spawned from D-Type A’s usually or D-Type N’s that realize this just might not be the field they want to be in. Sometimes, it’s just a stage until they get another burst of inspiration. But if they stay in this mode (whether it’s internal or a catalyst from their workplace) — sometimes they’ll get out of the field all together, or explore options related to design (some love the people but hate the wacom).
D-Type O:“The Wanna Be Owner Someday”
These designers are overheard saying, “I could run this place better…” or “when I open my own shop….” Or the designer just loves where they work so much that they want to be a partner in its success.
These designers have at least 5 workplace types to choose from:
WP-Type OSS: “The One-Stop Shop”
An OSS is usually a small to midsize design firm, offering everything from logo design to advertising to web design. Many of the core companies in the metroplex lay in this generalization. A Type A designer would do very well in one of these companies, and especially a Type N. A-N’s get a lot of exposure to a lot of different types of projects and can build a wealthy portfolio if their motivation, talent and drive are equal.
WP-Type C: “The Agency/Conglomerate”
A Type A-N can do well at a C type place — however, there are more layers (where junior, regular, and senior titles come more into play) and less of a chance to quickly have a range of projects under your belt. An N will have to work hard to rise in the ranks and have the opportunity at project ownership quickly into the game. The type C workplace does usually have more rewards in terms of money and benefits.
WP-Type H: “The Inhouse Department”
Stereotypically, an inhouse dept is very welcoming to a designer type B. But the range of projects can tend to pigeonhole you when you seek employment elsewhere. Outside of hours, the money and benefits can be very welcoming too, especially if it is a large company you’re inhouse with.
WP-Type B: “The Boutique”
The type B workplace is very much like an OSS, but with less corporate (aka “stuffy”) clients. WP Type B’s tend to have sort of a signature style (whether voluntarily accepted or not) and specialize in one area of design. B’s and N’s can do very well in these places, as do F’s who can find much solace in specialization and an adherence to a focused style.
WP-Type S: “The Starter Company”
The owners are entrepreneurial. These places range from a one to five man shop. N’s do well at these places, as do F’s and the O’s. The money and benefits are not as great, nor is the job security sometimes, but the risk can well be worth it.
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January 1st, 2009 at 1:19 pm
This is a great article. It is enlightening, inspirational, and helpful. I can genuinely relate to this article because I am a newly graduate designer. Knowing what kind of designer you are and what workplace suits you, helps you find your fit. I also believe you need to find that balance between work and life so that you don’t miss out on the important things. I think I am a mix between a D Type A-N-B-F. I also agree that you need to love what you do and the money will follow.