Interviewing a Designer

B3 Graphic Designer, Lizzie LaFont, was recently interviewed by a local student to discuss her experience and journey on starting a career in graphic design.

1) Tell me about being a designer.

While graphic design is a creative field, it’s not the same as being an artist. I say that because I’ve come across many people who treat it the same. Some people are designers. Some people are artists. Some are both. While design is a creative process, there are rules. Things you do generally have a rhyme or reason. All in all, it’s fun! It’s work, but it’s fun! You never know what kind of client you may be working with, and that keeps it exciting.

2) What do you do in a typical day?

For me, there honestly isn’t a “typical day.” For the most part, every day is different, and that’s what I like about working for an agency. One day I may spend the entire day working on a website and the next I could spend working on several smaller projects, like updating business cards or creating social media graphics— all for different clients.

3) What duties do you like the most and least?

I love designing print media. Holding a printed version in my hands of something that I worked on for hours is so much more gratifying than seeing it on a screen. Sometimes creating monthly social media posts can become redundant because it requires less design thought. Although it can be frustrating, I do like a design challenge.

4) How did you get into the field?

I’ve always loved “designing” on computers since I was a little kid, and I got really into art in high school, so once I found out that graphic design kind of combined those two things I really liked, I knew that’s what I wanted to do.

5) How is the field of marketing/design changing?

The field of marketing and design is constantly changing because you’re working with technology, which is ever-evolving. A new program or tool could pop up tomorrow, and you’ve got to learn how to use it and live with it, or you’ll be left behind. Tiktok and ChatGPT are both great examples of this.

6) What personality traits are needed to be successful in your field?

You definitely have to be able to collaborate and work well with others, whether that be with clients or team members. 

7) What advice would you give someone wanting to enter your field?

Know your stuff. Familiarize yourself with the popular programs. Even if it’s something you haven’t used much of or at all, knowing a little can go a long way. It can be stressful trying to find your first design job, but be confident in yourself and your abilities!

8) What are some skills that are needed to work in your field?

I personally would say attention to detail is one of the most important skills. Design itself is all about details—spacing, alignment, visual organization, etc., and it’s important to stay creative without losing sight of design principles and purposes. In an agency environment, attention to detail is huge because you work in a relatively fast-paced environment and you can’t sacrifice the details because of that.

9) How could someone advance in your field once they’re on the job?

If you do great work and keep producing great work, people notice. You’ll move up in your company, or someone may seek you out. You never know who’s watching.

10) Where does your inspiration come from when you get started on a project?

It really depends on the project. Sometimes I already have ideas in my head. Other times I may have nothing. Knowing the client and knowing the brand the best you can always helps. From there, I may research and collect images of similar brands/projects from sites like Pinterest or Behance. Seeing real world examples can lead to both good ideas as well as things you want to avoid.

11) Are there currently any specialties you are looking for when you are looking to add to your team?

It’s always great to find someone who’s very well-rounded. Design is so broad that someone can be great in one area, but maybe not as experienced in another, so it’s nice to have someone who is great at, say, designing websites, logo design, and motion graphics. This applies to software usage too. The more programs and softwares you are exposed to, the better.