NOTE

"Every artwork which has been made by me is strictly copyrighted."

Thanks =)

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Design Community

There's so much I have to say about the design community here in Malaysia. First of all let me just get started by saying I'm a design graduate and I've done several freelance jobs and I've worked with clients and talked to alot of people and it's all part of what I'm about to say here. So everything has it's own reason why I'm saying it and not just blindly. I came across a job just a couple of days ago while scouting for jobs. And to my dismay, this person is offering people to do brochure designs for a mere RM5/per design. And to contact him, you have to call him up and if he doesn't like your design he is not going to pay for it. I would link it for you but unfortunately the ad has been taken down. Now this really pisses me off. Seriously RM5? If you were to throw this assignment to my 7 year old sister maybe she won't even accept your offer. It's not that we, designers are very greedy and we want more. No doubt everyone wants money but this is about how you think of designers. Are we cheap labours to you? Is RM5 what you are willing to pay for peoples hard work and ideas? Would Leonardo da Vinci sell his ideas for RM5? Or would Steve Jobs sell his marketing ideas for RM5? Think about it. By the time I call you up, use my electricity to design this brochure and my ideas I think RM5 would already be used up hence what is this? Free designs for you? I don't think so. Then after that, I saw another job to design 500 unique wall decals and map them into interior photographs for RM100. Yeah, another RM5 job! 


Seriously, what is happening to the design community here in Malaysia? People have always never respected us and now they think we deserve RM5 for hard work? And many times I observe people are taking advantage of designers. They pay you a price and you did the job well and after everything is approved there goes a change of idea after another and it's a never ending cycle. People, changes = more pay! Every designers and design firms have their own terms and condition and when you can't abide by them you will say they are cheating you or they are not good. Sometimes I can't even think of a good reason why designers are so under-rated here.


If you go to the US for example, designers in the advertising firms and us now. There's a huge difference. People respect them, for their creativity, their ideas and everything. That's why they can keep improving and doing a better job. Most of the time designers here are locked up and unable to express themselves fully because of the education methods and the industry. 


Designers are like consultants. If you come to them about doing a website. Listen to them. We may need your brief as to what you may like to include but when we tell you if you want this and that it's not going to suit or it's not going to come off as a marketable design the please listen. Seriously, being a designer it's not just about creating beautiful things. We are also trained to think what's best for you and how to sell your product. If you wanted a tacky website and we advise you not to, it's merely for your own good. I mean who is going to look at a tacky website. 


Design is a strategy. It uses psychology.


Alot of times, when I was just about to pursue my design diploma people would ask me what am I planning to do? The minute I tell them design, they just say ohh okay, or can earn meh? Now I just want to put it out there that, everything in this world is made out of design. Why you may ask? Simple, look at your phone, your computer, Facebook, signboards, packaging, your clothes, advertisements, your movies, your TV shows, everything... and can you please tell me other than design who else is going to come up with that final product for you. 


Yes I know alot of people from different fields are involved too but who comes up with the final product? That you may want to ask yourself over and over again until you change your mind about designers. 


Alot of things make me realize how downgraded designers are in this country. We are not well-respected for our ideas and work. If only they looked into how we work, the amount of rest we get and how is it like to think for a concept. It's not easy being a designer but it's even harder being a designer in this country. I wished that people could change their mindset here and stop asking for RM5 designs or FREE designs or 1001 changes for FREE coz that's not going to happen. You wan't a good designer, you have to pay the price for one. If you pay RM5 maybe i can recommend you to just pick up a pen and pencil and write it on a piece of paper for a brochure. 


*leaves this post angrily* 



Sunday, March 27, 2011

Growing Pains

So I've just graduated probably about 2 weeks ago and let me tell you, life is HARD! I've always been waiting for this moment to graduate from college and get a job and start my life but really starting the ignition to your life is just not about the easiest thing ever. Throughout these two weeks, I've came to understand the pressures of being broke, getting a job, think about your financial, thinking about getting a car, signing document, moving out, continuing for degree but money-less... tentatively speaking, I've just been facing a whole lot of shit for these past 2 weeks. The most stressful part is getting a job. I've literally almost had a break down moment when I realized no one is replying to my emails. I've sent out my resume and portfolio to every single agency i can think of in Penang. Advertising, productions, architecture firms, real estate and what not. (OMG) I've been to an interview last week but I don't think it went so well. So i'm hoping my future interview on Monday would work out. I need a job by April. I can't wait any longer because I have alot of expenses to settle and ofcourse I don't get allowance anymore. Life is indeed hard right now. I mean to know that you are desperate and every waking moment you spend your life checking mails and dealing with the frustration of what if.... what if there's no job for me then what? Should i work at Starbucks then? So what's the point of my diploma? It's crazy. This whole time, I was set on one thing... COLLEGE... omg.. seriously why didn't I leave when I had the chance? I should have run for my life. It's frustrating. I mean, I'm supposed to be studying Digital Art but really now when it's all over, I dont know anything about digital arts. What i've learned in college was leaning towards graphic design but we didnt learn graphic design aswell. So in the end, who is going to hire me? I'm learning everything like 50% and I dont have a legit proper qualification on what I could do. Every application I sent out i noticed the employees are demanding for something that I have no knowledge of. Everything that I know now is what I've learned and picked up by myself. I feel so helpless. I don't think I'm a sucky designer but it's just my qualifications are limited to the point where I don't even know where. I'm so disappointed in this college and i can't believe i've spent 28k on something that thought me nothing..literally. And you know what they say, if life throws you lemons, you make lemonade...well here's the deal, life didnt throw me lemons, they threw me acid..in this case life refers to the college. I really hope my interview goes well and i could get a job by April and then everything would be alright provided if my pay is alright too. I just my life to be drama-free and just smooth going. I initially did not want to rant about my college and stuff but i just needed to get this out of my system before i have another meltdown in my brain. Growing up is hard, no one said it was easy. I've been trained to live like an adult all this while with minimal supervision from parents but this time I just feel like i'm 21 and i'm graduated and i'll be screwed if I dont settle for a job by April.


So wish me luck!