General Assembly and AIGA/NY co-presented “Introduction to the NYC Design Community” on Tuesday, May 21, 2013 at General Assembly. Geared towards design students, recent graduates, or designers who are new to the city, this event offered a basic overview of the design community in New York City, career paths in design—specifically graphic & interaction design—and navigating the industry.

The event was lad by Jill Nussbaum, Executive Director of Product Design for The Barbarian Group and Mimi O. Chun, Design Director at General Assembly. Nussbaum related her experiences working as a more interaction-focused designer in agency environments having previously worked at R/GA as an Executive Creative Director. Chun, on the other hand, offered her perspective as designer who worked with a variety of companies, agencies, and working environments in a slew of different roles throughout her career.

The speakers crafted the talk around the different factors you should think about when looking for a job or making a move to the city. The topics fell under the three categories: industry, medium, and environment. Both presenters emphasized that while they were covering general topics or career paths, everyone must consider what they want out of their careers and their motivations as a designer when making their decision, especially in such a varied and ever-expanding industry like design.

One overarching quality that motivates designers is deciding whether they’re a generalist or a specialist. Both presenters felt strongly that this distinction affects the path you end up taking as a designer. “Are you a specialist or a generalist? Are you someone who wants to geek-out on type all day or do you want to mock-up some wireframes while doing some front-end coding?,” Nussbaum asked. A generalist may look for more variety in their work, whereas a specialist might be interested in working in and improving  on one specific area of design. Being cognizant of this distinction can help designers find work they’re truly passionate about, determine who they work for and how long they stay with a company, and what final position they might hold. For instance, a specialist might err on the side of being a senior-level design director who remains working hands-on in their craft, whereas a generalist is may be more likely to move into the more managerial position of creative director.

Nussbaum and Chun made important distinctions between what it’s like to work for in-house design, design agencies, design studios, consultancies, branding studios, and freelancing. A designer should be clear about his or her goals to determine which is the best fit. Often, smaller entities like startups can satisfy a generalist who is looking exposure to many different problems. Chun recounted that when she was on her initial job hunt she looked for smaller companies, “I was going through a bunch design annuals and looking at studios and the type of work they did…I targeted smaller firms where I knew I would get a lot of responsibility but at the same time see a lot of variety in the type of work,” she said. Regardless of whatever a designer is a generalist or a specialist, Nussbaum strongly recommended researching a company’s clients and find the firm that works with the brands you want to work with, “because that’s where you’re spending your day,” she explained.

During the Q&A, discussions emerged about choosing and developing design experiences. Nussbaum believes it’s good for a young designers to move around and gather different experiences, “you should always be looking for a job. You’re in New York. Meet people, go out, go to the events, network, be checking the job listings.” Nussbaum also thought it would be easier for a designer to transition from an agency-type environment to in-house than visa versa.

Another audience member asked how to stand out when approaching companies. The main recommendations from Chun & Nussbaum were as follows: have a well-designed resume, a short and personal cover letter specific to the company (if a cover letter is sent), cultivate a professional social presence on the web, and perhaps most importantly, show your passion through personal projects. Chun explained, “whenever I am about to hire someone whose resume or portfolio crosses my path I’m always, obviously, Googling them. Finding out more—if they have a compelling blog, if they have a specific point of view that’s unusual or that would make sense, then I’m much more likely invite them to have a chat,” she said. It gives the hiring manager important insight into how you think, shows your initiative, and is more likely to leave a lasting impression on them. Side projects can also be a valuable avenue for building out your portfolio if you need to. Nussbaum agreed adding, “if you have a passion, be public about it.”

Additional Information:
The Barbarian Group
General Assembly
Introduction to the NYC Design Community presentation slide deck

Event Details:
General Assembly & AIGA/NY Present: Introduction to the NYC Design Community

Event Photos:
Click here to view all photos from General Assembly & AIGA/NY Present: Introduction to the NYC Design Community on Flickr.
To view additional photos, or to contribute your photos, visit our AIGA New York Flickr group.

Special thanks to guest contributing writer Jacklynn Pham for the General Assembly & AIGA/NY Present: Introduction to the NYC Design Community event recap and photos. Jacklynn can be found at jacklynn.com.