Advice by Prof.Mohammed Danawi to graduating illustration students: Advice to graduating illustration students: 1-Learn the importance of packaging your work and create pdfs of mock-ups to show to various corporate clients. 2-Approach your clients after doing research on their creative needs. 3-Ditch your traditional portfolio and package various smaller digital ones showcasing your work within the context of what your corporate clients need to see. 4-Learn the value of personal contacts through on-line networking . 5-Approach each client with a specific scenario and show them what they want to see. Avoid blanket portfolio and mass mailing. 6-Think global, dont limit yourself to the US markets. 7- A small and limited contact database of repeat clients is much better than the ones you buy en mass from companies such as Agency Access . 8-Pick up the phone and leave a message or talk directly to the creative directors. Youll be surprised how many will talk to you and listen to your pitch. 9-Make lots of friends and contacts from Advertising and GD while in college. 10-Update your online presence regularly. 11-Submit to as many competitions as you can afford. 12-Choose your rep wisely and make sure you show your work among illustrators you value and respect. 13-Create a newsletter and send monthly to your clients. 14-Never give a quote on the phone. Think, research and be ready to say no. 15-Always ask for a deposit before you even begin thinking about the visual solution. 16-Send personal messages through Linked-in. 17-Submit your portfolio for review and possible feature to as many websites as you can. There are hundreds of illustration and design website looking for new artists on the block to feature. 18-Bulid a FB page, instagram, linked-in, Pintrest, Behance, Tumblr, etc. 19- Contact new clients daily. 20-Look for award winning ADs in directories ADC and Print regional design and CA annuals, etc. these guys know illustration and give cool jobs. And dont under estimate special interest periodicals. 21- The Gulf and East Asia are huge emerging markets, stay ahead of the curve and research them. 22-Partcipate in as many gallery shows as possible 23-Sell prints 24-Keep your website gallery updated and separate from your blog. 25-Learn to make gifs of your illustrations. Simple moving images. 26-Vary your subject matters, dont get fixated over the same topics. Balance between the narrative and conceptual. 27-Be organized. Make folders for clients: Arts Directors/Corporate clients/incoming jobs/outgoing promos/invoices/contracts/etc. 28-Always follow-up after the job is done. Repeat business is much better than spreading yourself thin. 29-Dont ignore the power of Canada. 30- Price your work according to 3 factors: the size of the client, the complexity of the job and the rights sold, and research your client before giving a quote.
Posted on: Sat, 16 Nov 2013 16:15:28 +0000
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