Guia de Sobrevivência para (quase) designers
This project is composed of a guide with advice for recent design graduates. Along with that, two events were planned with the support of the junior design company of the University of Porto (Fbaup Design Inc).
The purpose of this project was, therefore, not only to create a compilation of useful texts and tips from known designers and the alumni of our bachelor's but also to provide the students new learning opportunities and with a healthy space where they could put their doubts and question about the upcoming future.
Date
2021
Domain
Domain
Research / Visual Identity / Editorial Design / Illustration / Event management
Academic Project
University of Porto
BA Communication Design, 4th year
Design FBAUP Inc. is composed of design students who work directly with diverse clients on projects that go from editorial work and corporate design to web design. Until then the company didn’t focus on the creation of events or learning opportunities for the student community. As vice president at the time, I understood the best way to spend our profit was in activities that could empower our small student community.
Desk Research
To create the guide I supported my
research on two books (Shaughnessy,
Adrian; How to be a graphic
designer, without losing your soul and
Oldham, Craig, Oh Sh*t, What Now?).
Along with that I also found some
interesting information on a zine
created in collaboration between
Eye on Design and students at UT
Austin’s School of Design + Creative
Technologies.
Field Research phase 1
Since the university doesn’t
have an alumni database and
doesn’t provide their students a
close relationship with the market
nor give them support about the
various options available after
graduation
The Guide
Structure of the guide
The project includes insights from the desk research and from the interview conducted with the alumnis.
It is essentially composed by 3 main booklets (On Creativity and having ideas; Life behind Design; How to find work) and a smaller one with tips to create a successful portfolio.
Workshop & Talk
Since the university doesn’t provide their students a close relationship with the market nor give them support about the
various options available after
graduation, along with the team
we created an informal talk with
some of the alumni I spoke to
during my field research. Our
purpose was to create a healthy
and comfortable space where
people could put their doubts
about their future as designers.
The workshop was important to the
students to provide them with skills
that are not given in most design
schools, such as time management,
information on how to be an
independent worker in Portugal,
basic business management, and
personal finance.
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