Nothing about this book looks like an art book. The somewhat colorless cover, the MIT imprint, the marked lack of giant, colorful images. At very first glance, you know that editor Oliver Grau, an Image Science professor and Cultural Studies dean, means business.

Media Art Histories is a more academic look at a subject normally approached with thin, glossy coffee table books and broad, superficial language. Grau’s compilation offers takes from over a dozen professionals on the history and acceptance of digital media as an art form. (more…)

Unless you’re interviewing with a teensy design studio, chances are good you’ll meet with more than one person. At the very least, you should know your interviewers’ names and titles before you show up. If the hiring manager doesn’t give you this information, simply ask for it: “I’d like to be well-prepared for our time together. Might I ask who I’ll be meeting with during the interview process?”

To really impress, though, it’s smart to know more about these people, and then tailor your message to them. Get their names and titles, and then visit the firm’s website to learn more about them. Google them — see if they’ve been written about in the design media, if they’ve won awards, if they’ve presented at industry events, if they’ve authored white papers. In a recent Career article for HOW, columnist Julie Sims recommends, too, that you target your conversation to whoever you’re meeting with. For example, you shouldn’t get super-detailed about your creative process if you’re meeting with a CEO, but you should be prepared to explain your thinking if you’re showing your book to a creative director.

Brockett’s first interview suit, worn with the sales tag tucked in the pocket.

Inspired by Chris Costello’s post.
I’m uncertain if sharing my career pitfalls with intimidating, unidentifiable readers is threatening or liberating (in the same way that launching my thesis document from the 9th floor of the design building was thrilling). But Chris, you’ve inspired me, so here goes:

Yearn to kern:
During the first day at a dream job, the creative manager introduced me to team members as Miss Home (rather than Miss Horne). The kerning on my resume was so poor that the “r” and the “n” fused together, generating for me a new last name. It was an embarrassing error to correct, for both of us.
(more…)

Time management is a big challenge for most creative freelancers. You want to slow down and enjoy the season (or life in general) but you’re afraid that if you appear “unavailable” to clients, you’ll lose them or if you don’t take every one that comes along, you’ll never get another one. What to do?

Here’s one suggestion from Tracey Watt, owner of Rave! Design just outside Toronto, where Tracey lives on a farm and sometimes takes time during the day to ride her horse. (more…)

At the risk of stating the obvious, every designer should have a website or web presence of some kind. Websites serve as your marketing and self-promotional tool 24/7. Make sure you have a dedicated e-mail account and an email link on your site for people to contact you (and check your messages every day).

If you can’t afford a website/hosting services, etc, then start a blog (it’s free) and carve out some time to write about anything. You’ll be surprised at how many people will be interested in what you have to say. Contribute to discussion groups and design forums. Make yourself famous. (more…)

I often find that designers, whether they’re business owners, freelancers or employees, get sort of freaked out by the idea of planning their business or career. It can be an overwhelming prospect: figuring out what you want from your work life (and life in general) and charting a course to get there.

But what if you approached it like a design project? Like, start with a project brief in which you write down your goal and plot out steps along the way. Then find the best creative direction that’ll achieve what you want.

That’s the basic premise of HOW’s current webinar series on professional development for designers. Jeni Herberger’s June session drew rave reviews from participants who appreciated her honesty and openness, as she encouraged folks to really think about what they want. Jeni’s next session is July 24, and it’s one that any designer won’t want to miss. Plus, we’ve sweetened the deal: Sign up, and you’ll get a nifty downloadable HOW Career Guide as a freebie.

A client recently asked me if we could get sitelinks for our site in Google. I mentioned google sitelinks back in my series on Google Webmaster Tools (Part 4, specifically), but it was time for a closer look.

Just how does Google decide to put sitelinks on certain sites in their search results?

Well, as usual with Google, they don’t really tell you. Google says that the sitelinks are automatically generated using a secret algorithm. They are designed to help users find what they want on the site without having to click down into the site. (more…)

It’s already 3rd quarter—do you know how close you are to your 2008
year-end goals.

What are your top 3 goals for 2008? Have they changed since January? Have you already reached them? Are you halfway there?

What? You can’t remember what your goals are? It’s true, that was a
whole six months ago, but here we are mid-year and there’s still plenty of time to get yourself on track with your marketing and reach your annual goals by the end of the year. (more…)

This is a last minute call for HOW’s 10th annual Interactive Design Awards.

The competition is open to all designers from anywhere in the world. Any interactive, interface or motion designs for the web, for kiosks, for broadcast or for use on Macintosh or Windows platforms, including CD-ROMs and DVDs, are eligible. Projects created between January 1, 2007 and July 15, 2008 are eligible. Entries will be accepted in 12 categories including the new In-House category.

The competition’s Best of Show winner will be profiled in HOW’s 2009 International Design Annual and will win a trip to the 2009 HOW Design Conference. All winning entries will be featured in the International Design Annual, and some may be showcased on the HOW website. Entry fees are as follows: $75 Regular Entry and $50 Student Entry. Entries must be postmarked by July 15, 2008. Late entries will be accepted until August 1, 2008.

For more information, rules and official entry form, visit here or send an email to how-competition@fwpubs.com.

Interviews from the Edge, Epiphanies and Wake-up Calls that Beg You to Ask “How Did I Ever Make It Out Alive”.

I’m a little excited as I try to recall the most forgettable moments of my art career. It’s a bit like reminiscing late at night with friends and laughing over a few beers. Now that I work so much, I don’t have any more friends, so I’ll just share these gems with all of you.

I recall some very dark days searching for jobs and trying to make a living as a graphic designer. In light of current economic conditions, some of you may be having a difficult time finding full-time (or any-time) employment as a designer and will no doubt be discouraged; thinking you’re a no-talent wannabe. Well, I hope the following true accounts of my most depressing experiences might inspire you not to give up. Can you top these tales of woe? (more…)