I’m sure you’ve heard about this wonderful thing called Networking. Here's a scenario:
Two previous strangers attend a very cool and designerly event hosted in a warehouse-type venue with natural lighting and concrete flooring. They meet one another at the snack bar while discovering their shared love of chèvre cheese. They begin to chit-chat while munching on light hors d'oeuvres and sipping the generously-donated hand-crafted beer. They ask one another about what kind of work they do, who they’re working with, and where they're currently working at. They exchange business cards and start following each other on Instagram—maybe Twitter and Facebook, too. Soon they're showing each other pictures of their cats, and talking about their mutual interests. Through their discourse they may discover they have mutual friends, too. They introduce each other to more people, and thus the networking parade begins. These people later converge in coffee shops and at other fun events where they hopefully remember each other’s names—and each other’s work. Later on down the road, these two people are much more likely to work together or recommend each other's work—than if they never met at all.
In the design world, people that hang out together, can get work together. It pays to attend events and be social.
I should clarify, though, that I've never really been one of those people I just described. Attending events and being social takes practice and getting used to. It can be super intimidating if you're new to the whole scene. I've met lots of people over the course of 6 years in school, and have had lots of great opportunities to work with people outside of school. But every one of those special connections happened because of school. Events and parties are great for meeting lots of new people, but if you're like me and are sorta-kinda scared to go to events without a wingman, then start networking or just being friendly to people right where you’re at. The classroom is easy—so start there. You never know what could arise just by talking to the people around you in your design classes.
Start networking wherever you're at.
Rules of Engagement:
1.
Don’t feel like you need a formal invitation to show up to public events. Don’t worry, nobody else received a letterpress invitation hand-delivered to their doorstep either.
2.
Be genuinely curious about other people’s work.
3.
When you’re talking to someone (this applies to talking to anyone), make them feel like you want to be talking to them, and not with someone else. People can tell.
4.
You’re allowed to introduce yourself.
5.
Mutual friends=opportunity.
6.
Never throw your work under the bus. Especially if you've just met someone.
7.
Talk about and show the work that you want to be known by.
8.
If you have the opportunity, karaoke does work.
9.
Whatever you do, don't ignore people. Realize that everyone else at school feels the same way you do. Be the person that can start a conversation with anyone.
An Interview with:
Max Miller (2016 grad)
1.You mentioned that you were pretty introverted in your first years of design school. Now as a senior, you’ve become more extroverted through your involvement in the program. What was the shift for you (socially) and how did that come about? How has this involvement increased your overall experience as a student?
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2.A lot of students are really shy when it comes to networking. What would you say to people who are struggling to get their work out there and meet like-minded people?
Response, response, response, Response, response, response, Response, response, response, Response, response, response, Response, response, response, Response, response, response, Response, response, response, Response, response, response, Response, response, response, Response, response, response, Response, response, response, Response, response, response, Response, response, response.
3.How did your professors help you become more involved?
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4.How does humor play a role in your work? Do you see this an another opportunity to connect with people?
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Another Interview with:
Chris Lopez (2016 grad)
1.You mentioned that you were pretty introverted in your first years of design school. Now as a senior, you’ve become more extroverted through your involvement in the program. What was the shift for you (socially) and how did that come about? How has this involvement increased your overall experience as a student?
Response, response, response, Response, response, response, Response, response, response, Response, response, response, Response, response, response, Response, response, response, Response, response, response, Response, response, response, Response, response, response, Response, response, response, Response, response, response, Response, response, response, Response, response, response.
2.A lot of students are really shy when it comes to networking. What would you say to people who are struggling to get their work out there and meet like-minded people?
Response, response, response, Response, response, response, Response, response, response, Response, response, response, Response, response, response, Response, response, response, Response, response, response, Response, response, response, Response, response, response, Response, response, response, Response, response, response, Response, response, response, Response, response, response.
3.How did your professors help you become more involved?
Response, response, response, Response, response, response, Response, response, response, Response, response, response, Response, response, response, Response, response, response, Response, response, response, Response, response, response, Response, response, response, Response, response, response, Response, response, response, Response, response, response, Response, response, response.
4.How does humor play a role in your work? Do you see this an another opportunity to connect with people?
Response, response, response, Response, response, response, Response, response, response, Response, response, response, Response, response, response, Response, response, response, Response, response, response, Response, response, response, Response, response, response, Response, response, response, Response, response, response, Response, response, response, Response, response, response.