Mike Russell, a seasoned creative service specialist with a background in graphic design, emphasizes the importance of strong visuals in modern marketing. He shares insights on the advantages and disadvantages of in-house versus freelance design work, while also discussing the significance of knowing one's skill set and value in the industry. The document highlights the necessity for designers to effectively market themselves and collaborate across disciplines to achieve success.

1. Standing up for
Creative
REPRESENTING YOUR INDUSTRY
MIKE RUSSELL

2. About me
2
@mikerdzign
• Creative Service Specialist for
Discover Flagstaff oversee web
and social media.
• A Flagstaff native and NAU
graduate.
• Second graduating class of
the Art Institute of Phoenix
• Married 24 years with
3 sons

3. 3
About me

4. 4
About me

5. 5
About me
@mikerdzign

6. 6
Do what
you enjoy
“It’s okay to
dream a
little.”
-K

7. From 1998-2019My Design story
Government
In-house
12 yrs
Freelance
15+ yrs
Publishing
In-house
7 yrs22 yrs
Graphic
Designer
Marketing/
PR Agency
1 yr

8. Creative
environment
Public
Relations
Creative
Photo/
Video
Sales
person
Editor/
Copywriter
Marketing

9. Marketing Ecosystem
Mullen Advertising

10. 10
In-house design
Advantages
• Perks of a traditional work environment
• A steady paycheck
• Professional development
• One brand to develop
Disadvantages
• More rules
• More communication
• A non-design environment
Where do Graphic Designers Work? In-house vs. Agency vs. Freelance
https://www.rasmussen.edu/degrees/design/blog/where-do-graphic-designers-work

11. In today’s online world, you can’t get
away without visuals anymore!
Websites, marketing content, company
logos or apps; if the visuals are not
compelling, the value of your product is
compromised.
The Worlds Most Famous Graphic Designers in 2019
https://www.designwizard.com/blog/famous-graphic-designers/
New Quote

12. 12
The true challenge is sitting across from
a person who knows absolutely nothing
about design, showing them your
gorgeous work and trying to sell them
the idea and why it’s the right one for
them.
All Designers are Liars
https://thenuschool.com/all-designers-are-liars-how-to-market-yourself/

13. Know your
skill set
“You know the
business and I
know
chemistry.”
-Walter White

14. What I've learned about Design Jobs & Settling.
https://medium.com/@BethanyHeck/what-i-ve-learned-about-design-jobs-settling
14
Know your strengths
Hobby Career
Vector Raster
Print Digital
Creative Technical
Generalist Specialist

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15
Maybe no cup?

16. Let others
know your
skill set
“Nobody in
life gets what
they thought
they were
going to get.”
-Conan O’brien

17. 17
“I hate cynicism — it’s my least favorite
quality and it doesn’t lead anywhere.
Nobody in life gets exactly what they
thought they were going to get. But if
you work really hard and you’re kind,
amazing things will happen.”

18. 18
• Job Descriptions
• Job Titles
• Job Apparel
How creative is
percieved

19. The image cannot be displayed. Your computer may not have enough memory to open the image, or the image may have been corrupted. Restart your computer, and then open the file again. If the red x still appears, you may have to delete the image and then insert it again.
19
Job Descriptions

20. 20
• Publications Associate
• Creative Specialist
Consumer Web and Multimedia
• Creative Specialist
Web and Social Media
Job Titles

21. 21
“When our roles are ambiguous,
our outcomes and success stories
can be as well.”
Are you T-Shaped? Jack of all trades, Master of One – And How to be both
https://www.primermagazine.com/2017/live/are-you-t-shaped-jack-of-all-trades-master-
of-one-and-how-to-be-both

22. The image cannot be displayed. Your computer may not have enough memory to open the image, or the image may have been corrupted. Restart your computer, and then open the file again. If the red x still appears, you may have to delete the image and then insert it again.
22
Maybe no cup?
• Job Apparel

23. T-shaped Design
• “The vertical stroke of the “T”
is a depth of skill that allows
you to contribute to the
creative process.
• The horizontal stroke of the
“T” is the disposition for
knowledge for collaboration
across disciplines.
23
How to be a triangle-shaped designer.
https://uxdesign.cc/how-to-be-a-triangle-shaped-designer-cd44c605fbe

24. The image cannot be displayed. Your computer may not have enough memory to open the image, or the image may have been corrupted. Restart your computer, and then open the file again. If the red x still appears, you may have to delete the image and then insert it again.
24
Maybe no cup?
Are you T-Shaped? Jack of all trades, Master of One – And How to be both
https://www.primermagazine.com/2017

25. Four Principles of
the T-Shaped
Individual
• Be invested
• Seek new experiences – make
connections.
• Be generous with your knowledge –
teach and mentor others.
• Find mentors - learn from the
t-shaped people in your life.
25
Are you T-Shaped? Jack of all trades, Master of One – And How to be both
https://www.primermagazine.com/2017

26. Know the
work you
put in.
“How much more
can they take from
me?”
-Max Rockatansky
Value

27. 27
‘Creative’ design is a large part of a
marketing package which can critically
affect the success of a business. Well
designed communications take a great
deal of skill and effort to make.
What is the Value of Graphic Design
https://oskucom.wordpress.com/2012/03/11/what-is-the-value-of-graphic-design/

28. 28
A designer is a professional who
provides skills and services from years of
training and experience. Their skills have
great value in the same respect as other
professionals who are expected to have
a high level of abilities.
What is the Value of Graphic Design
https://oskucom.wordpress.com/2012/03/11/what-is-the-value-of-graphic-design/

29. 29
Great advice for designers
who feel unempowered:
Get out of
passive/blaming/victim
mode.
Work to change it.

30. Know how
to sell
yourself.
“It’s times like
these you give
and give
again.”
-Dave Grohl

31. 31
Too many designers, some of them
super talented, remain throughout
their career at the bottom of the
design world’s pyramid for the simple
reason that they don’t know – and
what’s worse, don’t want to learn –
how to sell their work.
Which personality types make the best designers?
https://www.creativebloq.com/career/which-personality-types-make-best-designers

32. 32
Introversion and
creativity
A design professor at Mississippi
State University Beth Miller and a
group of researchers found that
an introverted personality type
was the most prevalent among
its postgraduate designers.
Which personality types make the best designers?
https://www.creativebloq.com/career/which-personality-types-make-best-designers

33. 33
Introverts are slower to speak their
minds because they are more careful
when processing data; they think before
making decisions. They're good with
detail and have better focus.
Which personality types make the best designers?
https://www.creativebloq.com/career/which-personality-types-make-best-designers

34. 34
"Studies suggest that innovation often
requires solitude. The majority of
spectacularly creative people across a
range of fields are introverts, or at least
comfortable with spending large chunks
of time alone."
Which personality types make the best designers?
https://www.creativebloq.com/career/which-personality-types-make-best-designers

35. Stand up
for your
industry
“We survive
this by pulling
together, not
apart.”
-Rick Grimes

36. 36
“if you help other people achieve their
goals, you’ll achieve your goals’.

37. Why designers don’t get respect
https://www.sarahdayan.com/blog/why-designers-dont-get-respect
• Be good at what you do.
• Don’t budge from your values.
• Act the part.
• Take responsibility.
• Help build those around you.
• Believe in yourself.
37
Final thoughts
Detail on Bullets

38. 38
Thanks!
Any questions?
Twitter: @MikeRDzign
Instagram: @MikeRDzign
Linkedin: Mike Russell
Twitter: @DiscoverFLG
Instagram: @DiscoverFlagstaff
Facebook: Discover Flagstaff
Linkedin: Discover Flagstaff