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1. What profession did you choose?Why? 2.How many years of college did you need to go through? 3.What jobs did you work before you landed your present professional job? 4.How can I decide if I should earn a Ph.D. in this field? 5.Were you in a college program? 6.Did you have to pivot and go back to school at a later date? 7.Did you shadow another professional in the field? 8.Did you join any school clubs related to your current profession? 9.Was there a particular subject you struggled with during your school years? 10.What skill sets did you learn or gain while pursuing your career? 11. Have you ever taught anyone any skills that you learned? 12.Have you ever worked on designing clothes, cartoons,etc? 13. What is the best country, state, or city to live in as a graphic designer?
Hello! My name is Avimael and I am a current high school student. I'm conducting an interview with any professional in the graphic design field for a Foundations in Health Science Class project about careers! I have created a total of 13 questions.
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5 answers
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John’s Answer
What wonderful questions! Here are my answers:
1. What profession did you choose? Why?
My chosen career was to be a music teacher. I loved music since I was little. However, once I got into it I decided I didn't like it as much as I thought I would and pursued a career in corporate training where I have been for 35 years now.
2.How many years of college did you need to go through?
I got a bachelor's degree in Music Education. It took 4 years.
3.What jobs did you work before you landed your present professional job?
I was assistant manager of a camera shop and a camp counselor. I worked as a timekeeper/dispatcher for a fishing boat company and I worked as a maid in a hotel. I worked in a ski shop, I worked for an airline loading airplanes and I worked as a music teacher.
4.How can I decide if I should earn a Ph.D. in this field?
I sometimes wonder what it might have been like had I gone beyond a bachelor's degree. I have a close relative who got a PHD and he has had an amazing career as a university professor.
5.Were you in a college program?
Yes. I studied Music Education. I declared that as my major the second semester of my sophomore year.
6.Did you have to pivot and go back to school at a later date?
I did actually. When I left teaching I attended a travel industry trade school which helped me get a job with an airline. I stayed with that airline 16 years, most of that time as a trainer or training administrator.
7.Did you shadow another professional in the field?
To become a teacher I had to first be a student teacher. I had a supervising teacher who was a very experienced teacher who helped me get started teaching. At my airline, I had a 3 month temporary assignment training new employees on the computer system. During this time I had a mentor who helped me a lot. I strongly believe in this type of relationship and I wish it happened more.
8.Did you join any school clubs related to your current profession?
Today I am an instructional designer. I am a member of a couple of professional organizations. It is very important that I stay up to date on developments in this field, and the organizations help with this.
9.Was there a particular subject you struggled with during your school years?
Shoot yeah! Math. But in college I found that I understood it better and I liked it. I have had to learn statistics for my current job and I have found that it isn't as hard as I once thought it was.
10.What skill sets did you learn or gain while pursuing your career?
Writing has been very important throughout all of my jobs. I have also become a power user of Microsoft Office, and a couple of elearning design tools.
11. Have you ever taught anyone any skills that you learned?
Yes. I taught music in a public school and I have given private music lessons. In my current job, I have mentored more junior employees who are interested in instructional design.
12.Have you ever worked on designing clothes, cartoons,etc?
Yes. I have drawn characters pictures of equipment my company makes to use in elearning that I design. To create them I used Inkscape and Adobe Illustrator.
13. What is the best country, state, or city to live in as a graphic designer
There is a need for graphic designers, many companies employ them. My company has several. My recommendation is to look for jobs at companies that are hiring and see where the jobs are located. They may even be remote.
I hope these answers are helpful.
1. What profession did you choose? Why?
My chosen career was to be a music teacher. I loved music since I was little. However, once I got into it I decided I didn't like it as much as I thought I would and pursued a career in corporate training where I have been for 35 years now.
2.How many years of college did you need to go through?
I got a bachelor's degree in Music Education. It took 4 years.
3.What jobs did you work before you landed your present professional job?
I was assistant manager of a camera shop and a camp counselor. I worked as a timekeeper/dispatcher for a fishing boat company and I worked as a maid in a hotel. I worked in a ski shop, I worked for an airline loading airplanes and I worked as a music teacher.
4.How can I decide if I should earn a Ph.D. in this field?
I sometimes wonder what it might have been like had I gone beyond a bachelor's degree. I have a close relative who got a PHD and he has had an amazing career as a university professor.
5.Were you in a college program?
Yes. I studied Music Education. I declared that as my major the second semester of my sophomore year.
6.Did you have to pivot and go back to school at a later date?
I did actually. When I left teaching I attended a travel industry trade school which helped me get a job with an airline. I stayed with that airline 16 years, most of that time as a trainer or training administrator.
7.Did you shadow another professional in the field?
To become a teacher I had to first be a student teacher. I had a supervising teacher who was a very experienced teacher who helped me get started teaching. At my airline, I had a 3 month temporary assignment training new employees on the computer system. During this time I had a mentor who helped me a lot. I strongly believe in this type of relationship and I wish it happened more.
8.Did you join any school clubs related to your current profession?
Today I am an instructional designer. I am a member of a couple of professional organizations. It is very important that I stay up to date on developments in this field, and the organizations help with this.
9.Was there a particular subject you struggled with during your school years?
Shoot yeah! Math. But in college I found that I understood it better and I liked it. I have had to learn statistics for my current job and I have found that it isn't as hard as I once thought it was.
10.What skill sets did you learn or gain while pursuing your career?
Writing has been very important throughout all of my jobs. I have also become a power user of Microsoft Office, and a couple of elearning design tools.
11. Have you ever taught anyone any skills that you learned?
Yes. I taught music in a public school and I have given private music lessons. In my current job, I have mentored more junior employees who are interested in instructional design.
12.Have you ever worked on designing clothes, cartoons,etc?
Yes. I have drawn characters pictures of equipment my company makes to use in elearning that I design. To create them I used Inkscape and Adobe Illustrator.
13. What is the best country, state, or city to live in as a graphic designer
There is a need for graphic designers, many companies employ them. My company has several. My recommendation is to look for jobs at companies that are hiring and see where the jobs are located. They may even be remote.
I hope these answers are helpful.
Thank you, John!
Avimael
Updated
Elliot’s Answer
Avimael!!!! So many questions!!! First find what interests you. Pick a field that you find interesting and exciting AND WHERE YOU CAN BE USEFUL using your inate talents. Okay. That was question 1. Other folks can answer the other 12. Good luck.
Thank you, this is really helpful.
Avimael
Updated
Vivien’s Answer
1) Could you share what career path you embarked on and why?
I'm proud to say I'm a product designer, currently holding the title of Senior Director of Product Design at New Relic. Interestingly, my journey began as a scientist before I transitioned into the world of design.
Remember those childhood days when your parents would ask, "What do you aspire to become when you grow up?"
I told them I wanted to be an artist. I didn't know what a designer was at the time. I just knew I wanted to make. I wanted to create. I wanted to make things easier for people.
They of course said, “No. Be someone useful, do something meaningful, and do something that makes money.” To them an artist was none of that. They wanted me to be a doctor, lawyer, or engineer. So, I never went to design school.
My background is in bioinformatics, computational biology, and information systems. I enjoy working with data and creating for scientists and engineers and that’s one reason New Relic is such an awesome place to be.
2) How many years of higher education did you undertake?
I never attended a design school. However, I completed my undergraduate studies in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, and earned a Master's degree in Information Systems.
3) What positions did you hold before securing your current professional role?
I started as a Biomedical Research and QA Analyst at the National Cancer Institute, then moved on to become a Web Developer and Scientist at the Food and Drug Administration. I later worked as a Web Developer at an interactive agency, followed by a job as a UI/UX Engineer and Social Media Director at a startup. I then transitioned into a Technical Account Manager/Product Manager role at another startup, before stepping into the world of design in enterprise software. I served as a Designer and Design Manager at Oracle, then as a Product Design Architect at Salesforce. Today, I am the Senior Director of Product Design at New Relic.
4) How can I determine if pursuing a Ph.D. in this field is the right choice for me?
As a Meyerhoff scholar, the idea of earning a Ph.D. often crossed my mind. However, as I transitioned away from scientific research, I realized that gaining practical experience was more valuable for me. I craved more hands-on experience, which I felt was crucial for my growth.
5) Did you enroll in a college program?
In the field of design? No, I did not.
6) Did you ever decide to return to school at a later stage?
While I didn't formally return to school, I did take various courses and workshops to enhance my design skills while on the job.
7) Did you have the opportunity to shadow a professional in your field?
Not exactly.
8) Were you a member of any school clubs related to your current profession?
No, I wasn't.
9) Was there a specific subject that challenged you during your school years?
Probably chemistry.
10) What skills did you acquire or develop while pursuing your career?
I honed my design craft and improved my skills in presenting, selling, and communicating design. I also learned the importance of building strong relationships.
11) Have you ever imparted the skills you learned to others?
Absolutely! I occasionally mentor individuals, particularly those transitioning from a non-traditional design background (like mine) into the design field.
12) Have you ever ventured into designing clothes, cartoons, etc.?
I've had a bit of fun designing shirts at Oracle.
13) In your opinion, where is the best place to live as a graphic designer?
That's hard to pinpoint. However, with sufficient experience, you can enjoy the flexibility of working remotely as a designer for a company.
I'm proud to say I'm a product designer, currently holding the title of Senior Director of Product Design at New Relic. Interestingly, my journey began as a scientist before I transitioned into the world of design.
Remember those childhood days when your parents would ask, "What do you aspire to become when you grow up?"
I told them I wanted to be an artist. I didn't know what a designer was at the time. I just knew I wanted to make. I wanted to create. I wanted to make things easier for people.
They of course said, “No. Be someone useful, do something meaningful, and do something that makes money.” To them an artist was none of that. They wanted me to be a doctor, lawyer, or engineer. So, I never went to design school.
My background is in bioinformatics, computational biology, and information systems. I enjoy working with data and creating for scientists and engineers and that’s one reason New Relic is such an awesome place to be.
2) How many years of higher education did you undertake?
I never attended a design school. However, I completed my undergraduate studies in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, and earned a Master's degree in Information Systems.
3) What positions did you hold before securing your current professional role?
I started as a Biomedical Research and QA Analyst at the National Cancer Institute, then moved on to become a Web Developer and Scientist at the Food and Drug Administration. I later worked as a Web Developer at an interactive agency, followed by a job as a UI/UX Engineer and Social Media Director at a startup. I then transitioned into a Technical Account Manager/Product Manager role at another startup, before stepping into the world of design in enterprise software. I served as a Designer and Design Manager at Oracle, then as a Product Design Architect at Salesforce. Today, I am the Senior Director of Product Design at New Relic.
4) How can I determine if pursuing a Ph.D. in this field is the right choice for me?
As a Meyerhoff scholar, the idea of earning a Ph.D. often crossed my mind. However, as I transitioned away from scientific research, I realized that gaining practical experience was more valuable for me. I craved more hands-on experience, which I felt was crucial for my growth.
5) Did you enroll in a college program?
In the field of design? No, I did not.
6) Did you ever decide to return to school at a later stage?
While I didn't formally return to school, I did take various courses and workshops to enhance my design skills while on the job.
7) Did you have the opportunity to shadow a professional in your field?
Not exactly.
8) Were you a member of any school clubs related to your current profession?
No, I wasn't.
9) Was there a specific subject that challenged you during your school years?
Probably chemistry.
10) What skills did you acquire or develop while pursuing your career?
I honed my design craft and improved my skills in presenting, selling, and communicating design. I also learned the importance of building strong relationships.
11) Have you ever imparted the skills you learned to others?
Absolutely! I occasionally mentor individuals, particularly those transitioning from a non-traditional design background (like mine) into the design field.
12) Have you ever ventured into designing clothes, cartoons, etc.?
I've had a bit of fun designing shirts at Oracle.
13) In your opinion, where is the best place to live as a graphic designer?
That's hard to pinpoint. However, with sufficient experience, you can enjoy the flexibility of working remotely as a designer for a company.
Updated
Aneesa’s Answer
I dove into the world of Computer Science because it was the hottest field at the time, and I believe it still is! After earning my degree, I began as a Programmer and later transitioned to Software Support, where I helped set up comprehensive computer systems like networks. Now, I find myself immersed in Project Management and leading as a Scrum Master for Agile IT Projects.
What I want to emphasize is that starting in one area of a field can lead to exploring various roles as we climb the career ladder. Possessing a strong foundational knowledge is incredibly beneficial. We must always be ready to learn, as technology evolves at a breakneck pace. However, a solid foundation will undoubtedly assist us in grasping new concepts and technologies.
What I want to emphasize is that starting in one area of a field can lead to exploring various roles as we climb the career ladder. Possessing a strong foundational knowledge is incredibly beneficial. We must always be ready to learn, as technology evolves at a breakneck pace. However, a solid foundation will undoubtedly assist us in grasping new concepts and technologies.
Updated
Kseniia’s Answer
Hi Avimael! So many questions, and this is so great that you have those on your mind.
What about me...for now i'm working as a web-designer-freelancer. And it's so new for me. I'm just at the start of my career. I chose it, because for the past 2-3 years i have a lot of things about changing my current profession - i was a logistics manager for the 5 years - and always was interested in design and creativity. Also my dad is an artist so i was surrounded by creativity all my childhood. I really wanted to be able to work and travel and my choice to become a web designer was absolutely right for it.
I found a great online-courses, and spent about 4 months for my study - I also studied the profession on my own before and after the courses - and in my country it was enough to find some paid projects. During my studies, I met other excellent web designers and surrounded myself with design information (subscribed to design news portals, subscribed to other professionals). I have learned how to organize my time, gained communication skills with customers, mastered a new tool and try to continue developing these skills.
I hope that all these information will be helpful for you and you will be able to find a profession that will bring you pleasure.
P.s. Sorry if I made mistakes in the text. English is not my native language, but I trying to study it every day.
What about me...for now i'm working as a web-designer-freelancer. And it's so new for me. I'm just at the start of my career. I chose it, because for the past 2-3 years i have a lot of things about changing my current profession - i was a logistics manager for the 5 years - and always was interested in design and creativity. Also my dad is an artist so i was surrounded by creativity all my childhood. I really wanted to be able to work and travel and my choice to become a web designer was absolutely right for it.
I found a great online-courses, and spent about 4 months for my study - I also studied the profession on my own before and after the courses - and in my country it was enough to find some paid projects. During my studies, I met other excellent web designers and surrounded myself with design information (subscribed to design news portals, subscribed to other professionals). I have learned how to organize my time, gained communication skills with customers, mastered a new tool and try to continue developing these skills.
I hope that all these information will be helpful for you and you will be able to find a profession that will bring you pleasure.
P.s. Sorry if I made mistakes in the text. English is not my native language, but I trying to study it every day.