Career planning
Here are some of my plans for career development over the next few years.
My Initial Plan
In my initial career plan, I intend to continuously set goals for myself, but not overly difficult ones. In the short term, my primary task is to further improve my existing design skills. For example, I will hone my Photoshop skills until I can independently create a certain number of minimalist posters without relying on tutorials. Secondly, I will learn more design thinking through video platforms and utilize Pinterest's powerful search engine to learn more layouts and minimalist design principles suitable for my current technical abilities. I plan to complete this challenge within six months of graduation.
I plan to complete this challenge in June of the 27th year.
Works that need further optimization
Plans for the year after graduation
Of course, in the second half of the year after graduation, I plan to continuously refine my portfolio, further improving the quality of my work, replacing content that I deem unappealing, such as logos and some posters, and creating a unique overall style for my portfolio. I will also explore the 3D industry, using widely recognized modeling software such as Cinema 4D, Maya, and Blender to create my own 3D avatars and promotional videos to showcase my learning progress to potential clients.
Follow-up plans
Of course, to broaden my horizons, I plan to start as a freelance web designer, initially taking on projects that interest me, such as designing posters or websites for individuals. In my spare time, I participate in design competitions, such as local "Cultural Innovation Design Competitions" or "Guangdong Provincial Design Competitions," striving to gain experience and expand my network
This is an early web design I created for Pasta Mozzarella.
Medium-term goals
My mid-term goal is to become a professional graphic designer, focusing on a unique style, such as postmodernism or minimalism, or more diverse styles like Dadaism and abstract art. I plan to work in a design studio or agency to gain practical experience and improve my ability to independently handle real client projects. I hope to advance from junior designer to intermediate designer within two to three years. During this period, I plan to complete at least 5 to 10 real client projects, including brand design and visual communication work.
Big Ideas, Real Impact.
Meanwhile, considering the increasingly competitive graphic design industry, I will use my spare time to develop a clear, complete, and easily readable personal design style. My portfolio will also be continuously updated and improved, such as redesigning my logo or replacing some existing works. Platforms like Behance will help me shape my personal design image, increase my influence, and build industry reputation. I hope this won't take up too much of my time, ideally within two years.
My goal is to promote my story through Behance and continuously update my Behance profile during this time.
More distant future
Over the next four to five years, after fully mastering the design direction, I plan to occasionally experiment with other design styles to expand my business. As expected, my career path will progress from junior designer to senior designer, ultimately becoming creative director. Along the way, I will experience many setbacks. In my mid-term career plan, I will work with a diverse range of clients. This client experience will help me better understand their needs and their potential design requirements. If my current design firm cannot support my further development, I will create my own brand and set my sights on companies that offer long-term growth opportunities, such as Taobao, Bilibili, or certain sectors under Tencent.
Furthermore, I hope to contribute to social and environmental projects through design, using visual communication to raise public awareness and generate a positive impact. This will further enhance my reputation and enable me to attract a higher-quality clientele.