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Tips on Self Promotion

Lesson 19 from: A Brand Called You

Debbie Millman

Tips on Self Promotion

Lesson 19 from: A Brand Called You

Debbie Millman

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Lesson Info

19. Tips on Self Promotion

Lesson Info

Tips on Self Promotion

Another thing that you really need to consider doing is creating promotions. You need to be able to show work that you love, that is for the sheer joy of making it. It is very unlikely that you're gonna your dream job by showing the work that you're making today in your not dream job company. How is it possible for you to entice somebody to give you your dream job with the drab work that you're doing in your current job? So, you need to make the work yourself. You need to create your own promotions and now is the time to make the things that you've said you always want to make. That is the way to get something better than what you have without the shackles of your current employer telling you that you need to use this logo, this size, and this configuration. You need to make self-generated work that can get you more awareness in the marketplace. And I'm gonna show you three examples of people that had done this really, really successfully. This is Jessica Hische, she was working at a j...

ob and she wanted her dream job and so she started to do a project that was called the Drop Cap Project and she did a promotion that was to very specific number of people. I think she said it was 40 people that she sent it to, it was a very expensive promotion that she had made, handmade. And she sent it to 40 companies, she got one callback, one. Stats, right? One callback, but the callback was from a Louise Fili and she got the job with Louise Fili. And then, most of the work that she's become known for is her own self-generated work. So, she did this Drop Cap Project, the Drop Cap Project resulted in her being hired by a book publisher to do a series of covers with the letters A through Z for their entire back labels, their books that they had. And so, she got this amazing job because of a self-generated project that she initiated on her own, doing the work that she loves. Lisa Congdon is also a CreativeLive teacher, she first became known for her Collection a Day. She created beautiful photographs of collections that she had had and did this for a year, and it resulted in a book and now, an entire career as an illustrator. And then, of course, no example like this is complete without Jessica Walsh and Tim Goodman who created the 40 Days of Dating website. Catapulted them both to enormous, enormous heights of recognition and I believe that there's a movie that's being made now as well, of 40 Days of Dating. Jessica works for Stefan Sagmeister, with Stefan Sagmeister now as a partner at Sagmeister & Walsh and Tim Goodman is traveling all over the country drawing beautiful murals in office lobbies and creating amazing packaging and products, and they're doing amazing, amazing work. All based on, not the previous job that they had, but the self-generated work that they made and got into the marketplace, and it's never been easier than before to get your work out in the marketplace. You can make it, you can put it up on Instagram, you could put it up on a blog, you can put it on Twitter, you can put it on Facebook, and all of a sudden it can be shared and shown, and before you know it, more than just the people you know and love are looking at the work that you've made. That's the way you have to get your name out. And you wanna get your name out for doing kind of work because this is the work that you love. This is the work you want to be known for, you don't wanna be known for the employer's work that you're doing that you don't love, so you have to make work that you do love. And Stefan Sagmeister says it best, you shouldn't be putting the work in your portfolio that you don't love, you should be making work that you love to put in your portfolio. Don't rely on your employer to inspire you to make work that is gonna inspire other people, you have to make it for yourselves. And you have to attend the events, you must attend the events. You have to get your name out there, you have to show up. Go to the conferences, go to the round tables, go to the CreativeMornings talks. They're all free, all the CreativeMornings talks in every country of the world are free and that's where you meet people. Take classes, take continuing ed classes, there's always something that you can do to meet somebody that you admire. They might be teaching, they might have CreativeLive classes, they might be talking at CreativeMorning, they might be at an AIGA conference, they might be at a Type Directors Club conference. There's access to everybody now. Follow them on Instagram, there's always a way to reach people that you admire. We live in that kind of world now, utilize that for your purposes in a way that is honest and has integrity.

Ratings and Reviews

a Creativelive Student
 

B R I LLIANNNNNNT !!!! I love the such solid human being that she is and her grandiosity of holding our shoulder and say : go head! Dare to be your best self, own it. Here are some tips .... !!!! Uhuuuuuuuuu!! So inspiring! Thank you so much, Debbie. For couple of days you were my very BEST FRIEND :) Thanks Creative Live!! This is NOT a live "manual" on technical skills. If that is what you are looking for go some steps down and there are plenty of people teaching that, like traditional schools do. You will only learn what is "there" for you to learn if you are open TO HEAR with sincerity. Debbie tells several things that works and that doesn't in professional field besides showing what successful business look for in the people, or partners. Out standing!! I would love to watch another class with her.

Nancy
 

I loved this course. Five Stars. I was initially drawn to this course because of the title. I had read Tom Peter's article (with the same name) in Fast Company magazine many years ago, and found it really inspiring. This was before 'brand' was a household word. Anyway, the course is geared more towards designers looking for their dream job than a typical branding course, but as it happens, I am a designer, so it was quite informative. I can also use much of the advice and lessons and apply them to my own business. From contacting potential employers or clients to creative self promotion, there's valuable lesson to be had. I watched and listened to this course in one day, almost straight through. I highly recommend it. Great insight, great advice - whether you're a design student or not. If you're the creative type, I think you'll find this both enlightening and very enjoyable.

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