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What They Didn't Teach You at Design School An essential tool for your first year in the real world
With record numbers of design and advertising students graduating into the job market each year, it makes more sense now than ever before to be fully armed to succeed. This book helps new designers make the transition from design school to work, giving them the ammunition they need for a successful start. Here the reader will learn how to get that all-important first job, and how to impress their new employer. They will also have at their fingertips plenty of useful, practical information essential to know in the design studio and when working for clients. Enriched with quotes and advice from some of the best and brightest in the industry, this book is where you will find out what they didn't teach you in design school.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
December 1, 2017
Outdated
You can tell this book was made in the spirit of helping new designers. But it is sadly outdated and filled with misinformation that could harm a new career.
Most of the advice feels pulled from a time capsule. On the surface this isn’t bad, as smart ideas are always in style, but these haven’t aged well. Designers shouldn’t hold back their best work within their portfolios, illustration shouldn’t be something to contract out, you likely won’t be pigeonholed in the industry if you can show work outside your genre, black and white mockups aren’t valid to clients, and no, you can’t tell a designer is good enough to hire by talking to them. These are just a few of the many dated ideas that would be harmful to follow.
Additionally, it spends only a small portion addressing the title, preferring to talk rather exclusively about the vary things they teach endlessly in design school. Type, grids, and the importance of portfolio structure are in every classroom. The meat of what isn’t taught is vaguely referenced at best.
But I think the most eerie part of this book are the odd calls to authority. Instead of having interesting things to say, the book fills this void with name dropping. I’m sure this was meant in fun, but it feels simply like a desperate way to show these ideas are relevant.
You can tell this book was made in the spirit of helping new designers. But it is sadly outdated and filled with misinformation that could harm a new career.
Most of the advice feels pulled from a time capsule. On the surface this isn’t bad, as smart ideas are always in style, but these haven’t aged well. Designers shouldn’t hold back their best work within their portfolios, illustration shouldn’t be something to contract out, you likely won’t be pigeonholed in the industry if you can show work outside your genre, black and white mockups aren’t valid to clients, and no, you can’t tell a designer is good enough to hire by talking to them. These are just a few of the many dated ideas that would be harmful to follow.
Additionally, it spends only a small portion addressing the title, preferring to talk rather exclusively about the vary things they teach endlessly in design school. Type, grids, and the importance of portfolio structure are in every classroom. The meat of what isn’t taught is vaguely referenced at best.
But I think the most eerie part of this book are the odd calls to authority. Instead of having interesting things to say, the book fills this void with name dropping. I’m sure this was meant in fun, but it feels simply like a desperate way to show these ideas are relevant.
May 11, 2014
Ironically I just finished a course on professional design practices that taught me most of the skills Phil Cleaver wrote in his new book titled
What They Didn’t Teach You in Design School
. Similar to the topics in the book, we worked on our resume, business card, leave behind, video resume and portfolio. We discussed extensively on job interview, freelance and presentational skills. This book would have been a perfect companion for that class. Prof. Phil has some good tips on typography and responsive web design. What makes the book stood out is the design of the book itself. The typesetting is beautiful and the typographic puns are a visual pleasure. I am definitely recommending it to the teacher to be used for his next class, but this is also a great guide for graduating students looking to get their foot in the door.
November 1, 2019
This has good information targeted at junior designers, so if you've just graduated from design school and are at the point of looking for your first job, or have just started your first job as a junior graphic designer, this book has much to offer. It also has a good mix of practical advice, fun quotes, and interesting little anecdotes about getting started in design.
Personally, I never went to design school, and am not planning to join a design studio, so some of it was not applicable to me, though there was still a lot of good advice.
On the downside, there were a number of typos in the book, so I think it could have done with another pass of editing, and for a design book, I think that it looks pretty plain and blah, which was somewhat disappointing. I'm sure this was intentional, to keep it on the minimalist/Bauhaus side of the design spectrum, but I don't love that kind of look. That's just my own taste though.
Still, it's overall worth a read if you're interested in a career in graphic design.
Personally, I never went to design school, and am not planning to join a design studio, so some of it was not applicable to me, though there was still a lot of good advice.
On the downside, there were a number of typos in the book, so I think it could have done with another pass of editing, and for a design book, I think that it looks pretty plain and blah, which was somewhat disappointing. I'm sure this was intentional, to keep it on the minimalist/Bauhaus side of the design spectrum, but I don't love that kind of look. That's just my own taste though.
Still, it's overall worth a read if you're interested in a career in graphic design.
July 4, 2023
Pues la verdad, un poco sin más. No es culpa de cómo está contado, sino de que los consejos se han quedado un poco atrás respecto al mundo frenético que tenemos delante. En cuestión de meses cambia todo... hasta las estructuras lógicas de orden, empresa y colaboración. Lo compré sin conocer al autor (vieja escuela del diseño) y me jugó una mala pasada, aunque tampoco me arrepiento.
Me sorprendió ver que es de 2014, la verdad.
Sé que muchos de sus consejos tienen total relevancia hoy día, pero por algún motivo cómo está expuesto me chirría. Hablar de programas de diseño (InDesign, por ejemplo) me parece un acto inútil en un libro que se va a editar en papel, sin intención de irlo actualizando. En cuestión de 5 años, libro KO.
Como apunte, me parecieron un poco pretenciosos los caligramas.
Me sorprendió ver que es de 2014, la verdad.
Sé que muchos de sus consejos tienen total relevancia hoy día, pero por algún motivo cómo está expuesto me chirría. Hablar de programas de diseño (InDesign, por ejemplo) me parece un acto inútil en un libro que se va a editar en papel, sin intención de irlo actualizando. En cuestión de 5 años, libro KO.
Como apunte, me parecieron un poco pretenciosos los caligramas.
June 2, 2018
3.5 stars
Easy to read and understand and does have some useful tips for getting noticed but..., I really wish people in the design industry would stop pushing that recent graduates work/intern for free. We have bills to pay just like everyone else.
And I know its a popular way to arrange text, but I can't stand when type is all jumbled like it is for some of the pages in the book. If someone without a graphic design job can't read what is written, its not a good idea to use that format.
Easy to read and understand and does have some useful tips for getting noticed but..., I really wish people in the design industry would stop pushing that recent graduates work/intern for free. We have bills to pay just like everyone else.
And I know its a popular way to arrange text, but I can't stand when type is all jumbled like it is for some of the pages in the book. If someone without a graphic design job can't read what is written, its not a good idea to use that format.
January 2, 2020
This is an excellent, handy guide for anybody who is a designer. Whether you went to design school or not, this book is informative and gives you a world of important information. I highly recommend this if you're trying to become a somebody in graphic design.
Do note, a lot of information herein is dated. This is a 2014 version I have. Processes have changed. B/w doesn't work, and some of the gritty advise might not work out either. But overall, a good step.
Do note, a lot of information herein is dated. This is a 2014 version I have. Processes have changed. B/w doesn't work, and some of the gritty advise might not work out either. But overall, a good step.
July 29, 2017
it was literally ok. Everything I learnt could have been compressed into 20-30 pages otherwise everything else seems like an 8 hour long interview about life as a designer. Nevertheless, it is very resourceful in regards of the quotes. I can't wait to learn more about the people mentioned in it.
May 24, 2018
No other book on Design and design education comes close to the genuine insights that are grounded in real life experience, tremendous expertise and exceptional professionalism. Highly recommended!!!
August 23, 2019
Claramente un libre básico para la transición entre academia y la oficina.
Me sirvió mucho y lo vuelvo a mirar cada vez que puedo.
Me sirvió mucho y lo vuelvo a mirar cada vez que puedo.
December 31, 2022
Mi nueva joya de bolsillo. Llena de consejos que se mantienen vigentes y te ayuda a ganar seguridad cuando estás en ese proceso de buscar tu primer empleo de diseño.
August 16, 2021
Leí este libro durante mi último año de carrera (Diseño gráfico claramente) y me pareció que fue el momento ideal para hacerlo. Muy útil, con consejos, anécdotas y frases muy interesantes de muchos otros diseñadores también. Phil Cleaver tiene un gran poder de síntesis para esas cosas que busca enseñarte. Si bien no lo considero "infaltable" para la biblioteca de un diseñador, recomiendo muchísimo esta lectura especialmente si estas en el camino de estudiante a profesional.
October 24, 2019
There is some really valuable advice from Phil, and like Know Your Onions and Show Your Work, the books would be great to have on the shelf as a new designer needing help or a definition. The book is beautifully designed, and because of the way Phil has written, it's easy to dip in and out of. I did find Phil's opinions (on computers particularly) almost condescending and repetitive, but if you can get past his personal vendetta against (what feels like) 'young designers using computers all the time', the frequent name drops and quick, fast-paced story telling, the book is really helpful.
March 14, 2016
Me gustaría regresar en el tiempo unos 10 años y regalármelo. Mi carrera profesional hubiera iniciado muy diferente.
El contenido es excelente y el diseño editorial impecable. Para regalárselo a todos los diseñadores (y creativos) universitarios.
El contenido es excelente y el diseño editorial impecable. Para regalárselo a todos los diseñadores (y creativos) universitarios.
February 22, 2015
Great for 'just out from school' digital artists and graphic designers
February 6, 2015
A must read for a designer at any point in their career. Concise information which is all useful and presented in a beautiful typeset book.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews