Ash recently graduated from an illustration school but is struggling to find work that suits his skills in the industry. He completed some freelance projects without contracts and had difficulty getting paid. While he was trained as an illustrator, most job opportunities are in graphic design. Ash hopes his current company will recognize his potential, but he finds the work assignments meaningless. He worries about how to stay motivated and continue growing his skills in a way that matches industry needs. Based on his experiences, Ash would benefit from improving his portfolio, gaining more industry knowledge, and considering collaborative opportunities to boost his confidence and chances of career success.

1. ASH*
He thinks that...
Problem Statement
It feels that...
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Started by doing a freelance work, without a
contract though
Trying to leave to get out of the freelance work
after 3 months
Managed to get my pay after a month
Illustration trained, but most jobs are for graphic
designers
Hoping for company to recognize my potential
Mock project is pointless
Rejected graphic design job offers in which I will
not be involved in the direction
Currently witnessing how the company is run,
how others are doing their own things
Don’t like how the teachers think
Internal struggle due to lack of proficiency in
illustrating
Has given the wrong expecations to colleagues
Would have gone to different school
Not sure what school is out there
Statistics of graduates who are doing well in
corporate world
Biggest worry is how to keep myself excited, how
to grow as a creative despite all the possible
boring jobs
Miss nothing about school
In school, friends do not work together, but I like
collaborations
It’s about luck
Accept the situation
he was not aware of the professional practice when entering the industry
his expertise does not suit what the industry requires
he needs to improve his portfolio
he may not be able to live to his expectation
he should have done more research in choosing a school
an opportunity is the ticket to success
he is unsure about the expectation of the industry
he needs extra motivation to improve his portfolio
he is not confident about his ability
he will be more motivated to work harder in a team
Ash needs a more meaningful way to continue
improving his skills and portfolio to better fit what
the industry is looking for (which in turn boosts his
confidence as well)
An honest, risk taker
illustrator with an open
mind and a thirst for
knowledge, who has
just started working a
month ago
*not his real name