This is a presentation I gave to a group of graphic design majors at North Carolina A&T State University as part of their Technology Week.

1. A Designer's Life
Strategies for a successful career in graphic communications

2. Agenda
• Overview
• About Me!
• 3Ms
• Landing Your First Job
• Careers
• Lifelong Learning
• Resources
• Entrepreneurship
• Q&A

3. Bio
Ron Lewis is the principal partner in the firm Lewis Design
Group, a Charlotte, North Carolina digital creative agency that
specializes in corporate communication assignments.
Prior to launching Lewis Design Group Mr. Lewis worked for the
University of North Carolina at Charlotte as the graphics
coordinator for the university’s Media Services department. Prior
corporate experience includes five years as art director at
Bertrand Advertising in Hollywood, California where he worked
on a wide variety of recruitment accounts for clients in defense,
hospitality, utilities and financial services. Additional experience
included a stint at Nissan Motors Corporation of North America
in Carson, California as a graphics illustrator.
Mr. Lewis’s work has been cited in the Los Angeles Times, New
York Times, Chicago Tribune, Hartford Courant, and the Dallas
Morning News, as well as various industry trade publications. He
was featured on the small business television show Making It,
sponsored by Bank of America and published in Micro
Publishing News.
Mr. Lewis is a graduate of San Diego State University with a
B.A. in Graphic Communications. He has also taught courses in
graphic design and web development at the University of North
Carolina at Charlotte and Central Piedmont Community College.

4. Go SDSU!
VS

5. What is graphic design?
• Graphic design, also known as
communication design, is the art and
science of planning and projecting
ideas and experiences with visual and
textual content. The form of the
communication can be physical or
virtual, and may include images,
words, audio or graphic elements.

6. 3Ms
Message, Market, Media
Adherence to these principles doesn't necessarily insure success,
but failure in any one of these areas almost always spells doom.

7. Message
• Have a clear understanding of
what your message is.

8. Market
• Have a clear understanding of
your target market. For example,
what do they like?, how do they
behave?, etc.)

9. Media
• Have a clear understanding of
how to reach your audience.

10. Media
Essence Vanity Fair

11. What it takes to land a job
Them YOU
Resume
Portfolio Portfolio
Resume
Video
LinkedIn
Website

12. Careers
• Production Artist
• Graphic Designer
• Art Director
• Creative Director
• Motion Graphic Artist
• 3D Designer
• Web Interface Designer
• UX/UI Designer
• Industrial Design
• Interactive Designer
• Packaging Designer
• Publication Designer

13. Embrace Change

14. Commit to Lifelong Learning
"Once you stop
learning you start
dying."
– Albert Einstein

16. Resources
• American Institute of Graphic Artists (AIGA)
• lynda.com
• udemy.com
• LinkedIn groups

17. Running A Design Business

18. Running A Design Business
• What type of work do you want to do?
• What legal structure should you setup?
• How big do you want to be?
• Know why you want to go into business
• Recruit your Big 3
• Be honest about startup costs

19. Summary
• Commit to your craft
• Design with the 3Ms principle in mind
• Commit to lifelong learning
• Be open to change
• Learn as much about business as you do
design