Taking the First Step into the Design Community
Starting something new can often feel scary, especially when you face a new space that you don't know. The design community is something that constantly scares me. As a student about to graduate from the RRC Polytech Graphic Design program, I never really realized this community could be so vast. It’s filled with many creative and successful people that have experienced almost everything the industry has thrown at them. That's when I started to question if a new graduate can handle designing in a professional working environment.
Starting off, it can feel like all my years of design experience goes down the drain. I have to start with a clean slate. I have to face new workloads and a whole new community, and I ask myself:
‘How can I contribute to a perfectly running workplace?’
The Challenges of Imposter Syndrome
That's when the first wave of “imposter syndrome” hits you. The feeling of not belonging in a group or setting, and being new in a room of highly experienced designers, is terrifying. You question if your work is up to par, and you feel that every design decision you make is not good enough.
So, I learned to compare myself with others in a positive way. I started to think about everyone's first days and experiences, and reminded myself that everyone was once in my shoes, and that being scared is a good thing; it lets me know that I want to succeed.
But being comfortable doesn't mean the challenges are over. I am constantly faced with tasks that I have never done before, like projects being formatted in a different way that I'm not used to. I have learned that it's never going to be easy, but that doesn't mean that it's impossible. Having a growth mindset of succeeding and not giving up is one of the only boosts that you really need.
Growing On the Job
Learning on the job is a constant that used to scare me, until I realized that everyone is in the same boat, just in different ways. As I noticed and overheard others collaborating, asking questions, and tackling tasks together when things got confusing or challenging, I realized I can take my time to learn and try again when things fail. That feeling of finally understanding and succeeding after a long eight hours of trial and error starts to pay off. Accepting that not everything is going to be easy helps put you in the right mindset.
As I grow within the design community, I am starting to learn that all these challenges and scary feelings are a normal part of the learning and creative process. Over time, learning new skills or problem-solving becomes a part of your professional routine.
Embracing the Unknown
While at Narratives during my graphic design placement, I have learned to manage difficult tasks by constantly taking notes and doing a lot of research. This taught me that projects and design take time and learning each step of the way. It has also shown me the importance of asking questions and learning from my mistakes, even if it's difficult. Being in an environment that encourages and helps me learn skills and be confident through peer support has been invaluable. Having the ability to participate in meetings has taught me the importance of team communication and having that break from designing to enjoy our time together, which made working at Narratives refreshing and exciting.
My greatest takeaway from my placement at Narratives is this: If you ever end up in a situation where you seem scared and lost when trying something new, always take that time to make mistakes and power through, because at the end of the day, you will always be met with success.