Vanessa | Assignment 1

I see myself working in a small design firm rooted in strategy and having a client base primarily in the nonprofit sector. I enjoy designing for clients who are involved with social, political, or environmental issues.

My ideal firm fits in most closely with the category of the boutique firm. The design firms where I’ve had past experiences have been small, closely knit offices who have found their niche in the market and maintain offices of less than 20 people. As far as working environment goes, I enjoy having other designers around, but I also find it beneficial and stimulating to have other creative types of people. I strongly prefer to have client/project managers or producers who take care of the business aspect of the company, so that I do not have to deal as much with budgets and schedules.

There are several key characteristics that I try to avoid. Considering company structure, I have no desire to work for a large corporation or as an in-house designer. I do not want to be the only designer working somewhere in isolation. I would avoid any firm that does not have a strong design process.

I would like to work for a firm that is growing and that offers possibility for my own personal growth. I would be interested in figuring out how to best evaluate and predict the future of a design firm and my position within it.