subject: Brand Identity Jobs For Artists [print this page] Artists tend to separate themselves from the business world, leading creative lives away from a typical corporate existence. Realizing that art, in itself, can be a business, working artists support themselves by fully engaging in it. Successful artists earn a living by combining the talent for art with business savvy. One of the best ways for an artist to earn a living is by specializing in brand identity.
What Is Brand Identity?
If you walk into a supermarket, there are hundreds of products that line the shelves. You will find that it is very easy locating your favorite cereal in a sea of flakes just by looking at the packaging. This is the purpose of brand identity. The combination of design elements including color, font, and form that separates one brand from another is called brand identity. This was conceptualized by an artist.
Jobs For Graphic Artists and Designers
Although you may need some practical experience before you are hired to design cereal boxes for a large company, never fear. Creating logos, letterhead, and brochures for companies both large and small are in demand. Although artistic ability is important for this line of work, it is also vital to present yourself in a professional manner. You don't need to buy a suit. Although you may have to do that if you are going to meet the client face-to-face.
Many freelance positions are found on the internet. Sites designed strictly for this purpose are available to match employers with freelance talent. Make sure you present yourself in a professional manner when contacted via email by your client. This means that you must meet deadlines, provide timely and clear communication, and always be flexible to make adjustments or changes within reason.
It isn't unusual for a young artist to be insulted when an employer requests for changes. You must realize that he is not criticizing your work. Designing for businesses is a process. Until your employer is pleased, you have to share ideas. The best way to keep an employer coming back for more work, or recommending you to other businesses, is to listen to their ideas and produce a product that fits their requirements. This doesn't mean you keep good ideas to yourself. Make a suggestion or two when the opportunity calls for it. Just realize that the employer may reject the suggestion. Don't take it personally if they do. Be gracious and give them what they want, even if it doesn't appear to your taste.
If you can work well with your clients, you have won half of the battle. Don't forget that artistic talent and an understanding of brand identity is still essential. There are many available books and websites just for this topic. Often, they are related to sales and marketing. Another thing that you will need is a knowledge of computer graphics programs. Vector graphic software is the primary media for designing brand identity art. So that a particular design can fit either on the corner of an envelope or a large billboard, logos have to be scalable. Scalable vector software is needed to achieve this. Other programs only produce bitmap format. A bitmap format, when enlarged, becomes distorted. You will eventually have to scan your work into the computer to be converted to a vector format, even if you made the original design in a sketch book.
