33. Designing in My Underwear—Briefs on a Career - HDC

Speaker
, Engineer of Creative Identity


Description
A decade ago, designer Jeff Fisher became an author as he began to write the now-out-of-print book The Savvy Designer’s Guide to Success: Ideas and Tactics for a Killer Career. However, that was not the title he offered for the design career volume. He suggested Designing in my Underwear: Briefs on a Career—a title that was quickly rejected by the publishing house “suits.” His response was to make his 2004 HOW Design Conference presentation in his underwear.

Much of the Savvy Designer content remains relevant today. Still, the design industry, the tools those in the profession use and the way designers do business has changed dramatically in the past ten years. Jeff Fisher takes an updated look at what it takes to have a design career today – from his perspective of occasionally working in his underwear from his home-based studio.

Jeff Fisher offers anecdotes and advice on:
  • Marketing and promoting a design business online today
  • Getting the gigs locally and beyond
  • How social should a designer be with social media
  • Success and failure in a sucky economy
  • Alternative income streams for constant designer cash flow