Exhibition Sessions: Demonstrating Your Innovative Skills to Potential Employers
In the dynamic world of entertainment, graphic design continues to play a crucial role, with employment opportunities projected to grow modestly in the coming years. This is particularly true for designers who possess a diverse skillset, capable of handling graphic, motion, experiential, UI/UX, and branding projects across various media platforms.
Deniz Coker, a seasoned professional with over a decade of experience at the Walt Disney Company and 21st Century Fox, is one such designer. Coker has helped top brands launch Super Bowl spots and market major theatrical releases, earning awards for innovating industry firsts.
However, Coker has not yet seen a massive benefit from AI in their work but remains open to using new technologies to enhance the quality of their work. They emphasise the importance of designers not losing sight of the principles of design when collaborating with AI.
Current trends in the design industry show a focus on personalization, inclusivity, sustainability, and the incorporation of 3D, AR/VR, and retro-psychedelic aesthetics. Bold typography, dynamic branding, and minimal-maximalist styles are also prominent.
Aspiring designers looking to stand out in this competitive job market can do so by developing a robust, diverse portfolio that showcases versatility in various design disciplines. It is also essential to stay current with industry trends and tools, gain relevant experience through internships or freelance projects, and focus on personalization and inclusivity in design work.
Employers are seeking senior designers capable of producing static, motion, and experiential content for 360-degree campaigns covering originals, sports, and brand initiatives. These roles often involve quick turnarounds, high-volume artwork production, and adapting content for multiple digital and physical platforms under tight deadlines.
In the design field, job applicants should demonstrate fluency in the Adobe Suite and a deep understanding of design principles such as color theory, composition, and creating nuanced balanced designs.
Deniz Coker, now a member of the Sessions Advisory Board, joins a group of senior professionals who provide workplace assessment and program review feedback to ensure programs keep up with the industry's changing requirements.
The use of AI tools in design is becoming more prevalent, with designers using them for brainstorming and automating tedious tasks. However, over-reliance on AI can be problematic, and it is essential to maintain a balance between human creativity and technology.
There should be transparency and "opt-out" agreements regarding companies using creative work from individuals to train AI models. This ensures that designers are fairly compensated for their work and maintains the integrity of the creative process.
In conclusion, the future of design in entertainment is exciting, with opportunities for growth and innovation. By combining technical expertise, updated trend knowledge, versatile experience, and soft skills, aspiring designers can differentiate themselves and seize expanding opportunities in this competitive job market.
- Deniz Coker, a seasoned professional, emphasizes the importance of designers not losing sight of design principles when collaborating with AI.
- Aspiring designers should stay current with industry trends and tools, including the use of AI for brainstorming and automating tasks, while maintaining a balance with human creativity.
- Employers seek senior designers capable of producing diverse content, including static, motion, and experiential design, across various media platforms and trends such as personalization, inclusivity, sustainability, and 3D, AR/VR, and retro-psychedelic aesthetics.
- Designers should develop a robust, diverse portfolio showcasing versatility in various design disciplines, like fashion-and-beauty, food-and-drink, relationships, pets, travel, cars, education-and-self-development, and personal-growth, to stand out in the competitive job market.
- To maintain the integrity of the creative process, there should be transparency and "opt-out" agreements regarding companies using creative work from individuals to train AI models, ensuring fair compensation for the designers' work.
