Paul asks…
What skills are product design employers looking for these days? I have 2:1 degree in Product Design from 2002?
I graduated in 2002 with a 2:1 in Product Design. At that time I tried a little to apply for graduate jobs but gave up quickly and got distracted by travelling.
For various reasons, one was starting up an online art gallery, I haven’t gained any employment experience in this field and somehow 7 years has passed.
I have had a variety of mundane office jobs which for the last couple of years I have combined with running my own business.
I am now considering applying for some product design jobs but wanted to find out from some employed product designers how out of date I am with programmes, skills etc
I am obviously rusty with my drawing skills, but I still have the ideas and a natural eye for design and I use Illustrator and photoshop for promotional material I design for my business. This is on a PC not mac.
In addition to this I feel more equipped with an understanding of business image, brands and marketing.
I basically have more life skills now but am rusty when it comes to developing a concept into its final presentation stages. However I am willing to take some courses to refresh my skills and learn some new ones.
I’d just like to know what I would need to refresh in order to be considered for a job with no experience and a 7 year old degree?
I’d like to re phrase some of this but I have to go to football now….hopefully you get the general idea
Thanks, Jason
Serge Martin answers:
Jason,
I used to really struggle making ends meet. Fortunately, I was able to find a couple work at home programs that actually worked. Now I make enough money to pay all my bills, and put extra in the bank each month. I blogged about it on my website. Http://jobsfromhome.notlong.com
Carol asks…
Do people normally send INVOICES as an attachment?
I recently got a job as a customer service rep for an online art gallery (selling paintings) and part of my job involves sending invoices to customers as a record of their purchase.
Question is, do people normally send invoices as an attachment in an email? Or do they just type the information in the email itself? I have an invoice template saved in Microsoft Word that I can just alter whenever I create a new invoice…
Thank you!
I’m only 17, so I’ve never had any experience in this “department”
Serge Martin answers:
Attachments are routine because of the format of an invoice which is often done with a spreadsheet program or some other program and then the person uses acrobat to read it.
If the invoice is just typed in Word, it can be pasted into the e-mail because the e-mail program can read it and pass it on to the recipient. Our company uses a data program to generate invoices.
Lisa asks…
Do you know of any on line art galleries where you can upload and manage your own images?
Similar web sites to Deviantart.com and artfolio.com and other online artist galleys?
Serge Martin answers:
Here is a nice list of on-line galleries and museums.
Http://www.coudal.com/moom/
There was one I could not find on this list. A British fellow, used to run a major advertising firm (something like Sousa and Sousa, with his brother). He sold it in the 80′s and started a major art collection, and now has an on-line gallery where people can display things for free, and sell through that front if they want.
Mary asks…
how shall i get my work into art galleries?
i tried locally but the gallery owner is a horrible person and said no straightaway, i first thought it was because my work is crap and im only 17 but i found out he let younger people in,and when i asked why he let younger peolple in ,he sent me a very rude message saying i dont try for anything and people like me expect everything to come to them, i thought that was very unprofessional of him cos he doesnt even know me or gave me a chance, now i feel stupid for trying but i still want to try to get into an art gallery, my confidence is totally knocked so what could i do, i have no formal qualifications or experiece, the only relative experience i did have was winning a competition at the tate gallery where i got to hang my work up for two weeks and i dont want to sell online, please help! i would really appreciate your answers
Serge Martin answers:
First off… How rude!!!!!!!! That man has me fuming knocking your confidence like that!
Art as I guess any other creative profession writing/modelling/singing is a career of knock backs and pick yourself ups because at the end of the day it’s based on opinion as people’s likes and dislikes vary! So dust yourself off and smile and look at your work and if you think i want to show my work then think positive.
You may have just got off on the wrong foot with the Gallery owner, a reason could have been he was defensive thinking you were critising his choice of show peices. Be the bigger person forget your little indiscretion and approach him professionally as an art gallery owner/appreciater and not as Rude man.
Are they looking for volunteers at the gallery, maybe learning about the gallery you can see how things work/processes of getting your art shown. Make an appointment with him or attend a showing and express your interest.
If your not feeling as confident yet write an inspiring but professional and formal letter/email detailing your passion for art and how to get work shown, maybe even ask for some feedback on some work.
Building a pleasent relationship with this man is key to getting into his gallery.
Also look for galleries in towns nearby, look for events they may be having and never be afraid to get involved, learn more about the way art world works whilst taking baby steps into it.
You also must prepare yourself for feedback both positive and negative, art is down to opinion don’t forget but always look to improve. Good art appreciaters will never seek to destroy an artists confidence but rather suggest improvements mostly technique. You must be able to say “okay I appreciate what’s been said what can I do to improve”.
I would suggest taking an evening art class, not so acedemic perhaps but rather to learn new techniques and to inspire and re-energize yourself. Also you will have a teacher there who can help restore some confidance and provide some guidence which would be invaluable.
Also get your name out if you want to be an artist! Shameless self promotion is the key! I know your not to keen about websites but a homepage on yourself, designed by you and featuring artwork could provide a “base” for anyone interested in you. Make it personal and then spread the word creatively.
Drum up some interest locally, you could create individual postcards/business cards with the title of the small artwork (i’m talking business card sized here) make them all different with different words vibrant and an expression of yourself and leave them around, say one on the bus stop and one on the chair in a library, a coffee mug that will be collected.
Sonorous
(Name of Artist)
www.website.co.uk/thing/youruniquecard
tell me what you thinK! 
This will get people onto your site and learning more about you! You could create a forum of where people can express what they think of their “Personal card” and once they know there cards unique it will create a buzz that will make them take notice! You’ll get mroe people on your site posting because the cards knowing there unique and they found it will make them feel good.
The above idea will only work if you pour your passion into making the cards and the website, making it vibrant and fun so that your having fun and the person who finds the card thinks “hey I’m special.”
The thing about art is you make it fun and passionate and about you, prepare yourself for knock backs but make sure you know your strengths and weaknesses and have fun! Start it off as a hobby and then if your lucky make a living out of it!
Fact: It took Thomous Edison 100 mistakes to invent the light bulb
His Reply: I know 100 ways not to make a lightbulb!
I wish you all the best!
P.S. Forgive me for any miss spelt words as the spellchecker isn’t loading 
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