Mike studied at Preston University for four years, since University he's worked at companies such as Imagination, Chase (Manchester) Moon Design, Pentagram and Landor Sydney.
Why Design?
It's interesting also challenging, it's not like any other job, especially being in a call centre stuck in an office 9 - 5.
Great education. No two jobs you get in the industry are the same, so you can always expect something each time you get a new brief.
All the award ceremonies you get to go too, I mean how many other job's do you get that in - obviously apart from being a sportsman/woman.
All the free nights out, and free christmas parties, who would complain about that?
Strong design community - everybody knows everyone.
People in the industry are very helpful.
Easy to work for yourself.
Easy to work abroad.
Positive Impact
Communication you produce with your work.
You produce better design than what's already out there.
Negative Impact
Competition from other deisgners.
Long hours/unpaid overtime.
Pressure on you.
Poor quality of work out there.
Initial pay isn't good.
Client interference - restricts you on how you want to design something.
Placements
Mike had a couple of placements, one was at Imagination in London and the other was at Chase Manchester. The good thing about going on placements is that they speed you up, working on real live projects, networking and yet again free nights out!
One tip that Mark gave us all was if given the chance WORK ABROAD!
