Mastering the Art of Networking in the Design World
Techniques and insights on building a professional network to enhance job prospects and educational opportunities.
It can be a seemingly insurmountable challenge to you - a young creative professional or student - to meet and connect with experienced “veterans” in the industry, both in your local market and in the bigger national market. When you’re not engaged in a creative community, you must use your wits and creativity to navigate your way into the harbor. Here are a few thoughts and ideas to help you make this happen.
Join local professional creative organizations and clubs
Virtually every community has a creative industry organization. Some are affiliated with national organizations like the IDSA (Industrial Design Society of America), the AAF (the American Advertising Federation), and AIGA (the Professional Association for Design), while others are independent local clubs. Whatever opportunities your community presents, you’d do well to take advantage of them.
Volunteer to help put on events
One way to get it moving and break the networking ice is to volunteer with these clubs to help put on events (awards shows, conferences, lunch-and-learns, social events, etc). You’ll get to meet other young designers doing the same thing! And you’ll get to connect with more senior members managing and designing these initiatives. This shared experience (often after hours and on weekends) can be a wonderful bonding opportunity. Then, attending events, workshops, and conferences is a piece of cake - you’ll know a key group of people and just ease into the evening.
Practice and refine your conversation skills
Use your networking efforts to refine your conversation skills. It can be intimidating to talk to strangers, but most - if not all - will remember being in your shoes and show you grace. Pro tip for starting a conversation with someone you don’t know: ask a ton of questions, be curious, actively listen. Do some research about the market before attending an event: the firms, the people who work there, and the work they do. Most people in this industry LOVE to share their experiences and insights, so leverage that and get comfortable in that exchange. Asking open-ended questions and being genuinely curious will get the conversation going. And importantly, have an exit line ready when you sense your conversation is coming to a close. Your new friend will be grateful and you won't monopolize your new acquaintance for an extended period of time.
Sites like LinkedIn offer another way to expand your network. It’s different from meeting people face to face, but it’s a great way to expand your design world connections. My recommendation is to connect with anyone you are planning on reaching out to for a job or internship. And don’t miss the opportunity to write a personal note when you do so. As you discover these people on LinkedIn, look for common connections and grads from your program - and connect with them as well. It can feel unnatural or pushy…get over it! The chance to make meaningful connections and start conversations far outweighs the momentary discomfort of talking to a stranger. And after meeting professionals at events or connecting online, follow up with a thank-you note.
Sometimes effective networking can be as simple as asking for a 30 minute coffee meetup with an experienced creative person to tap into their knowledge and experience. I can’t tell you how many young creatives I have met for coffee and the conversation is always energizing and surprising and more often than not, beneficial for both of us!