Two years ago last Sunday, I was standing outside the Renaissance hotel in Richardson, TX. I was on the phone with my parents, shaking with excitement, telling them about the internship I had just landed at a branding firm that did exactly the kind of work I loved.
I was elated. I could see my future success flash before my eyes. And everything fell through.
The reasons were monetary but completely out of my control. The place didn’t want to pay an intern to come in for the summer, and the art director who reviewed my portfolio wasn’t going to let me take the job; he felt it was completely wrong to ask someone to work for free. I was quickly put back in my place. The whole experience was heartbreaking and humbling, and it taught me to never “count my chickens…”, “pull the cart before the horse,” and so forth.
But along with this, it taught me that traveling may be the most influential piece to the success/happiness/inspiration puzzle. Making a point to go out in the world, talk to the pros and stay inspired instantly became a thousand times more important than every homework assignment I ever completed in college (99% of which have since been ditched or completely redone, by the way).
Point #1: Networking is priceless
The talented art director who wanted to hire me a couple years ago is now someone I can call my mentor. He has given me countless pieces of advice not only on my work and the design world, but on life in general. Hearing about his successes and his encouraging words have pushed me to become a more well-rounded, observant, risk-taking designer.
I have made friends with the amazing PR person from Neenah Paper and was featured on their Twitter and Facebook pages. A designer at world-famous HKS spent hours on the phone with me last year, helping me sort out my goals. A branding designer reached out to me because he remembered me and my work. I got to meet the national AIGA chapter in New York City, which got me on their list of regular conference volunteers.
If I hadn’t gone on these trips, I wouldn’t have met these amazing people. They have all inspired me more than any book, magazine or website on my shelf (even the people I haven’t kept in touch with have impacted me in some way or another).
Point #2: Life lessons on someone else’s dime
Ever since my first studio tour in New York City, my eyes were opened. Right after it ended, I immediately said out loud, “That is what I want to do with my life.” We toured some unbelievable places, but more importantly, I began to learn what I loved and hated about the working world without even having to jump in. If I hadn’t learned about some of these firms by seeing their work and environment, I never would have been able to distinguish a good opportunity from a bad one.
Visiting a giant corporate ad agency where “designers are monkeys” (their words, not mine) made it clear that bigger is not necessarily better. Hearing about OneFastBuffalo’s mobile, travel-hungry crew showed me that designers aren’t always destined to be stuck in an office. Listening to the Vault49 guys talk about their humble beginnings made me realize that shameless self-promotion can launch a company into greatness.
Point #3: The mundane is uninspiring
I’ve learned that staying in one place leads to stale and predictable ideas. Working like a dog will get the work done, sure, but I have never felt completely satisfied with a finished product if I didn’t have time to clear my head. What better way to gain a fresh perspective than to get out of the day-to-day bubble, both mentally and physically?
Seeing Tractorbeam’s work demonstrated how design and illustration can be fused together seamlessly. Firebelly’s hands-on approach made me want to get back to my fine art roots. MasonBaronet showed off how seemingly boring clients can breed interesting design concepts. Volume 1 presented mind-blowing motion graphics that inspired me to think in 3D.
There has never been a design-related trip I’ve taken that had me thinking, “Wow, that was a waste of time/money/effort.” Even if the tours hadn’t been outstanding, nothing beats walking around a new city and feeling a new vibe (NYC = exhausting, Chicago = lively, Memphis = carefree, Dallas = comfortable). The first time I went to Dallas, I remember telling my friends that it was “the best money I had ever spent” because of how great the overall experience was. I still stand by that statement today.
One of the biggest regrets of my college career is that I devoted too much time to “perfecting” my work and not enough time learning. In the end, the school work never mattered, but the experiences did. I’ve been fortunate enough to have jobs that allowed me to continue these mini adventures after graduation and get back that creative spark (and, in some cases, I’ve just been ballsy enough to ask for the time off). Unfortunately, not all of us will have that luxury in the future. As students, we often put too much stock into completing our assignments and spending money on them when we should be devoting ourselves to growth as better, more informed designers and people. Going on quick field trips is such a simple and fulfilling way to do so.
If you’re going to school for a creative degree and you have the chance to visit a different environment, meet new people and get back your inspiration, please don’t pass it up. Your future self will thank you for it.
