INTERVISTA A VALENTINA AUFIERO (GRAPHIC DESIGNER)

1.    When and how did you understand graphic designer would be your work in future?

I understood at the university, after a course which I didn’t finish in addition the desire and the life need to express what I really feel in inner being through symbol and colour. Graphics has ever been my big love. In general art has been more than other.

2.    Have you ever had any indecision or have you ever gone back about such choice?

No, I haven’t. rather the desire to extend my knowledge in graphics and in communication.

3.    Did you have part time job or did you profession which didn’t concern with graphics?

Yes, I did; I worked to keep me and to pay some general things (books, voyages…) while I studied. I was a babysitter, a waitress, I gave private lessons, I did set design for theatrical performances and graphic underpaid odd works. But I always did it to take up the graphic career.

4.    How long has she been working in graphic sector?

I have been working in this sector for three years. 

5.    Which is his/her profession?: employee, self-employed, public or private

I have been a freelance graphic designer for 1 year but I also worked as an employer.

6.    Which is the course of studies to enter the profession?

I attended artistic high school Modigliani in Padova, the International graphic school in Venezia and a course of Type design at polytechnic institute in Milano.

7.    Which is the path followed to enter the profession?

I attended refresher courses personal reserches and specialistic courses to learn as much as possible.

8.    Which degree of autonomy presents the profession?

If the profession is a freelance one, the management of time is totally autonomous.

9.    Which are the skills required for the exercise of that professional role?

The knowledge of programmes of graphic application, that is to say the Adobe ones: Illustrator, Indesign e Photoshop. In my opinion you need to be able to know photography basis and to have the passion of drawing.

10.  Which are the personality characteristic required to do that kind of job?

Passion, tenacity, intelligence, knowledge, information and humility are required.

11.  How many hours a day of works requires the profession?

The freelance work hasn’t any fixed schedule, because I established it from myself. I usually spend 10/14 hours at pc for a week and 2 hours a day for 2 weeks. It depends to the way you organize your work and its quantity.

12.  Is the organization strict or flexible (working hours, absences, work patterns,…)?

I manage from myself but I tries to maintain a good rhythm in my job and to respect the agencies’ deadline, despite it is very hard to do it.

13.  Does the job require fewer updates? (eventually, what might I do?)

The profession required constant refreshers, courser, showing, expositions, cinema, books, web and the like.

14.  What are the different updates or specializations within the profession?

A graphic worker can be:

·         an editorial designer with typography knowledge

·         a web designer

·         a graphic designer with a specialization in graphic illustration

·         a type designer

·         a advertising designer

15.  What are the reasons of satisfaction (benefits) and which, if any, of dissatisfaction (disadvantages)?

I think there are only benefits: trained mind, constant attention and study of graphic sign, indeed in our society every element is a graphic sign.

16.  Do you have chances to find a job in this working environment?

Yes, I do; especially if you are good. I am sure about it. The communication doesn’t forgive anyone. 

17.  What advice could you give to people who would like to pursue that job?

I advise to have ever a clear and fixed objective to pursue and to find the right way to reach it. There are a lot of universities, courses, experiences abroad to learn about graphic career, but anyway and anywhere you need to have humility and tenacity.

18.  Satisfaction  of this work (both about salary and personal one)

The salary is good, it depends on the price you offer to client and on the type of the client. I have very much satisfaction. Anyway if you do the work you like there is always satisfaction.

19.  Do you actually work? What is the way you come to know about some work opportunities? (advertising, distribution of curriculum vitae...)?

I actually work, the opportunities come by “word of mouth” , fidelisation of the client and self-promotion that a freelancer has to do regularly.

20.  Is there something useful you can tell me about the sector according to your personal experience?

The sector offers a lot but at the same tame it asks much preparation. My advice is to study and to appassionate a lot, to what you do and to learn every day.