I've worked for few companies; event based company, design firm, magazines, as well as marketing company.
1) Video Editor
2) Assistant Editor
3) Creative Designer
Though I would say working in certain company do pay you different digits every month, however, the work load totally OFF the limit.
Trying to explore the world in my own way right after, having clients from different background as well as different identity. Able to survive, to learn something new everyday and able to get in touch with people.
Here's the fact,
Most of the company need designers. No matter what kind of business or industry, "designer" were the top in the list ; "HIRING POSITION" list. As I'm always received request from most of the company to help them to search for good quality designer, the reason why the designer(s) resigned/fired;
"..the previous designer do not meet company expectation.."
"..salary less than the market price" or
"..they need more money, that's why they are looking for company that offer better price."
Recently, my company has been hired from one company to handle their project. Well, the payment seems to be normal or meet the market price, however, I've decided to let it go and not to continue anymore.
It's pretty funny to see how the progress goes, definitely would like to share to all the designers out there about this matter. When they first approach me, they do ask whether our company able to handle the task, giving me the brief and explanations, I said yes as we did it before.
Not to mention that the client company consider new in the industry, the owner seems to be very confident about the things that they want. Of course, I am glad that they do know their directions etc. However, they do have terms and conditions :
1) a representative (the designer) need to be in their HQ whenever they need them.
2) our company can't let anyone know about the project details
3) the designer shall be ready to work overtime if the designer is in the HQ.
Our terms and conditions to them ;
1) the designer need to be able to perform his task as we do have ongoing work need to be done.
2) Agreement is needed between the company, not freelancer based. (which later been ignored by them)
Agreed. Therefore, the designer started his work and about a month later, I got to know that his design need to get approval by different parties. Not to mention we'd propose few ideas and concepts in the very beginning, which is, approved; there are three phrase that we need to work on - out of sudden !
1) 2D design
2) 3D design
3) Execution progress
While continuing the work on the concept which is approved, all of the sudden we need to meet another party to get their approval for the idea and concept that we proposed a month ago. WTH? That's definitely not in the discussion earlier.
Right on the meeting, the another party reject the whole concept and idea which in the end need to amend the whole thing that we worked on before. Wasted a month. Due to time frame, another party appeared before me telling that he is responsible for creative department from the client company. Wow,out of sudden - again !! He started to direct us what to do, and what it is not.
And this goes on and on, creating artwork everyday, in total created more than dozen of designs and keep rejected. Due to time limit, they requested that :
1) the representative need to work in their HQ for 6 days per week from 12pm till midnight - cheap labour?
2) Everyday need to come out a design which INCLUDE APPROVAL FROM ALL PARTIES. - this is madness !
3) Request us not to accept any job offers for the rest of the year, and focus on their work only
Stunned for a moment, figuring out what should I do, what should I response, what is right and what is wrong. Can't figure out at the moment, therefore, I said try my best.
We managed to design one artwork one day. Able to be in their office 6 days per week, of course can't be on time as our company do have meetings with other clients. Request us not to accept any job offers for the rest of the year, that is the only thing that I can't accept as business still business, money still need to earn. Asking us not to accept more job offers why not they hire a full time designer?
Right until the day where we about to "resign" from this project, they are still changing everything from concept, idea 'till the design as well.
Therefore, I do believe in some cases why designers always in the top of the list definitely the same thing happen to us. Let us face it, why you need a designer in the first place if you are torturing them? Paying them 2k per month and expect them to work like getting 6k per month?