[BradyV]

*This is in the Business thread as well... wasn't sure exactly where to put this**


Hello everyone-- first let me give some back story before I ask my question.

I recently printed a few business cards for myself (just to have 'just in case'). I had a coupon from Overnight Prints which gave me 100 free-- so I said what the heck. Anyways, there has been a large debate over what I inserted into my title -- Brady Vontran: aspiring graphic designer & photographer.

One of my fellow peers argued it "made my business card worthless and made me seem 'un-hireable' ". While another one of my peers stated that "by adding aspiring I was in a way telling the truth and not leading people on to think I was already a professional graphic designer/photographer" I have done graphic design work for a magazine (which was over-seen by my professor at my university), a small internship for my university and I've also had one of my photos featured in a museum near my university. So in a way I have done my share of graphic design and photography work (but no where near the professional level, where I am not overseen by my professors).

So finally, my question:

What are everyone's thoughts and feelings for having the word 'aspiring' in the title?

[Juice]

Aspiring is fine if you're going for a job a junior position.
But aspiring to be something would indictate you are something else?
Just my opinion

[Anxious]

I say leave it out. It doesn't come across as professional and people could see it as a bit childish or pretentious.

[markjames2010]

if you have done work, a good online portfolio and you got paid at some point then you are graphic designer & photographer.

aspiring says to me you lack the confidence in yourself to be a graphic designer.

you dont have to have a 9-5 paid job to become a professional.


why not just shorten the words. literally stating what you do rather than stating what you are

Brady Vontran: graphic design & photography




re print your biz cards

[Klang]

Originally Posted by markjames2010

you dont have to have a 9-5 paid job to become a professional.

Yes you do.

[markjames2010]

so is a freelance designer working from home not a professional then?

i know lots of freelance designers who work all hours, any hours, they dont work 9-5.

their clients would consider them highly professional

[Klang]

Yeah, their start times are variable but it's still their main occupation and to be a professional they would still require either formal higher education or long term in post experience in a paying job where design is the bulk of their responsibilities.

You still have to have a job and it still has to be paid.

[Aibrean]

mark, Klang is trying to say you need to be able to make a living out of what you are doing.

"Aspiring" sounds like you've never had a job and want to be a designer. Not that you are a designer.

[Klang]

No, what I'm saying is to be a professional designer you have to make a living out of what you do, have been able to do for several years, have an in-depth knowledge and level of expertise in the chosen industry, be considered someone who produces work to a high standard by both your clients and your peers, have a certain standard of professionalism above those on the bottom run and conduct yourself with professionalism.

[Aibrean]

And I agree with all of that. I was condensing the thought. Typically you have to be experienced and high-quality to make a living

[Klang]

I only that were true.

[Aibrean]

Hence the typically.