Graphic design students often ask for an interview. As many of the questions are the same I pieced together this Q&A. Hope it helps.

What qualifications do you have?

At the age of 15 I left school in Belfast, Northern Ireland, then spent four years studying art and design at the local college (two years at GNVQ level, two years at HND). It was halfway through college when graphic design became my preference — mostly because of an intrigue between sketching, digital design, and how the two overlapped. At 19 I left my parents’ home and moved to Scotland for an honours degree in graphic communications management. During my penultimate year of the degree I won a travel bursary so spent that summer in the US doing an internship with the Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (GATF). After the final degree year, my formal education finished with a return to Northern Ireland where I spent six months in Belfast (three months of study, three of work placement) getting a post-graduate diploma in management.

What work experience do you have?

I’ve had a few jobs in between the time when I was studying and when I became self-employmed: tyre-fitting, outbound telesales for The Scotsman newspaper, teaching English in Madrid, and for the most part being responsible for Myeloma UK’s print and web management. I’ve been working as an independent graphic designer since 2005.

What does a typical workday look like?

I normally wake about 7am and start work around 8, checking my inbox and reminding myself what needs done for the day.

Client projects are mostly done using Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, Acrobat, and through emails and video calls. I’ll sketch, too, which is an important part of how I work, but for the most part it’s digital. I try not to spend too long at my desk — all work and no play...

I’ll usually cook around 5:30pm, but my computer’s left on until about 9 or 10pm in case I’m on a tight deadline or if I took a few hours off during the day.

Do you follow a process through your projects?

You can read more about that on my design process page.

What do you like/dislike about your job?

And that’s something I cover here: Being an independent designer.

What skills are needed to be a successful designer?

Curiosity — about people, about business, communication, architecture, nature, life.
Empathy — successful projects come about from a solid understanding of a client’s business.
Patience, persistence — it’s rare when the most appropriate design is the first one created.

What qualifications do employers look for from job applicants?

I published a series to answer that one. Here's the first, with links to the rest: What employers look for.

How does social media help your business?

I have Twitter and Facebook profiles for each of my three websites (this one, Logo Design Love, and Identity Designed). I'll often share the posts I publish through the respective profiles because quite a few people use Twitter and Facebook to stay updated rather than subscribing by email or RSS. As well as that, people increasingly comment on Twitter and Facebook rather than using the threads on my posts, so it's another way to chat with readers.

I use Twitter more than any other social network (I don't recommend spending much time on Facebook), but most of my workday revolves around client projects and updating my websites.

Where and how do you find inspiration?

Probably not a specific a source of inspiration, but the life into which I was born is a huge motivator when it comes to getting things done. I know how different my circumstances could’ve been, perhaps born into poverty, or passed through foster homes when growing up. That’s the luck of life’s cruel draw.

But I also like the thoughts of artist Chuck Close when he said, “Inspiration is for amateurs. The rest of us just show up and get to work.”

What blogs do you read?

Here are some design blogs on my subscription list, but that's just a snippet of the sites I visit. I click to various others through friends' links on Twitter, or through links on interesting posts.

Why did you chose to specialise in brand identity design?

Every brand has an identity, so while some might view identity design as a niche, it’s one that every company in every industry needs. I suppose my choice was a mix of wanting to specialise without too many limitations. And because there's no limit to the industry in which my clients work, every project can be a brilliant learning experience.

What advice do you have for those studying design?

Do it because you love it. You'll spend more of your waking hours at work than anywhere else. Who wants to be stuck in a job they don't enjoy?

What's the best design advice you've ever been given?

Let's say our lives span a maximum of 100 years. If 33 years are taken up with sleep, 10 years in childhood, and 20 years lost in old age, that leaves just 37 years to create something meaningful. Don't waste that time with sorrow, complaints, or unnecessary negativity. We create our best work when we're in a positive frame of mind. We have no idea if, after death, we'll ever experience anything again, so most importantly, enjoy your profession, appreciate your surroundings, and love using design to make things better.

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If you have other questions, there are quite a few answered elsewhere:

This Design Life (2021)
Lovers Magazine (2019)
LogoGeek Podcast (2017)

And some older answers on my site:
Ask me anything #1 (2014)
Ask me anything #2 (2014)

Alternatively, here’s some design student advice.