Tips for Student Designers and the Small Businesses Who Love Them: OrangeSlyce Life

Though our college years are a fun time (especially if you go to ASU) they can also be a very stressful time.  Many of us balance school, work, family, friends, internships and other things that complicate our lives.   With this juggling act it’s easy to get stressed out.  Here are some things that I do to help me calm down and ease my stress.

Write Something: There’s something calming about typing away at my little desk so any time I’m really overwhelmed  I like to write.  I write about anything really; sometimes it’s how I am feeling sometimes it’s what I did that day, sometimes it’s even a little story.  The point is, writing is a really good way to reduce stress.

Get Active: Going to the gym, playing a sport, going for a walk, any of these things are guaranteed to pump you up with endorphins and help you clear your mind of any worry.  In this hot Arizona heat, swimming is another great way to be active and relax.  No matter what activity you like to do, it will definitely help you stay healthy and stress-free.

Try a Healthy Snack: I know eating your feelings is never good, but the moment you grab an apple or banana from the fridge and take a bite, you’ll know exactly what I mean.  Healthy foods just instantly make me feel better so when I’m really stressed about a deadline or project, having a little snack of fruit is a great way to get me focused and calm.

Organize Yourself: The first week of classes I gather up all of the class syllabi and write down every due date in my weekly planner.  This way I can see exactly what’s due on what day and I can avoid the panic of flipping through the class schedule the night before trying to find out if anything needs to be turned in.  Note:  the ASU bookstore on College gives out free planners!

Take A Deep Breath: Simple right?  But seriously, more often than not things aren’t as stressful as we think.  So just calm down, take a breath and move forward.

So next time you’re feeling stressed, try these out.  I know they work for me.  Do you have any stress-relief tips?  Leave me a comment

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In any project work–whether you’re a designer or a small business owner–you should absolutely commit what you expect out of the project to paper.  Writing contracts is difficult, and we’d advise seeking the help of an attorney.  Of course, we’re also realists: lawyers are expensive, and it’s highly feasible that you can’t afford one for every project you do.  Even still,  you should still be agreeing to some key terms with the other party.  Today we’re going to talk about one of those key terms: Who keeps the copyright?

In cases of things like logo design, it’s pretty critical for a business to own the copyright as a means of protecting its identity and its brand.  Designers, of course, also have reasons to want to retain a copyright–such as the ability to use prior works as a template.

There are two basic solutions to this question.

1) The designer assigns the copyright to the business

Essentially, this means that the designer sells the rights to the work to the business.  The business, in effect, becomes the copyright holder.

For this to happen, the assignment agreement (including any limitations) must be committed to writing.

2) The designer grants a license to the business

In essence, this grants the business permission to use the design, but no copyright.  After that, things get a bit more complicated; and if you go this route, there are a lot of questions to be answered (eg: is the license exclusive or non-exclusive, is the license revocable or irrevocable, is the license limited or perpetual, etc).  While certain types of licenses can effectively exist without any written agreement, it’s probably wise for both parties to put their agreement in writing*.

*Understand that we say this as people versed in the freelance business, not the law.  We’re giving business advice, not legal advice: if you really want legal advice, your best bet, as always, is to talk to a lawyer.

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By Lizzy Rice

As students, we sometimes agonize over what we want our major to be.  Do you ever think things like, “well I like history, but can I actually get a job with that degree?”  Well don’t worry; you’re not alone.  We all question what we are studying at some point in our academic careers but one of the most foolproof ways to maintain a balanced degree (and by balanced I mean studying something that interests you but still learning marketable skills) is to add a minor.   Here are just a few good ideas that Arizona State University offers that are bound to add some depth to any major.

Business: This is probably the mother of all minors.  A minor in business gives you a great base for any given career path.  As a business minor, you will take courses in economics, accounting, management and other skills that can easily be transferred from one industry to another.

Communication: Some people may disagree with this selection, but I think a communication minor can add a lot to a degree.  As any book, teacher, or professional will tell you, the number one highly sought after skill for potential new employees is strong communication skills.  Therefore, I say, add this as a minor and you have a seriously marketable skill listed directly on your resume.

English: You know in a group project how someone always has to be the writer?  Well the work world is no different and most people cringe at the thought of writing a report or composing a memo.  Do you enjoy writing?  Then why not add English as a minor, so that your employer can breathe a sigh of relief at potentially hiring somebody who isn’t afraid to write.

Psychology: The ability to understand different types of people is an invaluable skill for any potential employee.   Adding a minor to your degree like psychology gives you this added value plus it also is a great way to discuss in a cover letter how being a psychology minor helps you relate to clients and/or customers; always a definite plus.

Spanish: If you plan to continue living in Arizona, you might want to think seriously about minoring and becoming fluent in Spanish.  To list this minor on a resume automatically gives you a leg up in any industry.  So if you love Spanish or foreign languages in general, you should consider making this your minor.

Agree or Disagree?  Leave me a comment 

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As I approach my last semester of college (just filed for graduation two days ago) I find myself super excited but also thinking “There are so many things that I want to do before I graduate!”  Here are my recommendations.  Sadly, some of the things on the list I didn’t get a chance to do, but hopefully you’ll learn from my regrets and complete this whole list.

1.)   Study abroad: Ah, my biggest regret.  Sadly I never got to do this but I seriously recommend it!  The chance to live and go to school abroad may never come up again, so take advantage of a student visa and pack your bags!

2.)   Get an internship: This is Orange Slyce, of course I recommend that!  But seriously, if only one is required for your major do another one.  They can only help you in the future.

3.)   Buy computer software: This one’s a little bit random but for the design student, essential!  Take advantage of your student discount and buy all of your favorite design and other computer products.

4.)   Get a mentor: Is there a professor that you really enjoyed learning from?  Talk to him or her.  This is a great way to network and also learn more about your field.

5.)   Take a random class: Do you secretly love theater?  Or maybe you want to learn the basics of criminal justice?  Whatever your guilty pleasure, take a class on it.

6.)  Use the gym: Being a student comes with lots of benefits but one of the best is the great fitness center.  Start working out now while its free with your tuition.

7.)   Craft a Killer Resume: Go to the career center and have one of their experts help you out.  It’s totally free and you walk away with a great resume ready to send out into the job market.

8.)   Go to a Career Fair: This is a great way to find potential employers and also build your networking skills in a familiar and unpretentious environment.

What do you think?  Is anything missing?  Leave me a comment!

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By Elizabeth Rice

For any student that aspires to have a well-paying and fulfilling career, internships are often a highway to that goal.  Not only does an internship give you experience but also a leg up for the cut-throat job market.  However, the notion of “internship” is sometimes taken for granted and may not be much of an internship at all.   Here are a few signs that your internship might just be cheap labor for the company.

1.)   You have no set schedule: Keep in mind that this does depend on the industry, but in general, your employer should have some sort of set schedule for you.  If you find that your boss is asking you every week for your availability,  or worse isn’t contacting you at all, you may want to reevaluate your situation.

2.)   You’re working more than part time: In contrast to number one, if you find that you’re interning more than thirty hours, you might just be a free employee in their eyes.

3.)   You haven’t learned anything: No, learning how your boss likes his coffee doesn’t count.  Interning is about getting experience and learning about an industry that you potentially would like to work in.  For example, if you have been interning in the graphic design industry but have yet to work with a design program, there is a definite problem.  This doesn’t mean you should be working on logos and projects for clients, but you should at least be helping with the projects.

4.)   You are asked to do something misleading: If a company ever asks you to break a rule, law or do anything unethical, you should quit immediately.  If they ever ask you to lie that is also a major red flag.

If any of these signs apply to your internship, take the time to assess it.  Trust your instincts, if you have any indication that you are being taken advantage of, don’t hesitate to quit; just be sure to be professional and give two-week notice, burning bridges is never a good plan no matter what.

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Yesterday, we posted a tidy little piece on networking.  That piece was, of course, only scraping the surface of what we hope will eventually become a networking guide from which every member of the OrangeSlyce community can benefit.   Today, we’re talking about the aspect of networking that stops the painfully shy dead in their tracks: introducing yourself.

We called this post networking for introverts for one big reason: introducing yourself is obviously a much more daunting task for the painfully shy.  But, as we said yesterday, it’s a step that even the painfully shy can easily overcome with a little work and a lot of willpower.  If you find your palms getting clammy and your throat swelling up every time you’re at a mixer, here are a few handy tips you can follow to overcome yourself.

1) Think of other people as friends

One thing that makes it hard to break the ice is that you don’t know how well you’ll be received by the other person.  People tend to be very tribal by instinct, and it can be hard to just walk up to a person from an unfamiliar “tribe” (this, by the way, is also why you sometimes find yourself occasionally hating on groups of people you don’t even know when you’re out in public).  When it comes to approaching these people, you worry (on some level) that your encroachment won’t be well-received, that the other person will be annoyed by your presence (or worse).  If you start worrying about this, ask yourself: why?  Are you ever deeply bothered by a person introducing themselves to you?  Of course not; the other person will almost certainly enjoy the company.

Remember that networking is mutually beneficial.  Just about any person that’s worth networking with will at least spare you a smile and a business card if you introduce themselves to you–they have nothing to gain by not being friendly and everything to lose.  Because of this, the people you want to network with are, to borrow a phrase, just friends you haven’t met.  Don’t be afraid to go meet them.

2) Realize that a lot of the other people in the room are just as nervous as you are

This study by Lauren Bryant at Indiana University suggests that about 40% of adults feel shy.  Keep in mind the fact that surveys almost always under-report undesirable qualities (in other words: some people are too shy to admit that they’re shy) and it’s feasible that around half of the adult population is shy.  Chances are there are that a lot of the people you might network in are in the exact same boat that you are.  Wouldn’t you like it if someone kind walked up to you and took the first step?  Imagine how endearing that would be to you when you’re trying to work up the nerve to introduce yourself, and then be that person for someone else in the room.

3) Have some open-ended questions prepared in advance

Another thing people often worry about when networking is making conversation.  “What happens” you wonder “if I introoduce myself and then we have nothing to talk about?  Awwwwkwaaaaaard!”  Fortunate ly, first impressions rarely require you to hold intimate conversations.  All you’re really trying to do is show the other person that you’re interested in getting to know them better (and not just using them as a means to an end–this is an important point that deserve its own post) and taking the steps necessary to do that.  As such, it’s important that you have a few questions to ask them.  These questions should not be yes or no; you want to bring the other person out of their shell a little bit.  Don’t just ask the person what she does, ask her how she got into it, ask her what she did before that. If you ask her if she likes doing what she does, follow that question up with “what do you love (or hate) about it?”

4) Smile!

Sorry, we know it’s cheesy, but a good smile is important.  Smiling is your way of telling someone from a rival “tribe” that you’re not a threat.  It’s also very hard not to smile back when somebody smiles at you, which is good, because it will be a lot easier for you to approach someone when they’re smiling too.  Stay professional, but be friendly (and, as we said yesterday, be yourself) and you’ll be well on your way to being the networker you want to be.

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One thing that we hate to hear people say is “I just don’t have the personality to be a good networker”  Perhaps it’s because we’ve had our own bouts with shyness, but it drives us crazy to see people resign themselves to failure without even trying to overcome their shortcomings.  We love every last person who’s kind enough to follow our writings, so consider this tough love: saying you can’t be a good networker is almost always an excuse people use because they’re too afraid and too lazy to try.  Here’s another harsh truth: no matter what job you hope to get or what business you’re trying to get off the ground, you’re not in good shape if you aren’t willing to network.  Fortunately, there’s one more truth: great networking is not about being the most outgoing guy or girl in the room.

In truth, great networking has surprisingly little to do with being extroverted.  Sure, it’s a lot harder to take the first step in networking (reaching out to a person and introducing yourself) if you’re naturally shy.  But, unless you’re suffering from a legitimate psychological condition, reaching out to a person is still a hurdle that can easily be cleared.  As with most things, great networking is not about how you star; it’s about how you finish.

We recently read an excellent post on networking by Amanda Collins over at The Grammar Doctors.  While the whole piece is worth your time, there was one part in particular that stuck out to us:

The likelihood that you’ll score a client or referral partner after attending anything once is pretty low. You need to continue making an appearance, connecting with people, and being consistent. Be patient. It may take a number of weeks or months to create relationships and generate sales.

Ultimately, networking is about that creation of relationships.  The first impression is important, but relationships aren’t built on the first impression nearly as much as the second and third and fourth impressions.  Because of that, great networking is about following up on that first impression.  It’s about showing the other person how ambitious you are, and how serious you are about business.  Perhaps more importantly, it’s about letting the other person get to know you, and trust you, and like you.  You don’t have to be extroverted to do any of these things.  Ultimately, all you should really have to be is yourself (unless you’re lazy or sociopathic).  In the coming weeks, we’ll be putting up a few posts that will help you build a network by introducing people to the great person you know you are.

In the meantime, if that ending was a little too sweet for you, please feel free to cleanse the palate with this stock footage of atomic bomb testings:

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