The above comment strikes me as someone who, while possibly in possession of a modicum of talent, operates in a silo and missed the point entirely. In question is not the degree of talent of Industrial Brand as measured by our own portfolio. In fact, while the work may not always dazzle the likes of our designer friends , they are not our true audience. The work is not designed for any other purpose than to WORK for the audiences they were intended, and move our clients’ businesses forward.

With respect to ego, we have none, except when it comes to insisting that young designers who are looking for work actually do some research into who it is that they are approaching for a job. Mr. Samnani’s comment suggests that he’s never been the recipient of over 100 applicants at a time, or received countless ill-conceived, poorly executed and dim-witted unsolicited cover letter/portfolio combinations.

Sometimes, out of sheer necessity of sortation and getting on with things, we just have to be dismissive. At other times, when we see someone with potential, but is totally missing the mark in their approach, it gives us great pleasure to assist them and steer them in the right direction, even if we’re not able to hire them.

Whether you take the advice of this post or not is up to you. If you do, you’ll probably rise above others who have not when submitting work to us for consideration. It may be completely the wrong approach for engaging with another firm, and another person looking for new hires who wants something else. So, the point is really: Do your research and tailor your approach to the firm and person you are talking to.

Finally, Mr. Samnani, your comment would probably have had more credibility if you’d chosen not to conclude it with a blatant, self-promotional link.

To all newbies, please don’t ever cater your book or folio, especially to appease a studio general like this. For the most part they are as pretentious and ego filled as some of your favorite hollywood stars.

The really funny thing here is that Industrial Brand’s own website does exactly the opposite of what Mr.Garfinkel suggested above. Their own case studies section has way too much copy and does nothing to showcase the actuall work. In fact there identity work is nothing to brag about either.

This post in not intented to slam Industrial Brand, they’re good at what they do, that’s why they’re in business. It just saddens me that rookies who first step into this industry with no experience but with a shit load of talent and potential quickly become put off when they read shit like this.

Industrial Brand, try using a little humility and constructive critism without coming off as the best desgin firm in the city.

For those who want any advice or example of what a well balanced portfolio is, visit http://www.farouqsamnani.com

My Two Cents

Farouq Samnani

Funny, I finish reading this article thinking “Wow Ben, thanks for the great inside scoop,” only to read this hilarious feedback positioning the writer as “arrogant” and “needs a slice of humble pie.”

So a few quick things:

1.) If I was Grand Puba of a successful design/branding firm, I’d have a little swagger too.

2.) Why can’t people just come from an attitude of gratitude?

I’m a proud Gen Y. Helicopter parents, constant ego-stroking, seeing the world as my juicy oyster, the works. However I’m also proud to have the common sense of never biting the hand that feeds. It’s a messy, dirty jungle out there, and it’s a privilege to get a little help along the way, especially in an industry as competitive as ours.

So simple. Ben hires. He offers tips. You do tips, you might get hired. At Industrial Design, or anywhere! No need to get the wiggins, you either take the advice or you don’t.

Oh yes, thanks Ben.

Because of fairness, we should also post a list of tips for agencies, EH?

Don’t waste my time.
You are hiring or you are not hiring. Don’t waste my time, invite me for an interview, let me travel miles, let me answer random questions and then forget to send me any respond. Just tell me: WE ARE NOT HIRING!!! (Update your website, delete 1year old job-ads on KROP, coroflot, behance, local newspapers, etc.). Tell me if you took your brother in law or the girl next door. But please: DON’T WASTE MY TIME!

Answer the question: Why do I have to understand what you are doing? Why don’t they ask the question: Di you understand what our clients are doing? How many times did you (agency) hire a freelancer because your own employees weren’t able to handle the job? How many times did you talk to yourself: “Dammit! Wouldn’t it be great to have that guy who knocked on our day the other day?”

Then agencies go even further and claim: We want someone who fits into our company and culture. But ask yourself – what does that actually mean? Really? Don’t they have strategies to make everybody happy? Wouldn’t it be great for an agency to have the north and the south pole in the same team? Good and evil? Black and White? Only those teams are able to think further: Above and Beyond. Diversity is king in a creative process. Oh yeah, alright. The came up with the employee-does-not-fit-the-client thing. Well, turn it around: Clients leave their agencies because they get bored quite fast these days. Based on Forrester Research every 5 years an average.

Why should I spell your name right, if I can’t even read your badly designed logo, EH?

You can even go a little bit further and ask:

What do you actually do to keep top talents in your agency? If you have good people in your agency, when was the last time you have been awarded for your work? Who was it? You, or someone who left lately? Its NOT unusual that agencies with lots of creative, international awards got it because of the talent of one outstanding employee. Go ahead – you can check it.

The portfolio. Take your time for my portfolio. Don’t review on the fly – get a wrong impression – invite me for an interview, let me travel miles, let me answer random questions – …….. (well, you know whats coming next); … and then tell me that we actually are not looking right now for new employees.

Well, and don’t forget to ask the agency: Why do you wanna see creative excellence if you pay the minimum wage? … or wanna hire me as an intern?

Thanks for the interview.

PS: … sorry about the grammar. My apologies – I am French-Canadian :-)