Why I Love My Job As A…Graphic Designer

According to Hallmark and our Google calendar, February is the month of love. But it doesn’t have to be romantic love that we’re talking about. Some people are lucky enough to fall in love with their job.

And that’s what we’re bringing you with our Why I Love My Job As A… series. Real professionals tell us what their job is, why they love it, and—most importantly—how people like you can excel in the industry like they have.

Today, we sat down with Katie Lafferty, a designer and art director for companies like Digitas and the GlobalCitizen, who’s now leading design at WayUp.

What do you do?

I am a graphic designer who has worked in both startups and ad agencies. Growing up, I was always very artistic, and in high school I got really into oil painting. However, come college I knew I had to pick a more viable career path. I ultimately decided on design because of the breadth of opportunities it offered.

What do you love about your job?

What tips do you have for aspiring graphic designers?

My number one tip for future graphic designers is to just make a TON of work, it’s not all going to be super amazing… but at the early stage of your career, quantity is more important than perfection.

It gets you in the habit of turning around quick work, and will only help you develop your skill set and hone your niche. As a designer, you never stop learning, and it’s one of the things I love most about this job. I have been working as a designer for 7 years, and still learn something new every day… and I am not just saying that!

Best piece of advice you received on the job?

I think one of the best pieces of advice I’ve received is to pick a great boss to work for, not a company.

Ready to start your design career?

Start by searching for jobs and internships on WayUp.