Reasonable wage?
It’s safe to say that the majority of designers (specifically graphic designers) pursue a career in design not with the idea of mass wealth and fame but with a hope of a fulfilling, challenging and interesting career. My own pursuit is based primarily on the notion of working in a team who share the same passion for creative-led work.
However, a few years after graduation and having gone through the motions of internships both paid and unpaid, the question of ‘salary’ does play a bigger and more important role, when applying for jobs and approaching agencies. There is a point when as a young designer you realise mortgages, equity, savings and responsibility become serious undertakings as you finally admit you’re an adult and have to enrol in real life and become part of a progressive and economic society.
I recently came across two job postings found on a popular design blog/job site, where the studios, both respected for creative and admirable work, were recruiting designers who must have at least 2-3 years experience as professional graphic designers, be client facing in both pitches and presentations, design-degree equipped, able to manage and run the entire studio and team, be able to cost jobs and create estimates, design from concept through to delivery while offering a salary between £15 - £20k. I was offended to think that after 3 years of working in a professional career, a £20k is valid remuneration one would expect.
The sad fact is that there are plenty of people who will apply to these jobs and find it reasonable to be paid such a wage. Disregarding their exploitation for one second and concentrating on the outsiders view of the industry and you’ll see it paints a terrible picture of the design industry. It de-values design and ultimately depreciates the industry as a whole. It would be interesting to see what the DBA thinks of it.
