When I was growing up, the idea of a creative career wasn’t an option.

當我長大時，創意事業的想法不是一個選擇。

I had enjoyed doodling, arts and crafts as a kid, so as I grew up, it was a natural transition into Photoshop and later, Illustrator. But I grew up with the impression that pursuing a creative career meant living in a permanent state of instability, something that was essentially equivalent to the phrase “starving artist”.

我從小就喜歡涂鴉，美術和手Craft.io，因此在我長大后，這是向Photoshop和后來的Illustrator的自然過渡。 但是我的印象是，從事創意事業意味著要生活在一個不穩定的永久狀態，這在本質上等同于“挨餓的藝術家”。

In my mind, it was never a practical to pursue a creative career. I also did not know or understand that design was a job and lumped it together with art. It was only later in college that I discovered design through several friends already in the design program.

在我看來，從事創意職業從來都不是可行的。 我也不知道或不知道設計是一項工作，因此將其與藝術混為一談。 直到大學以后，我才通過設計程序中已有的幾個朋友發現了設計。

Nowadays, I’m excited to see that designers are increasingly recognized as valuable in the experience of digital products, which are actively shaping our world and the ways we connect.

如今，我很高興看到設計師在數字產品的體驗中被越來越認為是有價值的，而數字產品正在積極塑造我們的世界和我們的聯系方式。

Here’s some things I learned along the way.

這是我在學習過程中學到的一些東西。

1.入門 (1. Getting started)

When most people start out, they begin by copying. It’s not shameful or uncommon, but young artists will begin by tracing pieces of works they look up to. This is ok to do, to try and learn from other people’s techniques and to seek inspiration.

當大多數人開始時，他們從復制開始。 這不是可恥或罕見的事情，但是年輕藝術家將首先追蹤他們所仰望的作品。 可以這樣做，嘗試向其他人的技術學習并尋求靈感。

However, at some point you discover that you are looking for your own “voice”, or cultivating a specific style. You refine and perfect your craft over a years, sacrificing time, sleep and energy to get better.

但是，有時您會發現自己正在尋找自己的“聲音”，或者正在培養一種特定的風格。 多年來，您不斷完善和完善自己的Craft.io，從而犧牲了時間，睡眠和精力，從而變得更好。

Maybe you’re just not there yet. You feel stuck and like there’s too many talented people ahead of you.

也許您還不在那里。 您會感覺被困住，就像前方有太多的人才。

我的建議？ 剛開始。 (My advice? Just start.)

Other people don’t start out at all. They resort to complaining and blaming their innate skills that cause them to not be good at the things they wish they were good at.

其他人根本不會開始。 他們訴諸抱怨和指責自己的天賦技能，導致他們對自己希望做的事情不擅長。

Most people are able to start to some degree but the challenge is committing to practice and sustained discipline over time.

大多數人都能在某種程度上起步，但挑戰在于承諾隨著時間的推移不斷練習和堅持紀律。

You need to self-motivate and endure the hard stuff, in order to get to the other side. Lifelong learning means investing in the best version of your future self and who you will be, over time.

您需要自我激勵并忍受艱苦的努力，才能走向另一側。 終生學習意味著隨著時間的流逝，最好地投資自己的未來自我以及成為什么樣的人。

Takeaway: We often strike out with intensity rather than consistency. We overestimate the things we can accomplish in a day but underestimate what can be done in a year.

要點：我們經常強調而不是保持一致。 我們高估了一天可以完成的事情，但低估了一年可以完成的事情。

2.不要害怕批評 (2. Don’t fear critique)

Know that you can take what is valuable, and throw away what isn’t.

知道您可以拿走有價值的東西，而扔掉沒有的東西。

For designers, critique is a way of getting feedback that doesn’t involve being told how to solve a problem but rather uncovers the specific problem for the designer to solve. Don’t fear critique. Fear when people stop giving you any honest feedback.

對于設計師來說，批判是一種獲得反饋的方式，它不涉及被告知如何解決問題，而是為設計師揭示要解決的特定問題。 不要害怕批評。 當人們停止給您任何誠實的反饋時，請當心。

Takeaway: We should seek smart and honest people who can offer feedback on what we’re doing and how we can improve.

要點：我們應該尋找聰明和誠實的人，他們可以提供關于我們正在做的事情以及我們如何改進的反饋。

3.學習至關重要 (3. Learning is crucial)

Besides a formal education program, work is another opportunity for learning (though with greater risks).

除了正規的教育計劃，工作是學習的又一個機會(盡管風險更大)。

Great design is more than technical skills and pixel pushing, though knowing your design applications well will serve a good foundation for whatever you do create. It’s good to know your strengths and also know what sort of designer/creative you want to be known for (ex. specialist or a jack of all trades).

出色的設計不僅僅是技術能力和像素推動力，盡管精通設計應用程序將為您所做的任何創作奠定良好的基礎。 知道自己的長處并知道您想以哪種設計師/創意(例如專家或各行各業的杰作)為佳。

Learning doesn’t mean all the things we were told in school — it is more than getting a good grade, finding the pre-set answer. Healthy learning and problem solving means having an openness to the unknown and a willingness to apply new frameworks to tackle a given problem in a rational and logical way.

學習并不意味著我們在學校被告知所有的事情，它不僅僅是獲得好成績，找到預設的答案。 健康的學習和解決問題的方法意味著對未知事物持開放態度，并愿意采用新的框架以理性和邏輯的方式解決給定的問題。

School is only a stepping stone to the of learning that comes with life. In school, ideas are simplified and even dated compared to the real world. Graduating shouldn’t be seen as a point in time where you “stop” learning.

學校只是生活中學習的墊腳石。 與真實世界相比，在學校中，想法被簡化甚至過時。 不應將畢業視為“停止”學習的時間點。

我希望在學校學到以下三件事： (Here are 3 things I wish I learned in school:)

• Collaboration — speaking to those in different disciplines and understanding what matters to them. Knowing when to be flexible and when to stand my ground.

  協作 -與不同學科的人交談，并了解對他們重要的事情。 知道什么時候該靈活，什么時候該立足。

• Presentation — learning to present options or a final decision with context and confidence. Adjusting to your audience and meeting goal. The ability to communicate with a clear and succinct purpose.

  陳述 -學習在上下文和信心下陳述選項或最終決定。 適應您的受眾和實現目標。 具有明確目的的交流能力。

• Business — knowing how my organization makes money and how I can influence that process gives perspective on how decisions are made.

  業務 -知道我的組織如何賺錢以及我如何影響該過程，就可以制定決策。

If you’re part of any organization, there’s a transition from a mindset of an independent designer, to understanding a team/organization/company’s larger goal.

如果您是任何組織的成員，則需要從獨立設計師的思維方式過渡到理解團隊/組織/公司的更大目標。

Remembering these larger goals gives you more perspective on your day to day. If you just focus on your day to day, you will still get things done but may not be designing with the right priorities in mind.

記住這些更大的目標可以使您在日常工作中有更多的見解。 如果您只是專注于日常工作，那么您仍然可以完成工作，但可能不會在設計時考慮到正確的優先事項。

Takeaway: Focus on the fundamentals. You probably need to work with others (collaboration), share ideas (presentation), and make money (business).

要點：關注基礎知識。 您可能需要與他人合作(協作)，分享想法(演示)并賺錢(業務)。

4.過渡 (4. Transitions)

If you are at the place where you already have a career, but have always wanted to switch into something more creative consider a series of transitions.

如果您在一個已經有職業的地方，但一直想轉向更具創造性的地方，請考慮一系列過渡。

Perhaps you can expand your role so you are trying out some responsibilities that involve what you do want to do, in addition to your own role.

也許您可以擴大自己的角色，所以除了自己的角色之外，您還可以嘗試一些涉及您想要完成的工作的職責。

After gaining some experience, another option is to go back to school/do an online program in a field you want to join.

獲得經驗后，另一種選擇是回到學校/在您想加入的領域做在線課程。

For some, it may be possible to do one giant leap into a different career, but if that is not an option, know that making smaller, practical steps are also a possibility as you change direction.

對于某些人來說，可能有可能邁出一大步進入不同的職業，但是如果這不是一種選擇，請知道在改變方向時也可以采取更小的實際步驟。

Takeaway: “Pivots” around your career and current skill set can help you progress when “leaps” are not practical.

要點：在“學習”不切實際的情況下，圍繞職業和當前技能設置的“要點”可以幫助您取得進步。

5.什么讓你滿意 (5. What part makes you satisfied)

What part of a creative career interests you the most?

您對創意職業最感興趣的部分是什么？

Is it perfecting your craft? Is it making money? Is it having absolute freedom to make your own decisions? Is it working with a team you trust and people you like being around? Is it building products that impact millions of people? Is it having work life balance so you can spend time with your kids? Is it working on problems and issues near to your heart?

它在完善您的Craft.io嗎？ 是賺錢嗎？ 是否有絕對的自由來做出自己的決定？ 是否與您信任的團隊和喜歡的人一起工作？ 它在建造影響數百萬人的產品嗎？ 是否平衡工作與生活，以便您可以和孩子在一起？ 它正在解決您內心深處的問題嗎？

By regularly assessing where you are, what you like/dislike and figuring out which part leaves you satisfied gives you the freedom to pursue it without ending up somewhere you don’t want to be.

通過定期評估自己的位置，喜歡/不喜歡的部分以及找出讓您滿意的部分，您可以自由地追求它，而不會落在您不想成為的地方。

It’s not easy but it is worthwhile to think seriously about the future and assess your values and priorities. Your time is precious.

這并非易事，但值得認真思考未來并評估您的價值觀和優先事項。 你的時間很寶貴。

Takeaway: Assess what is important to yourself often, and make adjustments.

要點：經常評估對自己重要的事情，并進行調整。

結論 (Conclusion)

Seek out mentors. Dream big and take practical steps toward your goals. Don’t be afraid to ask for an introduction or ask for help. Communicate and take risks. Invest into your community and others, and it will reap good things.

尋找導師。 夢想大，并為實現目標采取切實可行的步驟。 不要害怕尋求介紹或尋求幫助。 溝通并承擔風險。 投資于您的社區和其他人，它將收獲美好的事物。

From a mentor: work will always be there. Have perspective. You have time for what you make time for.

從導師那里：工作將永遠存在。 有遠見。 您有時間為自己爭取時間。