Published on | Prototyping: From UX to Front End — Medium Gregory Wolanski

You may have heard that great design is transparent. But that’s not what I’m writing about here.

Designers don’t talk about many topics. Because of stereotypes and taboos. Despite it being in their best interest.

I want to gently draw your attention to how much damage you do to yourself passing over certain subjects.

What have you done?!

I don’t know about you, but I can’t write about the things I do at work.

I wonder how it’s possible that I’ve never worked for a company that would let me write about my work and yet most job listings require a portfolio. I can’t be the only person to see this dissonance. It’s hard for me to believe that designers doomed designers to this fate.

Don’t get me wrong: I understand companies’ need for secrecy. I understand employers’ need for portfolios.

What can be done in this situation?

I tried to create a portfolio of projects completed in my spare time. It led me… nowhere.

Over 2 years after deciding to create a portfolio of projects done after hours, I have a portfolio comprised of a single pro bono project implemented in cooperation with a non-governmental organisation.

I plan to expand my portfolio with an open source project, but only when I run across one that makes me think, “Helping them? Hell YES!”

No commercial project will appear in my portfolio until I’m hired by a company that allows me to write about my work.

2 years ago, I never thought I’d write this, but the most pleasant companies are ones that don’t require a portfolio but a recruitment assignment. Of the two evils, I prefer the latter.

The only constant thing in the world

The only constant thing in the world is change.

Few people around me seem to think about this. I think about it, but it takes two to tango.

Do you know who you can talk to when something is wrong with your current job?

I don’t know either, but I think we should know. Plan C may be going too far, but Plan B is always worth having.

Anticipating: Yes, you probably think this is not so nice to the people you are working with, and yes, it’s a little odd to publicly write “I’m always looking for interesting work”. And you may be right. However, we’re talking about work. There is nothing unprofessional about these things.

Tell me how much you make, and I’ll tell who you are

I don’t know how much you earn, but I know this number doesn’t allow me to judge how good you are at what you do. I’m not able to judge who you are based on a few digits.

Your pay consists of a lot of factors: coincidences, contacts, skills, talent, work, location, characteristics of the company you work for, your attitude toward stress, whether you work overtime or on weekends, etc.

Your earnings say something about you, but it’s more practical than evaluative information. After a moment of reflection, it’s difficult to be ashamed of your salary. In this context, the only people who can be ashamed are the ones who try to judge designers mainly through the prism of a single number.

“Salary secrecy is only in the best interest of the hiring company.”
— David Burkus

Work involves money. Money is an uncomfortable subject. It’s easiest to pass over it. Interim.

Why would you spend your life on job offers without a salary range, with the pay “to be negotiated”?

Is it easier for you to negotiate a raise when you don’t know how much money your friends and coworkers earn?

I myself, despite working in very loose conditions, can’t write about how much I earn. And I don’t feel good about that. At the moment, it’s quite comfortable. Long term — shot in the foot.

Temporary solution: I can’t write about how much I earn, but I can write that I only read offers with laid-down salary ranges that take into account the remuneration of 10,000 PLN (2,590 USD, 2,370 EUR) net per month.

And you? What job offers do you read?

Where do I find your ideal portfolio? Or do you perhaps prefer recruitment assignments?

What’s your Plan B? If you don’t have one, who can you email right away to start organising one?

Transparent Designers was originally published in Prototyping: From UX to Front End on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Transparent Designers

Cool stuff, every week

More Articles