What Do You Do?
I’m often asked the infamous question, “What do you do?”
The funny thing is, this conversation seems to follow the same format each time. I thought I should finally document this, as it might shed some insight into what designers actually do.
Please keep two things in mind while reading this script: I own a creative license and “Joe” is a fictitious character.
Joe: Nice tats. What do you do?
Me: I’m a graphic designer.
Joe: Cool. So you like design flyers and stuff in Photoshop?
Me: Kind of. It’s a little more complicated than that.
Joe: Huh.
Me: Let me ask you something. Do you prefer Target or Walmart?
Joe: Target. It’s so much brighter and the aisles are wider. They also have awesome commercials.
Me: Do you think that your experience with them is accidental or intentional?
Joe: What do you mean?
Me: Think about the way Target makes you feel — in their stores and with their marketing. Do you think someone strategized and planned this?
Joe: Of course. Why?
Me: That’s what I do for living.
Joe: I thought you said you were a designer.
Me: I am.