Sh*t They Didn't Tell You: How to Succeed in the Creative Industries

by Paul Woods

Overview

This straight-talking, fun book is aimed at fresh graduates planning a career in the creative industries. It gives them the tools to identify and navigate the right path. Filled with practical tips and exercises, and illustrated with 'how to' flow charts and diagrams, it focuses not just on the creative skills needed for a successful and lucrative career but a great lifestyle too.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781786279538
Publisher:	Laurence King Publishing
Publication date:	08/24/2021
Pages:	144
Product dimensions:	5.70(w) x 7.85(h) x 0.65(d)

About the Author

Paul Woods, originally from Dublin, Ireland, is a Los Angeles-based designer, author and CEO at global design agency Edenspiekermann. Over the course of his career, Paul has been at the helm of projects for organizations such as Red Bull, Google, Faraday Future, and The City of Santa Monica, among many others. An advocate for the importance of user-centric design, Paul places a hyper-focus on the user in his work. His bylines regularly appear in publications such as Fast Company, AdWeek, and The Drum.

Paul's debut book on creative culture, How To Do Great Work Without Being An Asshole, was published worldwide in 2019 and has been translated into eight languages. His new book, Sh*t They Didn't Tell You, a how-to guide for people looking to start a career in the creative industry, published in August 2021.

Paul lives in Pasadena with his wife Nora and a very stubborn basset hound. www.paulthedesigner.us

Table of Contents

Foreword 4

Preface 6

Take a moment, make a plan 9

Figure out what you're really good at 23

Finish your f*cking portfolio 31

Consider further study 43

Do an internship (or two) 53

Find a job you love 63

Survive your first job 75

Start a side hustle 85

Get paid to travel 93

Master the boring sh*t 105

Learn to manage clients 117

Survive your first burnout 127

Make a big change 135

Acknowledgments 143

Editorial Reviews

07/12/2021

Designer and poet Woods (Our Veteran Daze) delivers straightforward career advice with splashes of humor in this guide to succeeding in creative fields. Woods, CEO of design consultancy Edenspiekermann, dispenses counsel directed primarily toward those in the design and visual arts fields on battling “post-graduation panic,” landing a first job, and creating a portfolio “that doesn’t suck.” Turning to everyday concerns, Woods addresses how to receive criticism (think of it as “free advice”), work with difficult clients, and launch a side hustle—something Woods says is essential to “keep your creative skills fresh and ensure that you remain relevant.” He also lauds the importance of “serious play,” or working on passion projects that spark creativity without fear of failure. For confronting the “infamous curse of industry” burnout, Woods provides a checklist to assess if one is spending too much time on work that stifles creative energy. Throughout, lighthearted illustrations, flowcharts, and graphics strike a wonderful balance with the wealth of “harsh truths” Woods lays out. This is a must-read for anyone looking to enter creative industries. (Aug.)

Publishers Weekly

"This is a must-read for anyone looking to enter creative industries." - Publisher's Weekly

From the Publisher