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

当我长大时，创意事业的想法不是一个选择。

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”.

我从小就喜欢涂鸦，美术和手Craft.io，因此在我长大后，这是向Photoshop和后来的Illustrator的自然过渡。 但是我的印象是，从事创意事业意味着要生活在一个不稳定的永久状态，这在本质上等同于“挨饿的艺术家”。

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.

在我看来，从事创意职业从来都不是可行的。 我也不知道或不知道设计是一项工作，因此将其与艺术混为一谈。 直到大学以后，我才通过设计程序中已有的几个朋友发现了设计。

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，我很高兴看到设计师在数字产品的体验中被越来越认为是有价值的，而数字产品正在积极塑造我们的世界和我们的联系方式。

Here’s some things I learned along the way.

这是我在学习过程中学到的一些东西。

1.入门 (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.

当大多数人开始时，他们从复制开始。 这不是可耻或罕见的事情，但是年轻艺术家将首先追踪他们所仰望的作品。 可以这样做，尝试向其他人的技术学习并寻求灵感。

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，有时您会发现自己正在寻找自己的“声音”，或者正在培养一种特定的风格。 多年来，您不断完善和完善自己的Craft.io，从而牺牲了时间，睡眠和精力，从而变得更好。

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

也许您还不在那里。 您会感觉被困住，就像前方有太多的人才。

我的建议？ 刚开始。 (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.

其他人根本不会开始。 他们诉诸抱怨和指责自己的天赋技能，导致他们对自己希望做的事情不擅长。

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

大多数人都能在某种程度上起步，但挑战在于承诺随着时间的推移不断练习和坚持纪律。

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.

您需要自我激励并忍受艰苦的努力，才能走向另一侧。 终生学习意味着随着时间的流逝，最好地投资自己的未来自我以及成为什么样的人。

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.

要点：我们经常强调而不是保持一致。 我们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.不要害怕批评 (2. Don’t fear critique)

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

知道您可以拿走有价值的东西，而扔掉没有的东西。

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.

对于设计师来说，批判是一种获得反馈的方式，它不涉及被告知如何解决问题，而是为设计师揭示要解决的特定问题。 不要害怕批评。 当人们停止给您任何诚实的反馈时，请当心。

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

要点：我们应该寻找聪明和诚实的人，他们可以提供关于我们正在做的事情以及我们如何改进的反馈。

3.学习至关重要 (3. Learning is crucial)

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

除了正规的教育计划，工作是学习的又一个机会(尽管风险更大)。

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).

出色的设计不仅仅是技术能力和像素推动力，尽管精通设计应用程序将为您所做的任何创作奠定良好的基础。 知道自己的长处并知道您想以哪种设计师/创意(例如专家或各行各业的杰作)为佳。

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.

学习并不意味着我们在学校被告知所有的事情，它不仅仅是获得好成绩，找到预设的答案。 健康的学习和解决问题的方法意味着对未知事物持开放态度，并愿意采用新的框架以理性和逻辑的方式解决给定的问题。

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.

学校只是生活中学习的垫脚石。 与真实世界相比，在学校中，想法被简化甚至过时。 不应将毕业视为“停止”学习的时间点。

我希望在学校学到以下三件事： (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.

  协作 -与不同学科的人交谈，并了解对他们重要的事情。 知道什么时候该灵活，什么时候该立足。

• 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.

  陈述 -学习在上下文和信心下陈述选项或最终决定。 适应您的受众和实现目标。 具有明确目的的交流能力。

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

  业务 -知道我的组织如何赚钱以及我如何影响该过程，就可以制定决策。

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.

如果您是任何组织的成员，则需要从独立设计师的思维方式过渡到理解团队/组织/公司的更大目标。

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.

记住这些更大的目标可以使您在日常工作中有更多的见解。 如果您只是专注于日常工作，那么您仍然可以完成工作，但可能不会在设计时考虑到正确的优先事项。

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

要点：关注基础知识。 您可能需要与他人合作(协作)，分享想法(演示)并赚钱(业务)。

4.过渡 (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.

如果您在一个已经有职业的地方，但一直想转向更具创造性的地方，请考虑一系列过渡。

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.

也许您可以扩大自己的角色，所以除了自己的角色之外，您还可以尝试一些涉及您想要完成的工作的职责。

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

获得经验后，另一种选择是回到学校/在您想加入的领域做在线课程。

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.

对于某些人来说，可能有可能迈出一大步进入不同的职业，但是如果这不是一种选择，请知道在改变方向时也可以采取更小的实际步骤。

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

要点：在“学习”不切实际的情况下，围绕职业和当前技能设置的“要点”可以帮助您取得进步。

5.什么让你满意 (5. What part makes you satisfied)

What part of a creative career interests you the most?

您对创意职业最感兴趣的部分是什么？

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吗？ 是赚钱吗？ 是否有绝对的自由来做出自己的决定？ 是否与您信任的团队和喜欢的人一起工作？ 它在建造影响数百万人的产品吗？ 是否平衡工作与生活，以便您可以和孩子在一起？ 它正在解决您内心深处的问题吗？

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.

通过定期评估自己的位置，喜欢/不喜欢的部分以及找出让您满意的部分，您可以自由地追求它，而不会落在您不想成为的地方。

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

这并非易事，但值得认真思考未来并评估您的价值观和优先事项。 你的时间很宝贵。

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

要点：经常评估对自己重要的事情，并进行调整。

结论 (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.

寻找导师。 梦想大，并为实现目标采取切实可行的步骤。 不要害怕寻求介绍或寻求帮助。 沟通并承担风险。 投资于您的社区和其他人，它将收获美好的事物。

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

从导师那里：工作将永远存在。 有远见。 您有时间为自己争取时间。