For those of you who have read a few of my posts, both on LinkedIn and on our Square Banana blog, you will know that I have been looking for a new designer to join the ranks for some months now. 6 months to be more specific.
I visited the degree shows and New Designers last June/July. I’ve chatted to, interviewed and had long winded negotiations with numerous candidates, of varying abilities and skillsets, but we still find ourselves without a new recruit. To be perfectly honest, I’m starting to lose faith that the right candidate is out there, and I’ve cast my net wider and wider (both geographically and in relation to candidate experience and ‘cost’) in an attempt to secure someone who can help this business grow.
In truth, in recent months I’ve not been particularly tenacious in looking as our workload has been all consuming. We are working on some brilliant projects with as diverse a client set as you care to mention, and delivering the right calibre of work to these clients is my priority. As such, it has been left to prospective candidates to sniff us out and spot the opportunity…to stumble across the blog or my various frustrated LinkedIn or Twitter postings. Whilst this has unearthed a few, I thought that this time of year might be the right time to put something more specific on LinkedIn (as a bona fide post), and appeal to any of those niggling New Year’s Resolutions that may be harbouring in the minds of any talented product designers out there!
So what are we looking for…?
Well, I outlined some of the key attributes I would require of a designer working in the Square Banana studio here (way back in 2013) and again in 2015. The former talks more about your skills as a human being and the approach to your work, and the latter is more specific about the day to day ‘design’ skills that you will be expected to deliver. Please take a moment to read over these and work out if you fit the bill.
However, since writing these posts, a number of things are worth reinstating to clarify things.
1. We are in Cheltenham (this is nowhere near London).
It is important to be clear about this. Cheltenham is a lovely, thriving town and whilst it succumbs to a deluge of tweed-enrobed, drunk racegoers for a few weeks a year, it is – for the rest of the year – an utterly fantastic place to live and work. It is not as big as Bristol. It is prettier than Swindon. It is more expensive than Plymouth. It is surrounded by lots of countryside, and open space, so if you are agoraphobic, or need a bustly, sweaty underground commute into work, it probably isn’t for you. You will probably need a car.
2. We are small.
By any measure we are a small design agency, but that does not mean we do ‘small’ work. Au contraire. We are working with some of the biggest brands and businesses you care to mention, all over the globe, and we punch way above our weight. For bleedin’ obvious reason, I can’t mention any of it here, but you’ll have to take my word for it. However, being small, it means you are working with the same handful of people day in, day out, and in the same room. Some people don’t like that. Fair enough.
3. There’s nowhere to hide.
Being a small team, this isn’t a job for the faint hearted. You will be on the front line from day 1. That’s not to say you will be unsupported or left to flounder. Only that you will not simply be one of a large number of contributors to a larger project…you can’t retire into the shadows and let others carry you. Assuming you cut the mustard, you will have your own projects, your own clients and – should you prove more capable – the ability and freedom to operate under your own initiative in ways that a medium or larger business could never, ever offer. Some people hate this. Some thrive.
4. You need to want this.
I have had numerous conversations with candidates that say all the right things and say they want to work ‘in a place like this’, but you really need to be sure. This isn’t about just getting a job. This is about being an integral, pivotal part of a growing business (albeit at a pace to suit you and with the right level of support). It is fairly easy to spot those that really want it, from those that have simply added Square Banana to a long list of job applications.
5. Be happy to learn.
We work on such a huge variety of projects, across the widest range of markets and technologies, that each and every project will require you to learn, and learn fast. We have completed projects in the last couple of years that I struggle to categorise as either product or packaging design in any way shape or form, but they are just as rewarding, challenging and creative as anything more predictably ‘product’ oriented that you might expect of a product design agency. I’m still learning. Every. Single. Day.
6. You reap what you sow.
We are a small agency which means we can’t offer massive, enticing salaries, perks and gargantuan bonuses to lure you in. Your initial remuneration will be commensurate to your skills and abilities, and your evident capability to add value to the business. Should you demonstrably prove that you can add more value, or the business directly improves as a result of your involvement, you will benefit accordingly. As a small business, you can have a greater effect on it, which in turn can mean an equivalent positive effect for you. It ain’t rocket science.
7. Open to all.
We were initially looking for a junior or graduate designer to join, but in recent months, it is clear that there are many designers with a number of years experience (and a desire to work in an environment like ours) that may be better suited to this type of role. Indeed I’ve had more fruitful and positive discussions with more mature, experienced designers that can hit the ground running. However, this needs to be carefully measured against point 6. We simply don’t have the pockets to offer a senior level salary from the get go. If you are currently working for a corporate, it is unlikely we will be able to match what you are being offered as a total package! However….I’m open to suggestions.
As you can tell, I’m more interested in getting the right kind of ‘person’ than the best ‘designer’ per se. It’s not for everyone and I want you to be sure that this is the kind of thing you want.
If you are interested, then please get in touch. There is no closing deadline. If this post suddenly disappears, you can safely assume I have found someone. Otherwise, it’s fair game!
This article first appeared on the Square Banana Blog and on LinkedIn as a personal article.
Square Banana Ltd. was the business I owned and ran from 2005 until 2017 when it was acquired by Kinneir Dufort. Square Banana no longer exists but I have republished the posts from the Square Banana Blog on this site as an archive and for the interest of anyone who might find the content useful or insightful.
The opinions are always my own. Nobody else’s.
