Being a part of the design community is an important part of being a designer. When designers come together to share ideas and discuss their work it benefits the whole industry because we can stand together against things like working for free. Participating in design communities both online and offline has helped increase our passion for what we do, and has been so valuable. In this episode you’ll hear us discuss the communities we’re a part of and hear advice for joining communities when you’re just starting out in the industry.
Get on Twitter. Meeting people from the design community online first before chatting offline at an event makes it easier to create a connection (especially for introverts!) Speaking to people solely through the internet can be isolating, so if you can, try to connect with people in person to deepen relationships.
Don’t spread yourself too thin across many communities. There are so many great ones out there, but it is about quality over quantity. Try a few out and you’ll find the ones that suit you best where you can learn from others in the group and perhaps discover new passions. There is something out there for everyone.
Designers creating communities can help our industry. We can all band together to stand up for good working practices, and we can grow our skills together. Passion is contagious so being around other designers will make you more passionate about what you do.
People in design communities are not your not competitors; they’re your peers. Everyone has different skills and niches, and you shouldn’t be afraid to share what you know with others, as they will do the same with you.
0:00 – Intro
1:10 – Weekly check in
3:40 – The atmosphere of the audience at a conference
6:20 – Favourite design conferences
8:50 – Online vs offline communities
11:00 – Main benefits of each type of community
14:15 – The danger of group-think in a community and the importance of varying viewpoints
14:50 – Why we think being part of a community is valuable
18:00 – Other designers are not your competitors, they’re your peers
19:45 – What online communities we’re a part of
25:15 – Getting involved in the design community when you’re a newbie
29:25 – Being welcomed into a new group
32:00 – What value do our listeners get from design communities
35:20 – Advice for getting involved in a community
