In-house design jobs - Everything you need to know

Everything you need to know about being an in-house designer. What the role entails, the different companies you could end up working in, the challenges you'll face, and the skills you need to be great at it.

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// ABOUT ME

Hello there! I'm Charli and I'm a web and graphic designer from New Zealand currently living in London and posting design videos every Saturday about tools, projects, and concepts and vlogs every Tuesday about my life as a designer. Please subscribe and say hi in the comments so we can be friends :)

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// MUSIC & TECH

Music: YouTube Audio Library

[nhanth]

I don't know why, but every single time when I watch your videos, I always feel so excited. Your videos're great.

[lyingeyes]

As an In House Designer and Photographer for a small business. It can get tough. Like she said, you'll be a generalist the majority of the time.

My manager, who does marketing often instructs me how to design. Even though I'm more than qualified and she ain't a designer. So there's barely room for creativity. Even though they tell you to be creative haha.

You'll often be overloaded with work as well. Especially if you're the only designer. I can barely finish with a project before another totally different brief pops up.

However the space you work in as a solo in house designer is often family like. As the folks are super close. And you'll most likely keep the job for a very long time. Especially if you just graduated, as brands or small businesses do like to build their designer or mold them to adapt to their brand.

Other than that, I'd recommend starting as an in house designer if you are uncertain on what to major/specialize in design. Nevertheless it's good experience to have on your CV as a starting job, as essentially it means that you can work on extremely tight deadlines, you communicate like a god and you can do anything.

[Meowmeow]

Thank you! I have a job interview coming up as an in house designer and ive mostly only done freelance so I was worried about the questions they would ask me regarding the in house process but this gives me a much better idea and I think i can interview well now!

[HeyLauryn]

Great video. Also really liked the transitions you used as well.

[zephyrkhambatta]

Thanks for this Charli, it was certainly a good explanation on what goes on. I myself have been contemplating what to do in the corporate space as I'm a musician, but I realise I love designing as well. Maybe I just like visuals, and what things look like when I'm designing, not necessarily designing for clients. LOL. Such is life... we keep going and we figure. Oh well, thank you, it was a lovely video! Warm Regards, Zephyr, Singapore.

[beberanbi]

Hi Charlie, your videos really opened my eyes to UI/UX. I've been thinking about switching my role to UX, and I am currently learning some useful tools, and shadowing other UX designers at my company. Just want to say thank you for keeping the topics interesting!

[ganticdotco]

As a product designer in an agency setting, you’d be surprised how often I still have to argue for the value of design. Mainly with clients/partners that came to you FOR ‘design’ but had a warped concept of what the word means.

Great explainer video though, I also teach part tome at a graphic design college occasionally, I’ll definitely link this series of explainers to the students when they’re all up.

[twinklej]

Hey Charli! Congrats on 70k subscribers... loving the little animations and effects throughout the video... could you please name the fonts used in this video? And obviously a very relevant and crisp content... u know how much i love your videos... Kudos

[CodyBrownDesign]

Nice video Charlie! Keep em' coming :D

[sarahmccookweir]

Great video!! I'd probably separate out working in house at a print firm is different to in house for another company as you're working on not only the branding for the print house but also the customers work. So there's a lot of variety and if you're not into dealing with clients directly and dealing with people who want the cheapest possible design probably not the right place.

[adrianleonardcanning]

Hey Charlie another interesting video, Thank you by the didn't you say in one of your precious videos that you will do a video on becoming a limited company, are you still planing on doing that and when.

[TillyTheCoder]

How many projects would you recommend you list when you apply for a job? A link to all of them or just the most relevant projects?

Also really amazing video :)

[grounded.growing.and.glowing]

Hi Charli! Thank you so much for this informative video. I really want to become an in-house designer, and the constraints of one brand actually calm me down, haha. Could I ask you for some advice? I will be graduating this May with a non-Graphic Design degree, but I want to become a Graphic Designer. I struggle with creating things on my own, without a classroom structure, so I'm looking into more schooling. Do you think I will be employable if I complete a 2 year Graphic Design program (whether that is an MFA or a Portfolio school)? And do you have any other suggestions for breaking into this field? Thank you!

[gibeomlee]

I wish to become an inhouse designer because when I am in design class with my class mates, I feel stressed out because it feels like I need to compete with them to be the best.

Limitation of the creativity is the downside, but I think I will be a lot happier if I'm not in the position of competition and just mind my own business.

[toniconn]

Congratulations on starting your Patreon!

[kathywellerart]

This is excellent and so helpful for those starting out in design!! Great work!! Congrats on starting Patreon! Your hair is stunning! I have to piggyback on the person complimenting your transitions. I love them. Do you use Final Cut Pro?

[KevinPlaysGuitar]

Thank you for sharing your input on in-house design. Do you think a in-house design job would be a good job for someone who recently just graduated University to get some practice before they apply to a studio?

[diabeticsugarbaby]

Great information and well put out video :) appreciate all the info!

[Danni]

Any tips on staying creative when working full time in house? My goal is to work in a studio but I'm worried my portfolio won't be that varied when it comes to applying and that I'll have 'lost' my creative touch 🙈

[lucaskeavney-rattue]

Working as a freelance designer I work with new brands on almost a weekly basis. Do you ever get bored working within a sole companies branding? If so how do motivate yourself to keep working?