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Oh Sh*t... What Now?
So you've graduated. What now? Where do you live? Can you afford to live? How can you make money doing design? How do you get a job? Who do you want to work for and are you good enough?
This book is a comprehensive and insightful guide to anything and everything that is of use to those looking to break into the creative industries,sharing experiences, ideas, advice, criticism, and encouragement. With sections covering education, portfolios, jobs/freelancing, working process, and personal development, this straight-talking, funny, and frequently irreverent guide is a must-read for all creative arts students.
This book is a comprehensive and insightful guide to anything and everything that is of use to those looking to break into the creative industries,sharing experiences, ideas, advice, criticism, and encouragement. With sections covering education, portfolios, jobs/freelancing, working process, and personal development, this straight-talking, funny, and frequently irreverent guide is a must-read for all creative arts students.
128 pages, Hardcover
Published April 3, 2018
25 people are currently reading
313 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
August 10, 2024
this morning i was filled with the most overwhelming sense of Everything I Do is Bad and Wrong! this evening I can at least feel secure in that maybe not all of my design is Bad or Wrong
August 28, 2023
muy relatable si te acabas de graduar de diseño gráfico/estás empezando en el mundillo/te interesa etc. 100% recomendado loved it <333
April 19, 2024
The content of this book is fantastic.
The layout and typography treatment is also fantastic.
The book binding is atrocious and has probably kept so many from gleaning the absolute gold this book has to offer, I had almost all non-thick-cardstock pages falling out after a single page turn. #PrintingFail ( I thought about dropping a star for this, but it didn't affect the readability much because I kept all the pages that fell out in order.)
This is even more ironic because he talks about how important production is to a product: “I've seen a piece of design and bought it (thinking it's amazing), only to receive it and be let down by it being badly produced. Poorly made. ...if only that chair hadn't just had an ordinary base thrown on it... if only that film had been edited more sharply ... if only that book's binding had been a bit more considered.”
To review the actual content of the book. I wish I had this book post-graduation or even before (unfortunately impossible as I graduated in 2017 and this book was published in 2018.) While the topics Oldham covers are relatively straightforward his insights on the design industry and outlooks on work are profound (and humorous.)
I HIGHLY recommend this book to any graphic design student especially if you are a 3rd or 4th year.
I've been in the design world post-grad for over five years now and I still found this book helpful and encouraging, wish I had read it sooner.
The layout and typography treatment is also fantastic.
The book binding is atrocious and has probably kept so many from gleaning the absolute gold this book has to offer, I had almost all non-thick-cardstock pages falling out after a single page turn. #PrintingFail ( I thought about dropping a star for this, but it didn't affect the readability much because I kept all the pages that fell out in order.)
This is even more ironic because he talks about how important production is to a product: “I've seen a piece of design and bought it (thinking it's amazing), only to receive it and be let down by it being badly produced. Poorly made. ...if only that chair hadn't just had an ordinary base thrown on it... if only that film had been edited more sharply ... if only that book's binding had been a bit more considered.”
To review the actual content of the book. I wish I had this book post-graduation or even before (unfortunately impossible as I graduated in 2017 and this book was published in 2018.) While the topics Oldham covers are relatively straightforward his insights on the design industry and outlooks on work are profound (and humorous.)
I HIGHLY recommend this book to any graphic design student especially if you are a 3rd or 4th year.
I've been in the design world post-grad for over five years now and I still found this book helpful and encouraging, wish I had read it sooner.
October 13, 2020
Purchase Oh Sh*t... What Now? here for just $12!
A very handy guide for those looking to get a foot in the door of the creative world, Craig Oldham manages to balance humour and information in a fun and inspiring way. It's also very beautiful to look at!
Elisa - The Book Grocer
A very handy guide for those looking to get a foot in the door of the creative world, Craig Oldham manages to balance humour and information in a fun and inspiring way. It's also very beautiful to look at!
Elisa - The Book Grocer
October 12, 2022
The design is a 5/5 for me. It's a style that I really like and have always been drawn to so I'm a little generous
with the rating. It's a good book, however, with some solid advice for people starting out in the industry (preferably further or higher education students).
Easy language, no unnecessary design terminology, very straight to the point. What I appreciated most were the visuals. Read this just in time for my own university project I'll surely be taking inspiration from this.
with the rating. It's a good book, however, with some solid advice for people starting out in the industry (preferably further or higher education students).
Easy language, no unnecessary design terminology, very straight to the point. What I appreciated most were the visuals. Read this just in time for my own university project I'll surely be taking inspiration from this.
November 18, 2024
Funny, entertaining and helpful for anyone either looking to get into the graphic design industry or is already in it. Loses a star solely because I wish it had more pages (and technically it would have if some of them didn't fall out because of the binding 🫣)
September 18, 2018
I recommend! An interesting and honest view on graphic design, an easy and fun read, and on top of that it's also stunning to look at and browse through.
February 27, 2019
Honest, humorous, and most of all helpful.
December 27, 2020
Really great recommended reading for all new graphic designers
July 17, 2021
Great read for all new graphic designers
July 11, 2024
Insightful, compassionate, and honest. Perfect for a young designer.
August 7, 2025
great tips for designers!
May 24, 2019
BOSS MINDSET
Si sos diseñador, emprendedor, y fan de la tipografía es un libro que sin dudas necesitas en tu biblioteca.
Habla de la industria, de la presentación personal, y de manejas laborales, de una manera gráfica que divierte.
Si sos diseñador, emprendedor, y fan de la tipografía es un libro que sin dudas necesitas en tu biblioteca.
Habla de la industria, de la presentación personal, y de manejas laborales, de una manera gráfica que divierte.
December 10, 2018
Craig Oldham I want to drink some tea with you! Your sense of humor is spot on and your book is immensely enjoyable! I'm not sure if my graphics design skills were improved, but my confidence is through the roof! I really loved this book! You are amazing and I loved the fanciful, yet pragmatic way that you wove graphics editing successfully and blissfully throughout your book. Keep doing the footnotes. By the end of the book, I loved the way that you engaged the reader with the hilarious footnote asides. Absolute joy to read!
November 14, 2023
Brilliant entry guide for begging and perhaps lost designers.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews