appear in all place, not only these cuz
everyone started their passion art spirit in all places and sharpen their skills day by day

try to have a flip of the local design magazine like cutout
you may find out how strong is the design industry in malaysia and other stories

I run my own design and print firm and I do agree with you on eating just bones.

Luckily, I have one or two out of.... 100+ like that, that value my work and are willing to pay what my worth is.

Yeah, nothing much we can do about the Cinapeks' mindset, as even mountains are way easier to move.
Can't really blame them since we are born in different era.

I haven't watched TV for years already, but I can tell by just looking at the majority of the local designs.
Signboards, marketing collaterals, signage, menus, books. Gg.

It's about solving problems and negotiating a fee to solve their problems. You may have the best design and even ideas but if companies don't see them as necessity then the bests are the worst. This goes for every industries not just design.

One or two loyal client who trusts you is enough. I think when you get these type of clients then you know your business is safe (even though if it is for a while, at least can buy more time. I believe running a business is always a bonus to be surviving each day, even for big companies because you will never know what will happen next).

But hopefully you can get more good clients if you want a more stable and sustainable business. You know la, nowadays many young fellas can easily open up to be your competitor (slashing prices, free services and all). It's a dog eat dog world after all..

But seriously, you will have little to no hope just by taking salary as an average designer in this country.

I don't see much tbh, or I just haven't looked wide enough.

I see, I will have a look at Cutout later.
Haven't read one since a long time ago, thanks for reminding!

Yes, that's the ideal position graphic designers ought to get themselves into.

However, more often than not, graphic designers do not have that opportunity to negotiate a fee, let alone coming up with one.
Of course, the only way out of this is to get out of the order-taker role, and become the consultant, or freelance, or self-employ.

But even so, I promise you, majority of Malaysians don't value design, as much as it solves problem, big or small.

The PLJ (peng-leng-jeng / cheap-good) mentality and the misunderstood purpose of design killed many designers.
Still killing tbh.

Yeah, buying time is the right word. Really resonates with me.

Thanks bro. I am building it into a sustainable business, the worst thing that could happen is I gulung tikar lor. Then go find a job somewhere else.

Yes, young guns that have yet to learn how to charge. It's crazy sometimes, when they are willing to provide freebies that many charge five figures in other countries.

It's sad, but true.

The pricing are all rotten. Printers provide minimal charges for design and can do printing for you. Juicy meat all tapau by 4A's agency. Freelancer and small agencies want to fight for jobs also difficult. Finding a good client is like finding a needle in a haystack.

Anyway, all industry are also the same when it comes to pricing and competitiveness. Depends on your service level and professionalism - most important have to build relationship.

Just keep doing what you do best and try to build your empire for as long as you can. Most important is to not lose yourself.

............. yeah.. we can study in USA..
but when come here, we cant really apply what we have studied.!..

BTW... where were u in usa?

That's the reality.

But I do not believe in competitive pricing, it sucks to lowball to get my bite of the meat, but well, let's see how the struggle and positioning go.

Thanks again man, I hope I don't end up selling pork noodles in KL. Out of curiosity though, what are you working as right now?

IKR! I have a designer friend who came back from UK after her studies and immediately regretted her decision.

Well, if selling pork noodles can bring you food on the table, why not? Cash business is king. Hahaha.

I am in the financial industry, under MarCom.

yeah, i understand this very well. Up to the movers and changers to educate. We shall not sulk cuz they have the mentality but look forward to changing it through smart education.

3 years freelance here. The industry is far from doom la. No matter how graphic design is a necessity. It just depends on who you meet and what business plan you have. Old traditional company are the ones you are referring to in your case as many of them don't care much for visual design as they thought it's easy to make them and they don't tend to invest much.

The thing is if you are hoping that graphic design here can one day become famous like in the US then you gonna die poor. As a freelance I pick up a lot of other work. Some ppl make cloths to sell want logo etc are one of the better work as they are more generous. Printing for local book cover, printing for tourist badge, printing for sme. Tons of place you could scrap for a living.

Your worst customer usually comes from "big company" who wants to get things done but not willing to pay much for the service. They demand free pdf files but not going to pay extra for them.

I am in the process of upgrading as I have found a new field that require a mix of art and graphic design and this industry is growing Super fast since its gov supported.

In the past I don't dare to approach gov body cause I have heard of case where they demand you to hike up your service price so they can get a "cut" out from it which is illegal and dangerous. Hopefully new gov not doing the same sh*t.

In my own opinion at this point it's not all doom and gloomy, it's just that many graphic designer either get tie down dead by the company or unable to explore.

My 1st year as a freelance I walk trough countless printing shop within and outside of K.L giving out name cards as well as camping at business reg center to give out my business card. The problem with the graphic market is the old guys have live trough it just fine in the past. So if you are hoping to grow trough them it's going to spell doom. What graphic designers should focus on is to find a company or by yourself to help those growing and in need, genuine ones pay for the service but you won't be able to avoid "bad" customers as a service so make sure to set up your own rules.

It's not hard to live around 3 - 4K salary. But if you want more you'll have to upgrade or own your own production firm.

DO NOT GIVEOUT FREE PDF. I see a lot of young kids from graphic design give out free PDF to customer because they say it's a practice norm. This help kill part of the industry because once they have your stock work they can modify them as they see fit and you will not have business anymore. So not only you where paid peanuts for your work you also effectively give them a reason not to find designers since they have already got the basic formula that they could modify at anytime for their own purpose.

I agree, education is definitely one way, such as asking tonnes of questions. I do that to try to get clients to discover what they need themselves, they feel better that way!

I agree, graphic design is a need, not an adjunct.

I don't think I said I want graphic design to be famous, only more valued and appreciated than it currently is. But I get where you are coming from.

I see, are you a print-oriented freelancer then? I really respect you for going out there to market yourself like that though, not many designers do this, at least looking at the ones I know.
If you don't mind, do PM me with your contact details, there may be a chance we can collaborate, or I may pass you some referrals. (One-man-show a company right now, too hard to handle everything by myself)

As Chris Do once said 'Just get out there, meet new people, help them, establish rapport.', you are right on where GDers should focus on.

Sometimes what works in the west doesn't mean it will work here. Adapt and change are needed. You changed my mind a little.

And yeah, I learned it the hard way too few years ago, some clients ghosted me after I gave them PDF artwork. No more.

i think what u are trying to say is the way they implement the rules of design,

i do understand as i work in corporate company, THEY DONT UNDERSTAND ABOUT CORPORATE IDENTITY! this is what makes me frustrated!

the thing is there are two designers here, plus whatever he design some of it from freepik,
and the best part is when my boss said, "someone copied ur design.. " and i was like, IT WAS NOT EVEN HIS DESIGN IN THE FIRST PLACE, he just download the template from freepik.. helloo..

sigh.. but then still, i still do freelance, and my aim is company who understand about corporate design, but then, to apply the concept of what ive learned, is so hard.

plus look at this
https://www.underconsideration.com/brandnew...sia_tourism.php

BELIEVE ME, IF WE APPLIED THIS KIND OF CONCEPT HERE IN MALAYSIA, it will go viral as we designers did not know how to do our job.

and the other thing is, the designer itself who destroying this job, where you can see a lot of ads in fb where they just charged you for RM100 for a logo design.

sigh.. i love Bauhaus, but when I applied the bauhaus concept to my design, my boss will FREAK OUT LIKE I DONT EVEN KNOW WHAT THE HELL AM I DOING.. deng!

nuff said. time to do my work. hueh

btw this is my portfolio
https://rahmanadmara.myportfolio.com/

thank you

Yeah, and also, whenever possible, marry a bit of business strategy with our design thinking too!

That's terrible, but I think one way to approach this is through the lens of biz, at least that's what worked for me for a few instances.

BEAUTIFUL LOGO SYSTEM, thanks for sharing! *quickly saves* It's incredibly flexible lol! We need to redesign our tourism logo first lah...

Yeah, the logo packages on FB are insanely cheap for the amount of files and variations they deliver, but I don't think people who wants to start a business properly would hire them. Too risky.

Lovely portfolio, and wow, congrats on winning the logo design competition! A little late but great job

PS: Like Bauhaus, love Swiss Design!

Thank you. Im just doing my job as a graphic designer. That logo design, i applied golden ratio on it.
Didnt expect that im gonna win. aha.. but still it is a good thing to have someone in a same page.

A lot of people trying to redesign the tourism logo, but most of it what I saw its FREAKING POSTER.
sigh.. heard a rumors somewhere saying they are going to have a competition to redesign that logo.

im looking forward to it.

I'm in marketing now.

Once in a while still go back doing what I love, but is still very rare nowadays.