Agreed.

Nobody value design & ideas.
(They value Name of company & famous designer)

Becos most of Malaysian cheapskate...I know cos I work in this industry....those customer always complain expensive if we charge the design fee...all want free....

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But some of new student that study design are really facepalm...basic design tool also don't know and the design like or worst that kindergarten quality...

I work for malaysia international company before , i do a a lot graphic designs for product packaging , web site  , and company in house design and even photography thing for the company . for my part .. all my design need to have presentation which is really give u the feel of professional profession ..something to be proud of.

but i never get raise , and their reason is they saw me very free sitting there.
but they never know i spend years to learn and master the software to do it fast , but they treat it like it is a easy task. LOL so they din raise me coz they think that is not worth to raise coz the company business is not related to design to make money .

If you really good and passionate about design , go find some 100% graphic design agency company that most of big company will refer to. You will be more appreciate in those company rather than non design related business company

I'm not specifically in the g.design industry but
it's true even in photography or any kind of creative services I assume.

but if your portfolio is strong enough you will still be able to attract and convince clients to approach and pay you for the price you are worth, maybe like 1 out of 25 clients will do that here in Malaysia...

I've been to london and madrid (eu) and i can see that the public there hv diff mentality towards art & design, their appreciation level is def much higher comparing to malaysian who don really value design much.. perhaps this has something to do with their history n culture? or education? how the kids r brought up there. i dunno

Well I'm in a design field as well, but sometimes I am require to do some Graphic (I have some basic skill) design on work basis.

Yes a lot of people don't really appreciate designs nowadays they mostly want it their way or more 'acceptable' to the market trend here.

Most Malaysian are not strongly educated in arts, especially histories and all the other design culture.

I was lucky that my lecturer was a great designer from the US which I love how much exposure she is letting us have and freedom to design.

But after I graduate I can't apply any of it here at all, that is very sad to me.

Well even my parents don't really understands the deign method and mind set I have too.

still study and new graduate....
like currently my company have 1 which i really want to hit my head.....
no matter what you ask he do sure dont know or do wrong.......
for simple job that only take 5~10 minute sure need whole day or few day to finish, with error ....
but some graduate actually really good....
really wish my boss keep all those good designer...which will not happen...
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i not study design but still end up need teach them..>.<

go look for the advanced side story

the industry is not doomed as what u think
i know quite a number of talented designers and they're doing fine
except those in corporate business field, they rarely have opportunity to sharpen their skill as what they do is pretty straightforward and less requirement

and nowsday we the deisnger has to embrace different skillset
unless you are super talented like those who have their own style then different story

I was in Raffles college institute, my Lecturer went back to the States already.
But miss her really much.
Is that bad, and I'm no longer in the field I love anymore.
But I believe 1 day if I still have the passion I will definitely go back to it. ( When I earn enough money to start something of course)

Tracing logo also ask.....haiz.....
I think he more to Photoshop type which just paint.....

If you are just an average designer, then no point staying in the design/advertising agency. The only way is to open up your own agency but small fishes only get to eat the bones (unless you got big cables).

The majority of the corporate world (especially the older, established ones. even worst if the old China apek kind of mentality) don't value design or its aesthetic values. Boss say like that, you argue until the cow comes home also they won't listen to you - what more design principles..

The level of knowledge in regards to arts & culture within the society is still very low. We are still far away if compared to our neighbouring countries like Singapore and Thailand - just watch our national TV channels, then you'll understand.

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

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.

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?

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 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

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.