Web Design Job Shadow Brian Turner & Joseph Sumner

The Company During our visit, we job shadowed a company called Trec Creative. They are a creative agency: they specialize in not only web design, but also web development, graphic design, marketing, and videography.

The Goods Trec Creative provides services for companies. These include websites, site maintenance, logos, and video advertising. They also make everything from pamphlets and t- shirts! They even have a portrait studio to do photography!

The Employees We shadowed all 5 of the employees: Josh Leon (Motion Graphic Designer) Andy Matthews (Videographer) Scott Aneloski (Lead Designer) Jacob Christensen (Marketing Expert) Jesse Cooke (CEO)

Their Clients They’ve given identity to companies and causes such as: …and more!

Their Process When they can't figure out how to do something they outsource it to someone who can. Usually outsource back end coding. They use WordPress to create quick cheap websites. They are in the beginning stages, so they rent out their studio to get extra money.

Our Prospects Average salaries for web designers/web developers: Junior Designer: $35000-$45000 Front End Developer: $45,000-$55000 Back End Developer: $55000-$60000 Senior Web Designer: $80000 Senior Web Developer: $90000 Employers focus on portfolios and how a person works with the team. They don’t focus on the degree so much.

Advice Phone calls with clients are important! Some clients are difficult to work with, so negotiate calmly. Surround your workspace with objects that inspire you and spark your creativity, i.e. a bonsai tree, etc.

Advice continued… It is more important to tell a companies' stories than to just design for them. Design depends on the voice of the company: An eraser manufacturer has different needs than a hospital or a non-profit organization.

Other Things We Learned Once you create your website you need to update its security package. If you don’t do this, it will become very susceptible to malware. In addition to the computer itself, a website may become infected. A domain name costs a monthly subscription, but if you register for a longer time period you’ll get a discount. When working on your portfolio, focus on a single topic.

Brian’s Reflection What did you notice or discover from your visit? The work environment seemed pretty relaxed. What good advice did you learn that you can pass on? Have a good portfolio. Was the experience worth the time spent? Yes, it was quite informative and good to see how things work in the real world. Anything else? Don’t try to do too many things, but don’t only specialize in one thing either. Focus on a few related things that are of most value. How did the visit influence my career choice? I wouldn't say it made me any more or less excited, I still feel that it's what I want to do. It was very interesting to see how things worked in an actual business environment.

What did you notice or discover from your visit? The environment was welcoming and the employees worked well with difficult clients. What good advice did you learn that you can pass on? Become knowledgeable in your field of work to become a valuable asset to your future employer. Was the experience worth the time spent? Very much so. I learned a lot! Anything else? Do what you love for work or you will be stuck in a profession that is a real struggle to get out of bed for. How did the visit influence my career choice? It made me even more stoked to be a web designer for my lifelong career. Joseph’s Reflection