Graphic Designer bored at work ...

[oscuh]

Hi all, this may be a bit off-topic for this forum, but I'll give it a go anyway.

I work for a small marketing firm as a designer, and although we have a pretty steady stream of work, I tend to work rather quickly, and as a result, spend inordinate amounts of time with nothing to do. I've cleaned my office, arranged all my design books and magazines, done all the updates, permissions repairs, etc to my computer and it's still 3 hours before quitting time.

I can sit and browse MR, which I do a lot anyway, but at a certain point, I don't like sitting around with nothing to do. Does anyone have any suggestions on interesting and ultimately productive time-killers? Thanks!

 

[Blue Velvet]

Developmental work. Set up some templates, do some things that really need doing.

Or if your job is boring... then maybe work on your resume and portfolio.

 

[0007776]

if you have nothing to do for work, then either spend your time looking for a more interesting job, or just go to www.addictinggames.com

 

[eyup]

you could help me find a solution to this - so I can sit back instead of slog it out:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/321915/

 

[oscuh]

you could help me find a solution to this - so I can sit back instead of slog it out:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/321915/

That is WAAAAY out of my realm. I do print, and that's it

Resume and Portfolio are up to snuff.

And I like my job and I have no real reason to leave, it's just the slow times that drive me crazy .... I guess I can just do some "for fun" illustrations or something ...

 

[Blue Velvet]

I guess I can just do some "for fun" illustrations or something ...

Xmas or birthday cards for friends or family? When I'm not designing, I usually do developmental work, like designing new templates for publication families or tweak the network... but when I'm not designing, I'm usually in meetings.

 

[CanadaRAM]

That is WAAAAY out of my realm. I do print, and that's it

OK, well that's obvious then -- spend your free time learning the ins and outs of design for the Web, and make your skill set more marketable - if not to your present employer, then you next.

Theres oodles of good online tutorials.

 

[oscuh]

OK, well that's obvious then -- spend your free time learning the ins and outs of design for the Web, and make your skill set more marketable - if not to your present employer, then you next.

Theres oodles of good online tutorials.

Good idea ... Not that I have any real desire to learn web design, though, but I suppose I should all the same. Now I'll just have to get the boss to pay for DreamWeaver!

... but when I'm not designing, I'm usually in meetings.

or telling me to behave myself

 

[CanadaRAM]

Good idea ... Not that I have any real desire to learn web design, though, but I suppose I should all the same. Now I'll just have to get the boss to pay for DreamWeaver!

That's like saying I can start learning woodworkong only when I can afford a set of Makita tools.

Umm... Errr... Learn, as in learn HTML and CSS... Dreamweaver strictly optional here.

BBEdit / TextWrangler would be a good start.

You already have Photoshop/Imageready/Fireworks. right?

 

[oscuh]

Umm... Errr... Learn, as in learn HTML... Dreamweaver strictly optional here.

BBEdit / TextWrangler would be a good start.

I have a minimal grasp of HTML .. I used to do hand coding back in the day, but would NEVER go back to that to create a full site ... If I did it, it would primarily be DreamWeaver/Flash ... and some coding to go along with it

I guess I don't see how hand-coding transitions to using an app like Dreamweaver. I'm a hands-on learner, so learning different code snippets is all fine and good, but I want to be able to apply it. Therefore, I can see how hand-coding would be useful, but not as a stepping stone to DW or similar app. I guess this is why I've not gotten into web ... it all seems really confusing to me. I can prepress the heck out of a file, but web remains a mystery somewhat ...

And yes, I have PS and ImageReady ...

 

[Ish]

Xmas or birthday cards for friends or family? When I'm not designing, I usually do developmental work, like designing new templates for publication families or tweak the network... but when I'm not designing, I'm usually in meetings.

Sounds like you use the meetings to do developmental work. And there's everyone else thinking you're taking notes!

 

[balkan]

how about spacing out, the American past time

 

[ezekielrage_99]

World of Warcraft

 

[snickelfritz]

3D modeling and game design are worthwhile skills for designers.
The process can be extremely time consuming.

 

[oscuh]

3D modeling and game design are worthwhile skills for designers.
The process can be extremely time consuming.

You might as well suggest I take up nuclear physics *L*

Spacing out keeps sounding better and better!

 

[Nym]

Believe me... you're lucky!

If I finish a job one hour before my exit time my boss promptly fixes me with some nasty work like refreshing the database of a cellphone e-commerce site..., and I get to spend one hour scaling images in photoshop, now THAT is boring

My advice is, find your rythim, work at the same speed as the people around you, take your time and read MR A LOT between tasks, it'll help pass the time

Anyway, nice thread!

 

[hessdesigns]

I used to have the same problem at an old job... I mostly got into forums to do some reading. We all know you're into MR. A REALLY good subject to get into is Harry Potter; there are so many thousands of discussions about the books movies, rumors, theory, history... you can literally be looking for days. If you're into the books/movies, check out www.the-leaky-cauldron.com, or www.mugglenet.com. If you're not into that, might I suggest searching for forums on topics you are interested in!

 

[xfiftyfour]

I can prepress the heck out of a file, but web remains a mystery somewhat ...

Okay, skip HTML and learn PostScript - THAT'LL make you a valuable employee (especially when something goes wrong)!

 

[jalagl]

When I have free time at work, I do one of three things:

1. Study (I'm working on several certifications, and will go through an intesive project management course soon)
2. Check MacRumors
3. Browse Digg.com

Unfortunately (of fortunately), I don't have too much free time at work..

 

[AlexisV]

I work for a small marketing firm as a designer, and although we have a pretty steady stream of work, I tend to work rather quickly, and as a result, spend inordinate amounts of time with nothing to do.

Do you sit there processing the work that comes your way? How does the work get to you in the first place? How hands on are you with getting the work in the first place?

 

[oscuh]

Do you sit there processing the work that comes your way? How does the work get to you in the first place? How hands on are you with getting the work in the first place?

I'm not involved in the "selling" aspect, so when our traffic/client contact person gets the work, it gets funneled to me.

We're small ... about 6 employees total, and I'm currently the only designer, so there is no "working the same speed as everyone else."

 

[Truth24]

I've been in the same situation myself in the past. Can I suggest that you get yourself another job? One that is challenging and actually makes you think.

You only live once. Do you really want to look back in fifty years time at all the hours you wasted doing nothing in your office?

Anyhow, with a more challenging job you won't be bored. The hours will shoot by and you'll probably earn more money in the process.

Good luck.

 

[emorydunn]

Well, at the film studio I work at there are a few other companies in the building and the design firm in the back of the building spend a TON of time playing counter strike- it seems to pass the time faily well.