Üsküdar Üniversitesi Faculty of Communication, Visual Communication Design Department held the “Design and Industry Preparation Processes” event as part of its departmental activities. Freelance Designer Zafira Bagirova participated as a guest in the event moderated by Prof. Dr. And Algül, Head of the Visual Communication Design Department.
In the online event, Zafira Bagirova emphasized the importance of a portfolio in the field of design.
“You should progress by learning school lessons”
Freelance Designer Zafira Bagirova, who stated that besides designing and knowing programs, half of the job involves presentation and communication skills, said: “In your education life, you should progress by understanding and learning school lessons, not just to pass exams. Because it is very important from a technical and practical point of view. In addition to school assignments, you should also do other things. The more your technical skills develop during this period, the easier and more enjoyable the subsequent process will be for you.”
“When you apply for a job, the first thing looked at is your portfolio”
Zafira Bagirova, underlining the importance of creating a portfolio during university life, said: “You can divide your portfolio into different stages. This way, you can more easily understand which field you want to specialize in after graduation. It is very important to fill your portfolio with quality content during the four-year period. Because if you don't have a portfolio when you graduate, it can make it difficult for you to find a job. When you apply for a job, the first thing looked at is your portfolio. Therefore, you should constantly update and develop it. You need to practice regularly for this. If you don't open your computer, you will fall behind your competitors. I recommend integrating with your work, turning your work into your lifestyle.”
“Knowing design and technical information makes up fifty percent of the job”
Bagirova, recommending doing internships and taking freelance jobs during school, said: “You can take small jobs. Don't underestimate yourself at this point, you can do it. When you start taking small freelance jobs and say, ‘I can do this,’ the rest will follow. Starting this during your school period will lead to adding real projects to your portfolio. I also recommend actively using platforms like LinkedIn and Instagram. If you share things related to your work, in short, if you build a network, it will be very good for you. Knowing design and technical information makes up fifty percent of the job. Because the rest is presentation skills, marketing, and communication skills. When you communicate with a client, you will need to market your own work, presenting your own work is very important. This way you can prepare for the industry.”
The event concluded after a question and answer session.