7 Networking Tips for Art and Design Students

When asked to talk about your work, do you ever panic and answer something unintelligible/ trite/ embarrassing? “Erm, I don’t know really, I paint pictures…”

If that sounds like you: stop!

If you’re serious about your art career, you should be able to string together a few sentences about your work that will spark the interest of potential mentors, clients, employers, collaborators, et cetera.

Figure out what makes your art different, of interest to a specific audience, or of value within the art world/wider society. What’s the best feedback you’ve ever received, or most innovative project you’ve been involved in? Where do you see yourself heading, and what impact do you hope to have? What unifying strands run through your work?

Now condense this into a few short bullet points, ready to fire off next time you have 30 seconds to impress.

Others are doing it and getting ahead, so why shouldn’t you? Facebook, Instagram and Twitter are fantastic tools for budding artists looking to get found online, showcasetheir talents, build contacts, present themselves in the professional guise they aspire to, or find out about creative job vacancies in real time. Combining online networking with face-to-face meetings will dramatically extend your reach.

There’s no point in attending networking events if you just stick close to your friends and shy away from forging new connections. Set yourself a rule of spending at least an hour talking to people you’ve never met before. Introduce yourself to whoever’s nearby, and ask about their work, background and ambitions. Smile, make eye contact, try out that elevator pitch, swap business cards, and then…

Building a network is all about following up. Email your new contacts after the event, or send them a message on LinkedIn, referring to a specific talking point that emerged during your chat. Why not share a link to your online portfolio, or let them know about the next event you plan to attend?

Do say: “It was a pleasure meeting you.”

Don’t say: “Got a creative job for me, mate?”

Join a community of artists in your city to share ideas and stay up to date on creative job opportunities, trends and news. This is also a great way to receive regular constructive feedback on your work, to ensure that you keep developing long after graduation.