Last night saw 'Team Stills' given a taste of what's to come in the graphic design industry. Starting at 10.00 we worked through the day and into the night, not leaving the studio until 22.00... woah! My housemates couldn't believe it when I returned home, with their longest days amounting a mere 5 hours, even then including a 2 hour break between lectures.
Graphic design is a tough industry, especially when projects approach impending deadlines and work falls below the desired standard, only to create yet more work. It was a long night, and despite getting stressed and tired I may not have minded it if I'd have been able to get some food between lunch and 22.00, I was flaking and the building was being locked up, our foreheads sliding slowly from the edge of our laptops, hands still locked firmly upon trackpads and command, alt, shift. So we called it a day and headed to our respective homes to refuel and continue individually on the project speeding ever faster toward the dreaded deadline, which a week ago seemed a lifetime away.
That's what it's all about. I've heard many a time of designers having to stay in after hours to meet deadlines, but was yet to truly experience it, that day came yesterday and pushed our team as hard and as far as we could go. A true lesson in what this job is all about.