Interview: Emily Goldstein of M Design

Giulia here. A while back, I was lucky enough to chat with Emily Goldstein of M Design here in Baltimore and ask her a couple questions about being a designer and owning her own business. Emily and I worked together for one of my Flex projects last year, so connections really can help you out!

Did you enter the field right after college or did you wait? If you went straight to work, what was your first job like?
I didn't know that I was good at this stuff after college, so I worked in non-profit, organizing events, and it later became clear that I might be good at graphic design, so I went back to grad school at age 31.

Do you feel graduate school is a necessary step in a designer's education? If so, do you recommend any schools?
It depends. Formal training is necessary— but there are good undergrad programs for that... Carnegie Melon is one example. Grad school is always a plus - but I don't believe anyone can be a designer without knowledge of the history of design, formal training in the principles and strategies of space and layout, and advanced training in typography.

Were you ever unsure about your future in design? If you were, what did you do to stay on track and keep going?
Not unsure—maybe un-confident! Just stayed around the right people—professors and colleagues—to get their advice.

Why and how did you decide to start your own firm?
Got sick of working for other people!

What has been the biggest challenge being your own boss?
Sales and marketing.

Design is always changing, so what do you do to stay current and fresh?
Magazines, books, AIGA events, chatting with other designers.

How important are trends in design? Do you think it's more important to be trendy or to stay classic?
Clean, clear, concise design never goes out of style.

Do you have a style or certain way you design? Do you think it's important to have a trademark design style or should designers execute design that always looks different?
Designers should do what is appropriate for the CLIENT. If the piece does not in some way enhance the client's business (bring in more members, more sales, etc...) then the designer did not do her job!

What's something you know now that you wish you knew when you first became a designer?
The client wants to hear about how you are going to help them increase their bottom line, NOT about fonts and colors!

Recently, and on a related note, I've started to wonder—and even worry— what it means to be a female designer in a seemingly male-dominated industry. It's certainly not a matter of work quality, that's for sure. And it's not that women aren't making names for themselves in design, either. It's more like their efforts go unrecognized. Every time I make my rounds on the design blog circuit or flip through an annual or collective in the library, it seems like far more men are featured. Why? Are women as a whole just less attracted to design? Or are men just more aggressive when it comes to self-promotion and marketing? I'm not sure. I don't think it's something I'll really know the answer to until I've left the comfortable cocoon of MICA and fully immersed myself in the field. Either way, I was happy to stumble across this book recently, titled Women of Design. The book is authored by Armin Vit and Bryony Gomez-Palacio, the husband and wife team who run Under Consideration, and mentions our very own Ellen Lupton.

Edit: Bryony was kind enough to point out my mistake about the authors of Women of Design. Apologies, and both Jess and I look forward to reading the book!