Being a designer can be a tough thing by itself! I have found that one of the most frustrating (and freeing) things about it is that it is truly a healthy mix of intuition, subjectivity, and principle.
But not everyone can make the cut, and not everyone is meant to be a designer specifically in the NPO (Non Profit Org) space.
Here are 3 reasons for you to consider:
1. Not a People Person
People are people everywhere, that’s a fact, but it’s really important to know how to relate to people well within the NPO space, especially since the goal is typically to reach people instead of make a profit or push a product.
If you hate people then designing within this space is a no-go.
2. Money
If you’re interested in becoming filthy-rich from being a designer then you need to target a different audience and market than NPO because it’s just not going to happen.
Sure, many NPO’s have money but we all know it’s just not the same as the non-ministry/non-NPO market.
3. Not a Good Listener
A large value for all NPO’s is the story they want to tell, through their actions and how they impact the world. If you’re not a good listener then you won’t hear the story and won’t be able to execute effectively for the organization and it’s needs.
Sure, you need to be a good listener for any contract job but I’ve found that you have to be especially adept at understanding and hearing the nuances of a NPO.
I’d like to think that I’m good with people and fair listener, but the money thing is paramount. It’s not so much that we disagreed on the price – it was the fact that they didn’t have a clue as to what they’d want or need which made my job difficult. I don’t see anyone going to a mechanic without a car.
Reason # 4 – if you didn’t notice the difference between 3 reasons and 5 reasons.
hahahaha
Being a designer for a NPO, especially a church, is not as much as a walk in the park as it sounds. It can be just as demanding, if not more, than non-ministry businesses. The only difference is that for an NPO, you will usually be around nicer people up front. (ha) For me, I will never go to the non-profit market when I finish my degree because I simply don’t have the time nor resources to put into it. In my years of experience working for a church, I found that ministry and my being paid staff were consistently confused. I have had to put in long hours outside of my pay and job description because there was no talent elsewhere to do it, nor the money there that might typically match such projects. As a college student, I have no complaints because it provided excellent experience and taught me valuable skills for the future. But #2 is a big issue, because time is precious. Some people depend on their skills and degree to earn a living! If you have the resources to design for a NPO, more power to ya.
i want more power!
