Fiona Thurston-Young
parsons ꫂ᭪ communication design
learning goals
This semster, I hope to learn about the basics of coding/building a website. I find coding incredibly challenging and would like it to be easier for me to use in the potential future.
openai convo
- Im a communication design major at parsons the school of design. could you create a website for me displaying my work and putting my self out their to jobs?
Absolutely—I can help you **design + build** a clean, job-ready portfolio site that actually works for Parsons / creative industry expectations. ✨
Think of me as your slightly nerdy creative director + developer.
I’ll break this into **what I can do for you** and **what I need from you**, then I can either:
* **build a full starter website (HTML/CSS/JS)** you can deploy, or
* **design the structure + content strategy** if you want to code it yourself later.
---
## What I can create for you
A professional portfolio website with:
### 1. Core Pages (industry-standard)
* **Home** – strong intro + visual hook
* **Work** – selected projects (case-study style, not just images)
* **About** – your voice, design philosophy, Parsons cred
* **Contact** – email + links (LinkedIn, Instagram, Are.na, etc.)
Optional extras:
* Resume page (or PDF download)
* Motion / experimental projects section
* Editorial / archive view
---
### 2. Design Direction (very Parsons-appropriate)
We can go for:
* **Minimal / typographic** (editorial, Swiss, art-directed)
* **Experimental / interactive** (WebGL, scroll effects, motion)
* **Clean commercial** (agency-ready, UX-friendly)
* **Hybrid** (art-school soul, professional polish)
I’ll help you:
* choose type pairing
* layout system (grid vs freeform)
* color strategy
* micro-interactions that don’t feel gimmicky
---
### 3. Tech Stack (simple + flexible)
Depending on your comfort level:
* **Pure HTML / CSS / JS** (best for learning + full control)
* **Next.js / React** (if you want modern + scalable)
* **Webflow-style structure but coded** (clean, job-friendly)
I can also help you:
* deploy on **GitHub Pages / Vercel**
* set up a **custom domain**
* optimize for recruiters (performance + accessibility)
---
## What I need from you (quick answers)
You can answer casually—no pressure:
1. **How much coding do you want to do yourself?**
* none / some / a lot
2. **What kind of jobs are you aiming for?**
(branding, UX/UI, motion, art direction, creative tech, etc.)
3. **Do you already have projects selected?**
* yes / no / kind of
4. **Vibe you’re drawn to right now?**
(minimal, experimental, loud, quiet, editorial, weird, etc.)
5. **Any portfolios you admire?** (optional)
---
## If you want, I can…
* Build you a **fully working starter portfolio site** you can customize
* Help you **turn school projects into strong case studies**
* Write **designer-appropriate copy** (not cringe, not corporate)
* Art-direct the site like a critique, not a template
You’re exactly the right moment in your career to do this—let’s make something that feels *very you* and also makes recruiters stop scrolling.
Tell me how hands-on you want to be, and I’ll take the next step 👀
style="font size"
- What vibe do you suggest for a professional website for an graphic designer?
Great question—and honestly, asking this already puts you ahead.
Short answer:
**“Confident, clear, and intentional” beats “flashy” every time** for a professional graphic design portfolio.
Here’s how I’d break it down, especially for someone at Parsons aiming at real jobs 👇
---
## The safest *strong* default
### **Minimal, typographic, editorial**
This is the most respected baseline in design hiring.
**Why it works**
* Lets the *work* speak, not the interface
* Signals taste, restraint, and design literacy
* Feels mature without being boring
* Works across branding, editorial, digital, and UX roles
**Visual traits**
* Neutral color palette (black/white/gray + 1 accent)
* Strong typography (serif + sans, or variable font)
* Clear grid, generous spacing
* Simple motion (hover, fade, scroll—nothing wild)
This is the vibe most creative directors *trust*.
---
## When to push it further (but still professional)
### 1. **Editorial / Art Direction–leaning**
If you love print, typography, layouts, culture work.
* Big type moments
* Asymmetrical grids
* Long-scroll case studies
* Subtle texture / off-white backgrounds
Feels like: *“I think in systems and narratives.”*
---
### 2. **Modern Digital / UX-forward**
If you want branding studios, startups, product teams.
* Clean UI patterns
* Clear hierarchy
* Thoughtful interactions
* Responsive perfection
Feels like: *“I can design things people actually use.”*
---
### 3. **Quietly Experimental**
This is very Parsons if done with restraint.
* One unexpected interaction
* Slightly unconventional navigation
* Conceptual logic behind the layout
Key rule:
> **One weird idea max.**
> Everything else stays calm.
Feels like: *“I have a point of view.”*
---
## What I *don’t* recommend (for job hunting)
🚫 Overly flashy animations
🚫 Dark mode by default (unless done beautifully)
🚫 Trend-chasing (brutalism, neon gradients, fake glitches)
🚫 Making the site itself louder than the projects
Recruiters skim. If they get confused, they leave.
---
## The hiring-manager test
Ask yourself:
* Can I understand what you do in **5 seconds**?
* Can I find your work in **1 click**?
* Does this feel like someone I’d trust with a client?
If yes → you win.
---
## My personal recommendation for *you*
Without even seeing your work yet, I’d suggest:
> **Minimal editorial base + one subtle expressive twist**
That gives you:
* professionalism
* personality
* flexibility across job types
If you want, next I can:
* Help you **pick a specific vibe** (with examples)
* Suggest **typefaces** that scream “good designer”
* Map this vibe to a **homepage layout**
* Or translate it directly into a **site structure**
Tell me what kind of design you *want* to be hired for—and I’ll tailor the vibe exactly to that.
- What types of graphic design work are high paying companies looking for when hiring?
This is a smart question—and it’s one most design students *don’t* ask early enough.
Short version:
**High-paying companies don’t pay for “pretty.” They pay for design that moves business, users, or systems.**
Here’s what that looks like in practice 👇
---
## The highest-paying graphic design–adjacent roles (right now)
### 1. **Product / UX Design (Top tier 💰)**
Often $90k–$150k+ early–mid career in the US.
**What companies want**
* Interface design (web + mobile)
* Design systems
* User flows, wireframes, prototyping
* Clear thinking + usability
**Why it pays**
You’re designing *how products work*, not just how they look.
**If this is you, your portfolio needs**
* Real UI projects
* Case studies with process
* Clear problem → solution storytelling
---
### 2. **Brand Design + Visual Identity Systems**
Very high pay at strong studios and tech companies.
**What companies want**
* Logos are not enough
* Full identity systems
* Typography, color, motion, applications
* Brand consistency across platforms
**Why it pays**
Brands are expensive, public, and strategic.
**Portfolio signal**
* One *excellent* brand system > five logos
* Show applications (web, social, packaging, campaigns)
---
### 3. **Design Systems / Visual Systems**
Quietly one of the most valuable skills.
**What companies want**
* Scalable layouts
* Component libraries
* Tokens, grids, rules
* Collaboration with devs
**Why it pays**
You save companies time and money at scale.
**Portfolio signal**
* Show systems thinking
* Explain logic, not just visuals
---
### 4. **Motion Design (Especially UI / Brand Motion)**
Motion = leverage.
**What companies want**
* UI animations
* Brand motion systems
* Short-form product videos
* Social motion
**Why it pays**
Few designers do motion *well*, and it massively boosts perceived quality.
**Portfolio signal**
* Short, polished clips
* Purposeful motion (not flashy After Effects demos)
---
### 5. **Creative Technologist / Interactive Design**
This is where Parsons students can really shine.
**What companies want**
* Experimental web
* Interactive storytelling
* WebGL, generative, creative code
* Art + tech hybrid thinking
**Why it pays**
Rare skillset + innovation value.
**Portfolio signal**
* One or two *deep* interactive projects
* Clear explanation of concept + tech
---
## Medium-paying but competitive fields
These can still pay well—but only if you’re very good.
* Editorial / print
* Illustration
* Social media graphics
* Marketing design
These are more saturated and often undervalued unless paired with strategy or motion.
---
## The biggest salary multiplier (this matters)
💡 **Strategy + communication**
Designers who can:
* explain decisions
* connect design to outcomes
* think beyond aesthetics
…get paid more. Every time.
That’s why **case studies > galleries**.
---
## If your goal is money *and* creative respect
Here’s a powerful combo:
> **Brand + Digital + Motion (even a little)**
You don’t need to be everything—but overlap pays.
---
## How this should shape your portfolio (important)
High-paying companies look for:
* 4–6 strong projects max
* Clear role explanation
* Systems, not fragments
* Confidence, not chaos
If you want, next I can:
* Help you **position yourself** toward one of these paths
* Tell you **which projects to include or cut**
* Help you reframe school work into *hireable* case studies
* Or map your skills to **specific job titles + companies**
Just tell me which direction you’re leaning—or if you’re still torn (very normal).
- what if I don't know what direction I want to take as an artist yet? how do I translate this on my website?
First—this is **completely normal**, especially where you are right now. Not knowing your direction doesn’t mean you’re unfocused; it usually means you’re *actually exploring*. The trick is translating that in a way that reads as **curiosity + range**, not **confusion**.
Good news: there *is* a professional way to do that.
---
## The mindset shift (this matters)
Instead of thinking:
> “I don’t know my direction”
Reframe it as:
> **“I’m a designer with a strong foundation, exploring multiple modes of practice.”**
Hiring managers are okay with exploration.
They’re not okay with *messiness without intention*.
Your website’s job is to **impose structure on exploration**.
---
## The golden rule for undecided designers
> **Show range, but frame it with clarity.**
That means:
* Fewer projects
* Clear categories
* Strong explanations
* Calm visual system
---
## How to structure your website (this works really well)
### 1. Lead with a broad but confident positioning
Your homepage intro should sound like this (not literally, but vibe-wise):
> *“I’m a communication designer exploring branding, digital, and visual systems through concept-driven work.”*
Key ideas:
* Use **“communication designer”** (perfect for Parsons)
* Name **2–3 areas max**
* Emphasize *thinking*, not specialization
---
### 2. Organize work by **mode**, not by chaos
Instead of one long mixed gallery, use **sections**:
**Examples**
* Branding & Identity
* Digital & Interactive
* Experimental / Conceptual
* Typography & Systems
This tells recruiters:
> “I know these are different—and I did that on purpose.”
---
### 3. Make each project feel intentional
Even if the work was exploratory, frame it like this:
* What question were you asking?
* What system or idea did you test?
* What did you learn?
Exploration becomes **research**, not indecision.
---
### 4. Use one visual system across the site
This is HUGE.
Even if your work is varied:
* Same grid
* Same typography
* Same navigation
* Same tone of writing
This signals:
> “I can create cohesion even when the content is diverse.”
That’s a hireable skill.
---
## What *not* to do
🚫 Apologize (“I’m still figuring things out”)
🚫 Label yourself as “multidisciplinary” without structure
🚫 Dump every project you’ve ever made
🚫 Make the site itself experimental *and* the work experimental
Let the **content** explore; let the **site** stay calm.
---
## A very effective website narrative
Here’s a subtle but powerful story your site can tell:
> “I’m grounded in fundamentals → I’m curious → I’m developing a point of view.”
You don’t need to fake confidence—you need to show **trajectory**.
---
## Bonus: a smart About page move
On your About page, you *can* say something like:
> “My practice is currently driven by experimentation across branding, typography, and digital design, with a focus on systems, narrative, and form.”
That reads as *thoughtful*, not lost.
---
## My honest take (creative director mode on)
Some of the **best junior hires** I’ve seen didn’t know their niche yet—but their portfolios showed:
* taste
* structure
* curiosity
* self-awareness
That’s what people hire for early on.
---
If you want, next I can:
* Help you **write a positioning statement** that fits you
* Design a **portfolio structure specifically for exploration**
* Help you choose **which projects to show and which to hide**
* Turn “I’m unsure” into a **strength on your site**
If you’re comfortable, tell me:
* How many projects you currently have
* Which ones you *like* vs feel unsure about
We’ll shape this into something that feels honest *and* professional.
- thanks for the advice
Of course 🖤 I’m really glad it helped.
You’re asking the *right* questions at the right time—and that already says a lot about your instincts as a designer. Exploration + thoughtfulness is a good place to be, even if it feels a little wobbly right now.
Whenever you’re ready—whether it’s picking projects, shaping your site, or just sanity-checking a direction—I’m here. Good luck, and be kind to yourself in the process ✨
projects:
- w1• assignment 1
- portfolio web • my portfolio website
- poster • my poem poster
- website • my cactus website
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