[sandorski]

You seem to have been there a long time. All this talk of Shooting...

[OnTheIce]

Vinchent Vinchent:

I'm a Canadian that's been stuck in Phoenix AZ for quite some time due to school and trying to start my career. I've realized that their is simply no way for me to tolerate these people here in the Phoenix anymore. Especially in the work place... very bad experiences dealing with people of super low standards in positions above me or as my clients.

I'm hoping to bail out of here by the end of this year... trying to shoot for October.

I'm wondering what the artist and design culture is like in Toronto and what are my chance of finding a reliable job in Graphic Design there at the rate of 40k/year?

I have about three years of experience working as a freelancer and some contracting for ad agencies, etc here.

I'd rather shoot myself that continue here like this. Have resorted to working in sales due to frustration with these shotty poser people of Phoenix. Haven't found one honest person here yet that lives up to their claims of grandeur... just absolutely pathetic!

Again, my question is What the artist and design culture is like in Toronto and what are my chance of finding a reliable job in Graphic Design there at the rate of 40k/year or more quickly?

Frankly, your experience here won't be much different.

With your lack of an big name employer on your resume, work won't be that easy to come by, especially at that rate.

IMO, I'd stay in Arizona, weather is much better and it's much more affordable.

[Vinchent]

Thank you very much guys, much appreciated!

Yeah, I won't lie... 40k here in Phoenix is about 'cream of the crop' (i should say crap, actually) when it comes to local Designer's income. Been offered 45k a few times and worked with 40k for a little while.

Avereage pay, no matter your skill or education level as a designer in Phoenix is 35k or less... better off working at call centers selling shoe laces for ten bucks a piece... (in the true spirit of capitalizing on the average US citizen's IQ of -200... data collected from Canadian IQ test scores by Americans). Really, I have worked in call centers (cell phone industry) and made more than highest offer as a professional designer... it's more than discouraging! Highly due to AZ being a 'right to work' state, but I say F the whole US... been through every state and know first hand the truth about all average American's under the skin.

You can now see more clearly why I have to get the hell our of here. I will try to shoot higher in Toronto... I'll check out the average design salary and shoot for that, whatever it is. My portfolio should get me high responses. And as I'm actually trying to start my career, I'll work from the bottom up wherever I need to even if it's low income like here at first.

OnTheIce, Thanks for your realistic and honest answer... that's the one I was looking for. For me the problem is not so much that I can't start my career well enough here, but also heavily on the culture. The business mentality of Phoenix (nobody seems to know the first thing about business here). I really want to leave make myself happy and finally be at peace with the type of people I work with... Canadians . Strating a career from scratch is hard enough, but the US is crumbling down fast, AZ is one of the worst states by far for economic problems and I want to be connected to the rest of the world better. So, Canada is the place to be for me, No matter where... Vancouver or Toronto

I have been looking at Vancouver, but find it extremely expensive to live there. Guessing their are opportunities that will cover the expenses but scared that as soon as I arrive my money will dwindle quickly just from apartment, gas and food.

[andyt]

Vancouver has the highest housing costs in the world. Not because housing prices are the highest in the world (tho they're up there) but because the median wage is relatively low. Families spend 70% of their disposable income on housing here. If your income is well above the median, you're doing well, but what you're saying your income range is you would find it expensive.

Does a graphic designer have to live in a big city?

[Vinchent]

andyt,

$1:

Does a graphic designer have to live in a big city?

Yes, If I want to eventually set my own standards of income and make my own choices with my career, I have to work in a big city.

Bigger companies (exactly what 'OnTheIce' said) on your resume make you a valuable asset. It goes a long way to have a letter of recommendation and other credentials that show you did excellent work with any big named company... gives your new employer bragging right mostly.

It's a load of crap really because I've known designers who did garbage work or next to nothing for a company that linked them to a mini plug for CocaCola or another recognizable company in a newspaper or small ad in a local magazine. They latter would get jobs where they shouldn't just because of that. I honestly feel sorry for the companies that hire them, because it shows that they don't do any research on who they hire. And worse, they hired an idiot who started off with them by lying/exaggerating.

[Dragon-Dancer]

Anyone working in media these days can pretty much live anywhere and find work through the net almost everything is sent back and forth electronically anyways. Most of the designers I've worked with in the past weren't local and I think I only ever met one in person. If you are really intent on moving from the US (I don't blame you, terrible place ) I would see about establishing connections with companies and maybe even employment before lifting roots.

[BartSimpson]

Vinchent, My guess is the key reason why people in Arizona reat you poorly has more to do with your self-righteous and superior attitude than anything else. Perhaps your experience justifies what you posted here. I hope so.

If not, then I imagine your experience in Toronto or Vancouver will not be much different than your experience in Arizona.

[DanSC]

BartSimpson BartSimpson:

Vinchent, My guess is the key reason why people in Arizona reat you poorly has more to do with your self-righteous and superior attitude than anything else. Perhaps your experience justifies what you posted here. I hope so.

If not, then I imagine your experience in Toronto or Vancouver will not be much different than your experience in Arizona.

I think I may have found a picture of the original poster.

[ShepherdsDog]

BartSimpson BartSimpson:

Vinchent, My guess is the key reason why people in Arizona reat you poorly has more to do with your self-righteous and superior attitude than anything else. Perhaps your experience justifies what you posted here. I hope so.

If not, then I imagine your experience in Toronto or Vancouver will not be much different than your experience in Arizona.

Although, if he really is that anti American, he might fit in better in Toronto. Doubtless, he'll find something to hate about it too though.

[Benjmin]

"Appreciate for sharing this information...Thanks again Cool"

[raydan]

Another first post necro ... plus Spam in the sig.

[GreenTiger]

ShepherdsDog ShepherdsDog:

[B-o]

BartSimpson BartSimpson:

Vinchent, My guess is the key reason why people in Arizona reat you poorly has more to do with your self-righteous and superior attitude than anything else. Perhaps your experience justifies what you posted here. I hope so.

If not, then I imagine your experience in Toronto or Vancouver will not be much different than your experience in Arizona.

Although, if he really is that anti American, he might fit in better in Toronto. Doubtless, he'll find something to hate about it too though.

This is probably more of The Grass is Greener Over There situation.

[jj2424]

Necro post but funny read. Anyone who can stay in Phoenix legally but decides to head for Toronto must have a screw loose.

[Jughead]

Not really sure what Vinchent's beef is? I've lived in Phoenix for a good portion of my adult life, and aside from the dry heat (late spring and summer) and occasional traffic on I-17, it is a terrific city. The folks there are very friendly, and things are very laid back.

Not to mention all the cookouts.

[jj2424]

Jughead Jughead:

Not really sure what Vinchent's beef is? I've lived in Phoenix for a good portion of my adult life, and aside from the dry heat (late spring and summer) and occasional traffic on I-17, it is a terrific city. The folks there are very friendly, and things are very laid back.

Not to mention all the cookouts.

Driving on the I17 is paradise compared to the crappy freeways we have in Canada.

Where else can you drive 40 miles an hour through the middle of a city during rush hour?