Dockblog The Creative Career World

Beauty – an Unspoken Secret of Success?

By Inga Rykowa DESIGNERDOCK Headquarters Ltd.
on 09/04/13

facebook/ StreetArt in Germany

HIM: what a great guy! In the best years of his life, good looking and fragrant, charming, funny, top-fit – relying not just on his proven competence in the make or break negotiations. And HER: perfectly styled, made-up, clever and beautiful – strutting from one conference to the next, in heels as high as the demands of her job. Welcome to the professional world of the new generation. A world where the third eye not only partakes of the after-work buffet but has a major influence every day on whether, to what extent and especially who progresses up the career ladder. Right?

 

Preferably beautiful and clever than really stupid:
Sonja Bischof, professor of business studies, has been researching the relation between appearance and career in Germany since the 80′s. Her first survey in 1986 found (rather surprisingly) that only 6% of the managers questioned were of the opinion that appearance played an important role in launching a career. This contrasts with 32% in her fifth survey in 2008, with an even higher 36% amongst women. And today? “No other success factor has become so important to such a degree as appearance. We are now living in a world of images” says the researcher.

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Brand Spaces: Architecture Branded Architecture & the Future of Retail Design

By Alexander Dewhirst DESIGNERDOCK Headquarters
on 28/02/13

Cutting-edge concepts for communicating brands via architecture, trade show presentations, shops, and interior design.

About This Book
Brands are always hungry for new communication ideas. With unique spatial experiences—quirky events, experimental showrooms, radical pop-up shops, and stunning flagship stores—they are reaching out to their most sophisticated audiences.

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Bye bye 12 – Hello 13

By Alexander Dewhirst DESIGNERDOCK Headquarters
on 07/01/13

photocase.de/trix13

Welcome to the New Year – with the notorious “13″ at it’s end. No other number creates the attention and – perhaps just subconsciously for most – anxiety which this prime number does. But if 2012 was supposed to be the end of the world, it can only get better in 2013. And that’s our plan as well – to help all our Designerdock-Friends to have a successful 2013. For example, but finding even better jobs for as many of you as we can.

From “a” for Art Director through “P” for Project Manager Interactive all the way to “Z” for Zeitgeist-Oriented UX-Concept Professional. In Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

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Only 3 more nights untill New Year? We quietly say…

By Alexander Dewhirst DESIGNERDOCK Headquarters
on 28/12/12

Christmas á la eCard

By Alexander Dewhirst DESIGNERDOCK Headquarters
on 12/12/12

DESIGNERDOCK sends its regards.
There are so many good reasons to send your christmas wishes to friends, partners and colleagues. And with our new Christmas eCard it has never been easier or more fun.

Already feeling like Christmas?
Simply click on LINK, choose your favourite icons and resize and color them, add a few words of greeting and the recipient’s email address and off it goes! We hope you enjoy using it.

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“Blue Card” Out. Foreigners In.

By Alexander Dewhirst DESIGNERDOCK Headquarters
on 11/09/12

The leaders of the ruling coalition are in agreement in at least one things since November last year: Germany needs more qualified workers from abroad. And preferably immediately or sooner. Never has the demand been so much higher than the supply in the current German labor market. The solution: a so-called “blue card”, which is not only supposed to alleviate the growing deficit of qualified workers, but also to simplify the process for highly skilled foreigners to work in Germany:

Show me your “blue card” and you are welcome!
The new “blue card” for highly skilled foreign nationals is an entry, residency and work permit all in one. Those who have a university degree and a work contract with an annual salary of at least €44 000 can now enter Germany to work and, after 2 years and with good German language skills and a current job contract – permanent residency. For engineers and doctors of the lower salarly limit is only €34 900 to get the blue card. Those who will earn more than €48 000 a year are eligible for an indefinite work permit but could lose it if they claim benefits in Germany within the first three years residency

The case for the Blue Card:

- Between 2000 – 2004 some 18 000 experts in the information-technology industry moved from from non-EU States to Germany – unfortunately too few.

- Between 2005 – 2009 is the number of highly-skilled immigrants rose – but still not sufficiently (in 2009 there were a total of about 16 000)

- By 2025, according to the Federal Employment Agency, some 6.5 million professionals will be needed and at least 2 million of them will have to migrate to Germany.

- Approximately 3 500 new Blue Cards will, according to the federal government, be issued soon.

- After gaining a degree from a German university foreign graduates will now have 18 instead of the current 12 months to find a suitable job

- Foreign “Blue Card” professionals with a university degree and enough money to live can spend up to 6 months looking for a job in Germany.

The case against:

- “The wrong type of welcome signal” (German Chamber of Industry and Commerce DIHK)

- “The interests of the individual … won’t be satisfied … with this new law” (The Left)

- “Instead of lowering the bar for an indefinite residency permit for highly qualified workers, legally impermissible rules for the settlement of those professionals are being tested.

Our conclusion:
The Federal Government’s new rules to reduce skills-shortages in Germany are designed in particular for foreign experts such as scientists, mathematicians, engineers, doctors and IT professionals. Nevertheless, we see in the new “Blue Card” in a positive light. Because, according to recent studies including our own here at designerdock, highly trained creative personnel are also in short supply. Namely online experts in the digital communication industries.

But the biggest advantage is, in our opinion, the dissolution of rigid structures which will provide more room for inspiration and dialog. And thus more room for creativity too!

Your thoughts:
It seems that those who are good at what they do are always in demand and welcome everywhere. Especially at a time when the clock is ticking to the rhythm of the future. What do you think about the new “blue card”? Let us know your thoughts, opinions or concerns.

Our sources:

FAZ
Migration Info
Abendblatt

    Cause and Effect – Visualizing Sustainability

    By Julia Akra DESIGNERDOCK Headquarters
    on 07/09/12

    Sustainability is one of the world’s hottest topics, but the way it is visualized and communicated is often outdated. Cause and Effect now reveals a contemporary visual language for sustainability. The book showcases a wide range of original and relevant design approaches that raise awareness for a more environmentally conscious lifestyle.

    The international examples of campaigns, posters, brochures, digital media, interventions, and guerilla marketing featured in Cause and Effect inspire us and challenge us. They clearly describe far-reaching correlations and complex technical processes. They explain and motivate. Together they serve as an unparalleled presentation of the most significant, intelligent, and entertaining communication measures and proposed solutions for sustainability today.

    We want you to get one! You have the opportunity to take part in our prize draw in which we are giving away two copies of this amazing book.
    Please let us know in a comment which brand did impress you with a sustainability campaign.

    NEXT Service Design in Berlin: Get your discounted DESIDGNERDOCK tickets!

    By Alexander Dewhirst DESIGNERDOCK Headquarters
    on 23/08/12

    NEXT Service Design will take place on 8 October 2012 in Alte Münze Berlin. European agencies, brands and SD scientists will discuss innovative Service Design projects, state-of-the-art methods and approaches. Along with service design pioneer Chris Downs (Method), Louisa Heinrich (Fjord) and David Bausola (Philter Phactory) further top speakers from the European service design scene will give keynotes: Sami Niemelä (Nordkapp), Pedro Custódio, Lisa Lindström (Doberman), Andy Hobsbawm (EVRTHNG) und Paul Sims (Made by Many).

    Broaden your network and connect with the most creative minds of the industry, thought-leaders and leading scientists. Buy your DESIGNERDOCK community ticket now for a reduced price of only 250 Euro (excl. fee & VAT). Enter the promotion code “designerdock81012” here until 10 September 2012. But hurry – the number of DESIGNERDOCK tickets is limited!

    Welcome to the “Recommendation Society”

    By Julia Akra DESIGNERDOCK Headquarters
    on 12/03/12

    I like, you like, he/she/it likes… When we click on the Facebook “Like” button we automatically recommend a link, posting or picture, to our friends. And if they enjoy the recommendation, they can “like” it too. That type of thing also works offline as well with your hairdresser, a bargain at a supermarket or the last recipe which you tried out. Word-of-mouth marketing works almost everywhere! And what about in the job-world?

    In our area of expertise – recruitment – word-of-mouth can be the most important reason for someone to apply to DESIGNERDOCK. People learn about our jobs through different channels such as job-portals, our website, the DD-Newsletter or social media tools like Xing, Facebook and Twitter. With just one click they inform friends who are looking for a career-change about the job. And one more click and their application is on its way to us. Since its founding in 1996, it is safe to say that at least half of all applications we have received have come through the recommendations of other candidates. Something which we are very grateful for – thanks!

    But that’s not the end of the recommendation process. Because we in turn recommend our candidates to our clients, and our personal assessment of the candidate is at least as important to the potential employee as the candidate’s CV.

    And while we’re on the subject of recommendations: we are of course always happy for you to recommend us, and express our gratitude in the form of great gifts.

    Why the Agency Clock Ticks Differently

    By Julia Akra DESIGNERDOCK Headquarters
    on 09/02/12

    evali / photocase.com

    An agency-day without overtime is like a holiday without travel-time – you might want to avoid it, but the two are rarely separable. And while we’re on the subject: how necessary is that time which we sacrifice from our much prized free-time?

    Let’s look at it this way: how are you going to avoid it? Anyone who has chosen the agency life usually knows what they’ve gotten themselves into. There are the horror stories about choleric bosses and “exploitation-agencies”, and it’s no secret that you probably aren’t going to get out of the office at 5pm any day of the week. But perhaps the overtime is a good investment. A bit like a life insurance policy: you pay in to it a bit at a time and after a certain period it usually was worth it. And then you get the nice life you have earned: success in the workplace, recognition from your peers etc. etc. Read the rest of this entry »

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