How to apply for a job at a design studio, with help from Fiasco Design’s Co-founder Ben Steers

Who here enjoys the job application process? Show of hands? Anyone? In stark contrast to the bygone era of hard copy portfolios, printed CVs and showing up in person, applying for a job nowadays is primarily a digital affair. And thankfully, when approaching design studios, nobody is really expecting (or wanting) you to show up at their front door, portfolio in hand. However, for an industry centred around concepts, communication and creativity, knowing how to stand out in a sea of applications can be subjective and a bit daunting. We want to help out in any way we can, so we invited Ben Steers of Fiasco Design to share a few insights into their own hiring experience. With 13 years of experience running the Bristol-based studio with Jason Smith, Fiasco Design have cultivated a cohesive 15-strong team alongside a global reputation. Larger studios and agencies often have dedicated hiring managers and application portals. Conversely, a small and mighty team, such as Fiasco, may not necessarily have a HR department, so with your application, you’re potentially aiming to grab a few minutes of a creative director’s limited time. The formula is simple, as Steers summarises, “I’m looking for someone who’s done their homework; they know what we do and something about us and our culture.” “We typically get 100+ applications for open positions,” he recalls, “it’s not possible to go through each application in detail.” For studios of any size, this often rings true. A creative director is looking out for something that will grab their gaze, whether that be with the style of work or a high quality of design. “You might get just a few seconds to stand out,” Steers emphasises, “make sure you do.” This advice also extends to the slightly less glamorous but key steps of the application itself. “The introductory email and cover letter are often wildly overlooked. If there isn’t attention to detail and time spent on something as simple as an initial email, then I’m unlikely to go any further. It might sound a little harsh but those initial moments are precious, so make sure you utilise them to the fullest.”