Neil Leonard is Programme Leader for Graphic Design at Plymouth College of Art, UK. He is the founder of Design Your Career and runs bespoke conferences and workshops for emerging designers about building their careers and businesses.

Neil Leonard has quietly and thoughtfully managed to write a book that is less strident than its title suggests by carefully assimilating a lot of practical wisdom that many design tutors would hope to impart to their students before embarking on a professional career in graphic design ... In summary, Becoming a Successful Graphic Designer is a solid and valuable edition to the any professional practice reading list.

• Introduction Chapter 1: Career opportunities Too many choices?/ The transition from education to work/ Interview: Holly Karlsson, Shillington College/ Work, work-experience, internship or go solo?/ The 'traditional' design agency Publishing/ Branding/ Advertising and marketing/ The digital world/ Working for agencies as a freelancer/ Interview: Jessica Hische/ Working directly with clients Interview: Jamie Sergeant, This is CrowdChapter 2: Getting out there and getting noticedStanding out from the crowd/ Self-promotion/ Your portfolio/ Web presence/ Social media and promotion/ Interview skills/ Networking/ Curriculum Vitae/ The right opportunitiesInterview: Cameron SandageChapter 3: The workplace The Studio/ Interview: Caroline Aufort and Elodie Mandray, Acmé Paris/ Interview: Dalton MaagRoles within the design studio/ Interview: Joshua Ogden/ Design roles explained Service providers/ Non-design roles/ Managing a design business Chapter 4: The work of a designer The job cycle/ From brief to outcome: an overview/ Finding the right clients/ Pitching your servicesThe Brief/ Working with the client / Pitching your ideas/ Interview: Jessica WalshChapter 5: The essential skillsThe necessary attributes/ Developing your knowledge/ Drawing and sketchbooks Design for print/ Interview: Janine Vangool, UPPERCASE/ Design for screenMotion and time-based work/ Photography Chapter 6: Forging your own pathStarting your own agency/ Interview: Anne Brassier/ Working as a freelancerInterview: Lotta Nieman/ Co-working and collectivesInterview: Rena Tom and Bryan Boyer, The Makeshift SocietyExercises and TemplatesConclusionIndexAcknowledgements & Credits