A question about questions

I was talking to a hairdresser the other day. Talking in an 'over the Gold Blend at a dinner party' kind of way, not in a 'where are you going on holiday' kind of way. He said when he says he's a hairdresser the two questions he always gets asked are; are you gay and what would you do with my hair?

So, when you tell people you're a graphic designer, what's the first question you get asked?

Comments

[Jonathan]

Don't think it's ever led to a question.

Usual responses:

"My son wants to do that"
"My son does that"
"My computer does that"
"My wife bought a book to show her how to do that"
"I bought my wife a book to show her how to do that"

I tell a lie. I suppose the one 'question' I may get asked is of the variety:

"Ooh. I need a new web site. If I give you fifty quid/let you put your email address on it/buy you a pint will you do it for me/show me how to do it/show my son how to do it/show my wife how to do it before the end of the week/the end of the day/the end of Coronation Street?"

Anyway, you think you've got it bad. How do you think it goes down when I say I *teach* graphic design? Always have a loud fart ready to break the awkward silence.

[davidthedesigner]

The answer's not to go to dinner parties.

[Blip]

In Brasil, usually the question still is "What?". After you take your time to explain, then people will answer: "Ah, Advertising?".

[Brad Brooks]

I agree with Jonathan. It's either "Can you do a website for me for £50?" or "what colours should I paint my walls?".

[Graham Salmon]

So you don't own a suit then....?

[Richard]

Are you gay then?

[Caspian]

"So what's that then?"
Many folk still don't know what GD is. Mind you many designers in my experience can't agree either: problem solvers vs commercial artists…

[paola]

"What colours should I paint my walls?" is the second question usually asked. The first one is "Can you help me to choose my furniture?".
Unfortunalety I'm an architect, I usually build houses (schools, churches, hotels...),sometimes I also choose the furniture for "my" buildings, but it's not the only thing I do.

[Ben]

By the way, the one I get asked is; So you use computers then? Followed by; all Macs I suppose?

[John Dodds]

Are you gay and what would you do with my hair?

[Mike Towers]

Do you use Microsoft Publisher?

[Marcus]

could you have a look at my business cards.

[Jeremy]

If you want a real dense silence, try explaining you design magazines. That REALLY confuses people: 'So you take the pictures?'; 'So you write the articles?'. Once the job is described in more detail there is the further silence as they realise that – jeez – every single page has attention from a designer. Every page! Not just the front cover!

[Jordan]

"You mean with computers?"

[Mat]

"Is that similar to interior design?".

Which I suppose it is, in a way.

[Ahsan R. Shami]

Which clients have you worked with?

[Eddie Gonzalez]

"Oh. So what do you do?"

Maybe we should have business cards, and on the back have a definition of "Graphic Design" . . . and include answers to the typical questions, e.g. No, I don't work for free; it costs more than $50 to create a website; we don't all dress the same . . . and so on.

[Felipe Tofani]

"so, what is that really? something to do with those cool computers?"

[brett jordan]

It must be great getting to spend all day drawing pictures.

[andrew]

What is Graphic design?

[jon]

"Neat! My brother is in a band, can you make a website for them? He has a big budget, at least $150.00"

[India]

So does that mean you get to pick the fonts?

[SlashwithaKnife]

1. "What's that?"

2. "Could you design a website for me?"

3. There usually isn't much more than the abovementioned two as I tend to change the topic after that.

[Matt]

So...like...with computers?