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What should I do with my brother?

Smash Gladly

15:31 / 14.06.07

I need some good ideas. I've got a 22 year old younger brother still living with my parents and he's having a hard time.

- He likes screen printing.
- His general interests seem to cluster under "graphic design" - he likes advertising psychology, typography, logo-craft, and sign-making.
- He's not especially computer saavy. He could sit still long enough to learn - but he shouldn't be at a terminal 40 hours a week.
- He likes designing clothing - graphics on prefab stuff mostly.

What can we come up with that would 1) pay enough to live on - more or less. 2) get him out of San Diego 3) give him a craft that he can perfect instead of a timecard to punch.

Taking ALL ideas, no matter how outlandish. College, jobs, programs, internships, apprenticeships, and all. Really appreciate the brain trust's help on this one.

All Acting Regiment

15:37 / 14.06.07

Well, college sounds like a very good idea - the lad sounds intelligent and comitted so I'd set about rifling through prospectusses.

Princess

15:53 / 14.06.07

Does he have a blog and is he submitting his work to people?

Ticker

16:04 / 14.06.07

A mate of mine works as graphic designer at t-shirt printing company. Customers come in with doodles and the artist helps make them into something worth printing on a t-shirt and then he does the layout which is sent on to the presses.

He got the job by applying to various t-shirt printing shops and found one that needed help. Customer skills are usually pretty basic you just need to be willing to help people get their napkin doodle into shape and put up with their indecision about which part should be what color.

Smash Gladly

16:14 / 14.06.07

College may not be the ideal interface for getting the knowledge out of the universe and into a head in this case - Short duration is best - a 2 or 4 year program would frustrate the lad to no end. bonus points for avocations that have a lot of actual, physical tasks but also while learning a skill.

Blog - no. And that tells you exactly how computer un-saavy the boy is.

Princess

16:38 / 14.06.07

Wow.
Well, he might want to up his savvy. Or does he know someone (perhaps a lovely older brother?) who would set up an online portfolio for him?

Smash Gladly

16:38 / 14.06.07

XK - that's gold. Anyone know something like that in NYC?

16:58 / 14.06.07

threadless.com?

16:59 / 14.06.07

Not that it will pay enough to live on in any case but it might help, and will certainly bring his work into wider recognition. Usually you have to get famous before the person on the street goes "YOU?? I've seen your stuff on a t-shirt!"

unbecoming

17:30 / 14.06.07

is there a local printmaking workshop? such places often offer voluntary trainee places, which obviously don't pay but offer invaluable experience, networking opportunities and access to equipment, tutoring etc.

grant

17:39 / 14.06.07

When I was in college, I had a friend who had owned his own T-shirt making business. Just a couple screen presses and stuff to cut screens with, I think (he'd sold it to go to school).

I think the technology has moved a bit since then, but still - being an entrepreneur can work for some people.

There's also call for sign-makers, too - similar kind of thing, especially with vinyl signs (which I think are often screen printed, aren't they?). Get order from business, design sign, print design, hang it up, get moneys.

This wouldn't necessarily get the young man out of the house.

There's also set design & swing gang stuff for film. LA isn't that far away, and he could maybe land a union gig....

MattShepherd: I WEDDED KALI!

17:42 / 14.06.07

Find two or three local bands he likes, who aren't big enough to have merch yet, and offer to design and make shirts for them on consignment -- he delivers shirts to the merch table before every show, and they give him a cut of every shirt sold.

MattShepherd: I WEDDED KALI!

17:45 / 14.06.07

(an obvious slight element of financial risk there, but if he's only doing four or five shirts per band per show, it should be manageable, and he'll start building a rep as the go-to shirt designer/small-scale producer in town).

Smash Gladly

16:54 / 15.06.07

Great stuff. Thanks, all.

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