In many cases, the millennial generation has been forced to grow up way too fast, thanks to the ever-evolving social media phenomenon. What used to be back and forth AIM messages at 2AM while your parents were sleeping has quickly morphed into full-fledged profiles aiming to show the world detailed versions of exactly who you are—or in many cases, who you aspire to be.
As a whole, millennials are characterized as self-absorbent, especially when it comes to online presence. However, there are two specific types of social media obsessions worth distinguishing between: Aimlessly scrolling through your Instagram feed for 4+ hours a day, gaining no knowledge from wasted time is one thing, but using social platforms to meticulously plan out a future career is another case entirely—one I strongly believe we shouldn't discourage in the design world.
Case in point: Aspiring sneaker designer Nigel Langley Jr landed a job at adidas' new Brooklyn-based Creator Farm at just 17 years old, making him the youngest sneaker designer currently in the industry. That's no easy task, considering most sneaker designers go through years of schooling before even landing an interview.
Scrolling through Langley's Instagram feed makes sneaker enthusiasts like myself drool, but what sets the young designer apart is his work behind the scenes. Langley spent time reaching out to designers he admired through Instagram's Direct Message feature. Thanks to these efforts, Langley was able to get in contact with (controversial) adidas VP, Marc Dolce. Langley's initial message in 2015 eventually warranted sound advice from Dolce, encouraging the young designer to pursue his dreams by way of footwear specific education:
Langley also took Dolce up on his offer too meet after a course the VP was teaching at Pratt Institute, and the rest was history. Now 18 years old, Langley works at adidas' Brooklyn Creative Farm while simultaneously attending Parsons School of Design.
As designers potentially seeking fresh talent for their firms, it's important to remember there is an abundance of young designers out there paving the way for themselves through personal social channels in a positive way. While self-absorbed tendencies are a negative trait of the millennial generation, at least the majority of us understand how to market ourselves online.
So, if you're an employer looking for talent from younger generations, it may be time to exit your LinkedIn tab and focus your attention on image-based social platforms like Instagram. Weed through the aimless social media zombies, reach out to kids actually exhibiting potential, and maybe you'll find the next Nigel Langley Jr of your industry.
And if you're a millennial designer reading this, keep doin' your thing—productively, that is.
*******
View the full story at NiceKicks.
Designers, we're curious to hear your thoughts on the millennial generation in the design workplace and ways that you go about searching for new talent—please share your experiences with us in the comments section.
Whether you're a footwear designer or just interested in how the human body works, you should watch this. First, a preamble: I've been training in internal martial arts for years and teach qi gong to private clients on the side. Both of these things have taught me that that most
Is Fashion Modern?, a new exhibit organized by design curators Paola Antonelli and Michelle Fisher at MoMA, is as much a celebration of fashion and design as it is an extensive history lesson. Leaving no rock unturned, the curators take a look at many of the everyday fashion items that
Nike's Flyknit has become synonymous with the brand, now used in everything from sneakers to sports bras. The knit material is more sustainable than many materials used in footwear and fashion, mainly due to its minimal waste production. But since Flyknit's conception in 2012, Nike has been more focused on
Performance sneakers made from wool sound too warm and itchy to be true, so we were intrigued when Allbirds took to Kickstarter to pitch their Wool Runners to the world back in 2014—and reached their maximum target in just five days. When you think about this classic example of an
Create a Core77 Account
Already have an account? Sign In
By creating a Core77 account you confirm that you accept the Terms of Use
Please enter your email and we will send an email to reset your password.