- [Voiceover] Each term, I give a lecture
to graduating students about business basic etiquette.
Part of this is the importance of a thank you note.
When I get to this, I imagine they think,
"please, this is like so old-fashioned",
but designers have sometimes been offered jobs
or a project because they were the only applicant
to write a thank you letter
to the person who conducted the interview.
This simple courteous gesture demonstrates
three valuable qualities:
motivation, enthusiasm, and responsibility.
Consider the last time you received a thank you note.
If you're like me,
you probably decided the sender was pretty crackerjack.
The fact that thank you notes are so rarely sent
is what makes them so valuable.
Of course, I send a note if someone gives me
a nice gift or dinner,
but I also send one after a meeting
and at the end of a project.
I also send a note when someone publishes a piece of mine
and says something kind.
Most importantly, send a thank you note
to everyone who helped you reach a goal.
If I refer a designer to a firm,
it's nice to get a note of appreciation.
Some in the old school camp will say
that thank you notes should always be handwritten,
but my handwriting has become so awful, I type it.
It needn't be long or sugary.
Keep it simple and short.
A thank you note is a good opportunity
to reinforce your brand message
with your cards or stationary,
and remind people that they have value
and you appreciate their help.
I'm also a big believer in gifts.
There's a nice Japanese tradition
of gift giving, Omiyage.
Now, I'm not talking about brand new cars.
The point is not to embarrass someone.
Bring a box of donuts to a meeting
or send someone a notebook you designed.
I have a box of notebooks I designed
that were very cost-efficient.
The covers are printed
and the insides are blank paper.
They're fun to hand out at a meeting
or when I visit a conference.
When they're all gone, I make more.
It's a chance to reinforce your brand
and show up bearing gifts.
In the end, this is all about showing respect
and thanks to other people.
Whether they are clients or design media,
everyone wants to be appreciated and recognized.
It's such a small effort
and means so much to the recipient.