If you're an 'entry level designer' the worst thing you can do is limit yourself to the entry level duties. Sure, some will argue that during the 9-5 you have little choice - your responsibility is to produce, be efficient, be effective and, ultimately, be profitable.
However, let's look outside the 9-5. There are a million things going on in the world of design - from competitions to publications, from speaking engagements to roundtable discussions. Nothing bugs me more than people proclaiming that because you're at a certain level in a professional career you are limited to what you can do and what you can be part of. Everyone has ideas - it doesn't matter if those ideas come from someone who's 50 or a 20something. Bring something good to the table and it doesn't matter who it's coming from.
Anyway, back to why I decided to write this ramble in the first place. I was recently at the Van Alen Institute for an emerging professional portfolio review and open discussion. The goal was to one, have four emerging professionals rapidly present their work to four jurors in a 'speed dating' style and two, discuss the current state of the profession. Minus the weird and awkward name of the event, it was very interesting and successful. They posted a video of it to Vimeo which I would highly recommend watching. There's some interesting dialogue between us, the emerging professionals and the jurors, the established professionals. It highlights in some ways a very polarized view of how we see ourselves fitting in, but also a very informative perspective.
So - at the end of the day - if you're bored in the 9-5 go change the world in the 5-9.
