Hi. I am Sudirwan and I make posters for a living.

Social gatherings. We all know the drill. We all probably been through it. But being a graphic designer in a social setting full of random strangers can be a very hectic and pressured situation. It is not that graphic designers are social misfits or really ugly people, but it is the very nature of our professions makes introductions very hard. It usually goes this way. You are in a room full of strangers. Your partner decides to introduce you to his peers – most of which either intellectuals or at least they look that way. 'So what do you do?' one of them would ask, his body slightly bend forward trying to hear you. 'I'm a graphic designer.' I said in a controlled enthusiastic manner. 'Oh.' He replied. 'So you can tell me where is the best place I am going to put my new sofa?' he added. 'I probably could. Though I am no Interior Designer.' I replied, my partner sniggering under his breath.

It is elusive the nature of being a graphic designer. If I were to say, I'm a fashion designer, or an interior designer, chances are they would probably guess what I do. But say graphic designer, and this illusion and assumption of what we do for a living is made up in their minds. Take my mum for example, when I first told her that I want to pursue a career in graphics design her first reaction was - 'Kau nie draw draw boleh dapat duit ke? Kau nie pandai Wan, boleh cari kerja lain kan?' Roughly translated that means 'How are you going to earn your keep if you just draw the whole day? You are smart. I am sure you can find other better jobs.' My mother's assumption that graphic design equals to drawing probably stems from the fact that during my schooling year I would sketch the whole damn time. I don't blame her, and now that I am contributing to the family, she ain't complaining much. She still doesn't get what I really do in the office. For my birthday she got me an architecture book.

So here is a compilation of funny and sometimes irritating replies I usually get when they know about me and my job.

• "Wow." after an akward 15 second pause. "So you sit around and draw the whole day?"
• "So what do you design?" - not a bad respond, but it usually having me end up saying advertising and stuff.
  
• "So what do you do?" - which is not a good thing to say to anybody after they just said what they did.
• "So you are like the future Gucci or something?" - design is not equal fashion people though being compared to Guccio Gucci can be a good thing.
• "My little brother/wife/second cousin/nephew/son does that too. They love messing with photoshop"
  
• "Finally some hope in this world!" - the most original respond I have ever received. Coming from a jaded lawyer who thinks lawyers are responsible for the downfall of civilized society, it was probably not surprising.
  
• "My brother is a graphics designer. I don't know what he actually does, but all I know he likes what he is doing and get quite good money for it. Envy him." my lovely sister to a bunch of her friends.
  
• "That's not really work right?" - Mary Ann - my plus-one to many social events and backup girlfriend should the situation requires it - when she first heard that I am one.
  
• "That is just a temporary thing right?" my dad when I explained my jobs entails things like designing posters.
• "That's so cool." - never fails to get me smiling