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 There are some great jobs out there and somebody has to do them. Whether it's setting out the window display at Harrods, chefing for mega-stars on film sets, interior design at the Big Brother house or green keeping at St Andrews golf course, what better way is there to spend your days earning money doing something you're really passionate about?
We're launching our new Cool Jobs feature which delves into the lives of the people whose jobs we could all be envious of. First up is Alex Torrance, Graphic Designer with CC-Lab who, amongst other projects, designs some of the album covers you'll see in your local record store.
What education route did you take to get where you are now?
I began a BTEC in Graphic Design but didn't finish it as it wasn't the right course for me. I then took a one year Graphic Design Art Foundation course, specialising in Digital Arts, which led to me going to Thanes Valley University to take a Digital Arts Degree.
And how did you get into the industry?
I had a clear idea of what I wanted to do, but with so much competition and so few positions available I had to be a bit inventive with my jobseeking. I researched lots of independent record companies and contacted one called Fat Cat Records with my portfolio and a load of ideas which they really liked.
I started off freelancing for them 2 days a week starting on just �30 a day. This was really hard trying to live in London on this kind of money but it gave me a great opportunity to learn about the industry, build up my portfolio and have a platform to showcase my work.
When the company moved to Brighton I decided to stay in London, taking on some other freelance projects whilst applying for permanent roles. After a few months I managed to get my current job which I've now been in for about 2 years.
What projects have you been most proud of so far?
While I was at Fat Cat one of my projects, the packaging for a Sigur Rós album got nominated as Best Recording Packaging at the Grammy Awards. We didn't win, but got to go to the ceremony in Los Angeles which was a fantastic experience.
 It's always nice to walk around record stores and see things I've done on the shelves. Some projects of note include artwork for The Magic Numbers debut album, and interactive DVD menus for albums by DJ Format and Mogwai.
How do you develop your ideas?
There's many ways to build ideas as everywhere you look there are examples of graphic design, some much better than others!
When working with clients I usually have to come up with three or four examples and then select one to develop. These come together after initially talking to the band involved and listening to their music to get an idea of the style that might be appropriate.
When a concept has been chosen there are loads of things to consider as it needs to be consistent across many formats including the record sleeve, print advertising, interactive content and the website.
What are the hardest parts about the job?
I think managing the client's expectations is probably the most difficult. As artists themselves, bands often have very strong ideas about what they want which is understandable. However, as their designer I often have to remind them that they're employing me for a reason and that some of the things they come up with may seem good as a concept, but wouldn't covert very well onto paper.
Are there any perks to the job?
We get to listen to music before it's released, go to album launches and award ceremonies, receive free concert tickets and of course I get the chance to meet bands face to face and have become friends with some of them.
For anyone with a real interest in music, I can't think of many better jobs!
Where can you see this career taking you?
I'd like to gain more experience in a variety of design styles and I'm really interested in typography. Although it's a long way off, the ultimate goal is to own my own design studio.
What are your top tips for someone wanting to take a similar career path?
It's a difficult industry to get into but the rewards are great once you're there, so the first tip is to keep on trying.
Tip two would be to keep your portfolio as up to date as possible. Quality is much more important than quantity, so make sure it shows you in your best light and send it out to as many people as possible.
Finally, build up a good network of contacts. The industry is all about getting commissioned to do the work, so once you've managed to gain a client, make sure they want to use you in future.
Do you think you've got a job worthy of being featured? Email us here.
If you feel inspired to find a job in Design and New Media, click here to see the latest vacancies on totaljobs.com or visit our Career Advice section.
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