Hey guys..

I know I'm not so much a talker in the forums, but I really need an advice.
I'm 17 right now, and I'm about to leave senior high in 2007. I'm entering college and very much wondering, is graphic design worth to try? I mean, I love designing, but can I really live just by designing?

Yes you can, definetely can I have been on the graphic designing work for more than 15 years now since leave the senior high in 1990. If you love designing, and happy to work with it...that's the first thing you need to success Go ahead young man!

*EDIT* Now I run my own graphic and web design firm

This is something I've wondered about, too. To be honest, I have no idea where I want to go after high school. I'm decent with logo design; I'm decent with geeky stuff; I'm decent at more traditional art; I'm decent at writing; I'm decent with math and science. The only thing I'm really bad at is history.

So far I have ruled out the occupation of historian. I think I might need to rule out a few others, though.

"Shearyadi" wrote:

Yes you can, definetely can I have been on the graphic designing work for more than 15 years now since leave the senior high in 1990. If you love designing, and happy to work with it...that's the first thing you need to success Go ahead young man!

*EDIT* Now I run my own graphic and web design firm

Thanks eddy. Appreciate it. Calms me a lil' bit.

Young Twig, i can't believe you're still in high school. Your stuffs was great that i thought you were in college already .

Haha... Thanks. I'm in 10th grade right now.

Cool. Another sophmore.

But anyway, I'm in the same situation as John. I'm decent at several things, and not others (history is actually one of those things ironically). I'm still determining which path I want to take and where exactly I want to go. One thing I know for certain though is that graphic design can always be a fun job on the side to indulge in even if I choose another career path.

Wow i was just about to ask pretty much the same thing, except im 16(since last month), live in the UK and i left school early so have no qualifications.
Anyway, what i wanted to know is how i should go about getting myself in the design(web and related) industry?

Find a couple design firms nearby and put in an application to work for them. Be sure to have a portfolio handy. From there on out it's straight to the top.

Design is a very HARD field to be in. Not only are we becoming dime a dozen, programs make it 'easy' for John Q Public to do their own things. This means we have to market ourselves as able to utilize tools and be more creative.

The challenge in this lies within your client. Through experience I've found most clients don't know what they want - only what they DONT want. As a personal rule of thumb I tell myself that I know better than my client 90% of the time. If I'm asked to do something awful, I will first explain that what they ask will ruin their intended purpose. If they persist, I walk away. After all, it is usually going to go into your portfolio and will be created with the same level of detail and polish as if it were going to be used by ourselves. Would you want 'poop' to represent you? I know I don't.

So you have to consider a lot of things. You ahve to be extrordinarily creative and never think of how you can't do something, but rather how you can. There are unwritten rules in design as well as written rules. You've got to have a sharp eye for color harmonies as colors will makie or break anything even in slightest hues.

To give you better idea of what learning design entials - heres my upcoming 6 years of life with SCAD E-LEARNING


BA first, then MFA

B.F.A. Degree

Core Curriculum

Foundation Studies 40 hours
DRAW 100 Drawing I
DRAW 101 Drawing II
DRAW 230 Drawing for Design
DSGN 100 2-D Design
DSGN 101 Color Theory
DSGN 102 3-D Design
PHOT 101 Introduction to Photography+
PHOT 102 Photography for the Nonmajor+
PRMK 200 Introduction to Printmaking+
** Studio Elective

General Education 65 hours
ARTH 100 Survey of Western Art I
ARTH 110 Survey of Western Art II
ARTH 207 20th-century Art
ARTH/ARLH ** Art History/Architectural History Elective
ARTH/ARLH ** Art History/Architectural History Elective
CMPA 100 Survey of Computer Art Applications
ENGL 123 Composition
ENGL ** English Elective
GRDS 229 History of Graphic Design
MPRA 105 Speech and Public Speaking
** Natural Sciences/Mathematics Requirement§§
** Social/Behavioral Sciences Requirement§
** General Education Elective§


Major Curriculum

65 hours
GRDS 201 Introduction to Graphic Design
GRDS 205 Typography I
GRDS 233 Vector and Raster Graphics
GRDS 243 Digital Page and Web Graphics
GRDS 348 Graphic Design Studio I
GRDS 353 Typography II
GRDS 358 Production Design
GRDS 376 The Business of Graphic Design
GRDS ** Graphic Design Elective
GRDS ** Graphic Design Elective
GRDS ** Graphic Design Elective
GRDS 400 Graphic Design Studio II
GRDS 408 Graphic Design Portfolio

Electives ** 10 hours


Total Course of Study 180 hours


M.F.A. Degree

ARTH 701 Contemporary Art
ARTH 702 Art Criticism
GRDS 703 Digital Production Design+
GRDS 705 Design Methodologies+
GRDS 709 Typography Studio I
GRDS 715 Print Studio I
GRDS 720 Digital Studio I
GRDS 726 The Role of Graphic Design in Social Awareness
GRDS 730 3-D Graphics Studio
GRDS 755 Typography Studio II
GRDS 759 Print Studio II
GRDS 763 Digital Studio II
GRDS 773 Portfolio Design
INTN 750 Field or Teaching Internship
GRDS 790 Graphic Design M.F.A. Thesis


Electives 7** 20 hours

Total Course of Study 90 hours

In addition to that, the application is HELL...


So you sort of ahve to be a jack of all trades and understand everything on a technical level. Its a LOT more than simply arrangement and making things that you think look pretty good.

"ej ronin" wrote:


BA first, then MFA

B.F.A. Degree

Core Curriculum

Foundation Studies 40 hours
DRAW 100 Drawing I
DRAW 101 Drawing II
DRAW 230 Drawing for Design
DSGN 100 2-D Design
DSGN 101 Color Theory
DSGN 102 3-D Design
PHOT 101 Introduction to Photography+
PHOT 102 Photography for the Nonmajor+
PRMK 200 Introduction to Printmaking+
** Studio Elective

General Education 65 hours
ARTH 100 Survey of Western Art I
ARTH 110 Survey of Western Art II
ARTH 207 20th-century Art
ARTH/ARLH ** Art History/Architectural History Elective
ARTH/ARLH ** Art History/Architectural History Elective
CMPA 100 Survey of Computer Art Applications
ENGL 123 Composition
ENGL ** English Elective
GRDS 229 History of Graphic Design
MPRA 105 Speech and Public Speaking
** Natural Sciences/Mathematics Requirement§§
** Social/Behavioral Sciences Requirement§
** General Education Elective§


Major Curriculum

65 hours
GRDS 201 Introduction to Graphic Design
GRDS 205 Typography I
GRDS 233 Vector and Raster Graphics
GRDS 243 Digital Page and Web Graphics
GRDS 348 Graphic Design Studio I
GRDS 353 Typography II
GRDS 358 Production Design
GRDS 376 The Business of Graphic Design
GRDS ** Graphic Design Elective
GRDS ** Graphic Design Elective
GRDS ** Graphic Design Elective
GRDS 400 Graphic Design Studio II
GRDS 408 Graphic Design Portfolio

Electives ** 10 hours


Total Course of Study 180 hours


M.F.A. Degree

ARTH 701 Contemporary Art
ARTH 702 Art Criticism
GRDS 703 Digital Production Design+
GRDS 705 Design Methodologies+
GRDS 709 Typography Studio I
GRDS 715 Print Studio I
GRDS 720 Digital Studio I
GRDS 726 The Role of Graphic Design in Social Awareness
GRDS 730 3-D Graphics Studio
GRDS 755 Typography Studio II
GRDS 759 Print Studio II
GRDS 763 Digital Studio II
GRDS 773 Portfolio Design
INTN 750 Field or Teaching Internship
GRDS 790 Graphic Design M.F.A. Thesis


Electives 7** 20 hours

Total Course of Study 90 hours

In addition to that, the application is HELL...

Still, I think it's better than high school. At least we're doing something we really like. It's not like being forced to memorize some stupid useless politics from social class.

touche`

can't wait for boring ass Art History (I know, it has a definate purpose - unfortunately FUN isn't it)

ej ronin wrote:

touche`

can't wait for boring ass Art History (I know, it has a definate purpose - unfortunately FUN isn't it)

I don't think there is a fun kind of history.

Young Twig wrote:

I don't think there is a fun kind of history.

There is.... I found it interesting to learn the history of graphic design how the style being develop years after years. Today's BMW logo wasn't that cool look at first time they did it

graphic design requires a developed progression. Your example of the BMW logo changing after years is inevitable. Tide wasnt always the same hues or font, Toyota changed their logo, AT&T altered their logo hue as well as their logo (twice in the past decade). Things have to progess or they get an "old" feel and no one today wants anything "old". Aside from that it takes a handful of people to think outside of the box so that other trend 'hookers' can follow maing it a norm... thus you have your design progession (i.e. the glass / gel look of Apple.com or the 'web 2.0' quad color logos made with abstract shapes having nothing at all to do with the product or company)

Art history can be boring but in the long run is cool when u see a painting and know who did it....I find as a designer I recognize all kinds of things that u normally wuldn't like seeing a font on a billbord and knowing what it is.

you guys are just a few years older than my oldest son - I have one piece of advice - find something you love to do and then find a way to make a living at it.

You are all amazing artists and I'm learning more from you guys than I'd ever thought I'd learn in a million years - fortunately, I can afford to do this as a hobby but I'd love to do it as a job - but that, I can't afford!

If I was still in high school - knowing what I know now, I'd have gone for an education that would let me do what I love to do - even if I wouldn't get rich at it.

Unfortunately, when I went to high school, the computer they had was the size of a room (as opposed to the one on my lap lol) so digital graphic design wasn't an option, nor did I have any idea at the time that I'd be liking doing this - you guys are already a mile ahead of where I was back then - I'm in awe!

Lisa

By the way you talk Kaediem - I suspect you arent much older than I am, unless your high school had a computer using Fortran and punchcards for textile prints... My fist PC was an EASY DATA 33SX...yes... a 33.... SX... thast 33 MHZ, SX (no math co-processor)... 256 colors in a game was "lifelike', and a soudblaster card was like listening to the voice of God.

I used "turtle" on a green screen Apple IIG and my other home computer was an ATARI, with a monitor, and two 3.5" floopies - one to boot from. Hell I still have a CollecoVision and Atari 2600 (that work fine)... you wanna talk old skool.... I know old skool (I have an original red number digital watch too)...

I got out of HS and threw away a full scholarship to SCAD to go into the ARMY... I never said I was smart. Now, I'm re-applying to SCAD and just hoping to get in... so far so good.

I'm glad you liek doing it - it is important to love what you do. Its not too late to go to school for it. I know a lot of CC's teach graphic design these days

Well, stop the guessing, I'm 45 (an old mom - my youngest is 3 oldest is 11)

I don't really know what was in that room but I graduated high school in 1978 and the idea of a 'computer' was just foreign to me.

I'd love to go back to school and start over but ya know, 20 years as an IT manager, 3 kids that need to eat (and not so long before higher education will need to be paid for) and a disabled husband don't make that much of a realistic idea... maybe when I'm 50? lol

actually, I'm probably happier doing this as a hobby, I'd hate to loose the fun out of it. My oldest son is showing an interest in design but he's colour blind - not so sure how that will work out lol but if he does get into it, I can live vicariously through him

Lisa

(first computer I actually worked on? have no idea, but it was monochrome, ran a dos menu interface and had a 20MB hard drive - yes, that was 20 MEGABYTES) lol

Kaediem wrote:

My oldest son is showing an interest in design but he's colour blind - not so sure how that will work out lol

When I was in high school, pretty much all of our art awards (and many in state and national-level contests) were won by a color blind kid. All the judges thought his use of bright red and green for a roof or purple for tree was so creative, and he'd say, "Wait, what?! That tree is purple?! Damnit..." :lol: ...

Kaediem wrote:

...actually, I'm probably happier doing this as a hobby, I'd hate to loose the fun out of it. My oldest son is showing an interest in design but he's colour blind - not so sure how that will work out lol but if he does get into it, I can live vicariously through him

Color blind, eh? While working with colors may not be suited for him, I know that are people who work specifically in layout. Since the layout and spacial relations are just as important as the color, he should be okay. Aside from that he should be able to pick up contrast a LOT better than color seeing people. I guess it also depends on if he is green/red or total color blind.

I hope that if he continues to show an interest and ispersuant in that field, that he does well.

Id also like to go back to to HS all over again - Id know what to expect more than I did and apply myself a lot more...someone needs to hurry up and discover time travel - Id slip myself a cheat sheet or 5.

My advice is if you can do something else, do that instead and keep the graphic design thing as a freelance thing to earn extra money on the side if you need it.

After I got out of my bachelor's program for Graphic Design, which I personally think is a joke for reasons I'll go into later, the only job I could find that was remotely related to the field was a third shift position at the local Kinko's. Mind you, it isn't a bad job to have when you are looking for skills to help you out in graphic design. It teaches you how to focus on what you are doing, how to do it quickly and how to improve your craft skills. It wont teach you good design, but it will most certainly teach you what BAD design looks like. Trust me, you'll see it enough times even if you work there for a summer.

If you are already in a Graphics program and your instructors are either too ambiguous in their critiques of your work, as they ALWAYS were with mine, or not constructive enough with their critiques then get out of that program. Honestly, I could have gotten a Magic 8-Ball and gotten better advice from shaking that regarding how to improve my design skills than I did from about 90% of my teachers. Maybe it was because I'm 6'8" and built like a linebacker and they thought I was going to flatten them if they told me something I didn't want to hear... who knows.

Right now I'm out of work since the last company I worked for as a web/graphic designer got bought out in January. Typically, when a company gets bought out or needs to downsize fopr economic reasons, the first thing to go is the marketing staff. This usually includes most if not all graphic designers. The layoffs in my company were no exception - IT, marketing, half the secretarial pool, a few programmers and a couple managers, all gone when the hatchet fell for the first time.

Right now, even after getting a Master's degree in Communications and Multimedia, I need to extend my programming skills in several computer languages (ironically, I left computer science to go into graphic design). So now, I need to wait until the next semester at the local technical college so I can go in and learn database programming languages and other assorted programs that were originally meant for engineers just so I can stay ahead of the job market.

Graphic design was a highly competitive field before it became an overpopulated field. I still enjoy the work and I am still hopeful that I can earn a good living in this profession, so if you absolutely want to do it, who am I to stop you. However if you feel you can do anything else well, I say go for that anything else.

Graphics and Design is a rewarding profession.
I think it is the way interpret your clients cluttered thoughts and organize it into a single image or concept. When I graduated from high school I wanted to be an artist/ illustrator. At the time my family could not afford to send me to the Art college I wanted to go to so I settled for a business school.
That sucked!
What was worst, I could not get a job as a illustrator.
Then I did a really crazy thing, I joined the United States Marine Corps.
I completely stopped drawing.
As my tour was about over I picked up my buddy's laptop and say a school for graphic design and I went with it.
Now during the day I design for a print house and I am starting my own freelance design firm in San Diego. It is extremely hard in the beginning but with anything hard work pays off, sometimes if you win it could be 75 bucks, just kidding. The most exciting project I have worked on is an identity package for a wine bar, including logo, signage, menus and t-shirts. Now every time I walk down Old Town I can look up and see the logo I designed. You can not beat that.

you have to be happy in whatever field you choose to work in...and if designign is that field...go for it man...i'm a senior in graphic design right now, and i LOVE it all...you can't go to work every day hating what you do - gotta get into something you love doing and don't worry abotu where its gonna take you - just let it ride!!