Is graphic design a good career? How did you start?

[psilo]

Currently, i am about to be a senior in high school. I live hidden in the suburbs of new york and don't really have any money for college.

What I do have tho, is a pretty mean eye for graphic design. I started fooling with it in 9th grade and now have progress to the point where I can design a professional website and make it flow with interactivity.

The thing is, I started this with no art education. I just tried and read tutorials and read instructions.

I want to know how I can best develop the skills I have into a career. I've always been fooling with 3d design too and would love to develop some 3D skills.

[nytefall]

Heya psilo! :)

This is some advice I got from a friend of mine... especially if your looking to work in web design and wanting to eventually develop a professional portfolio...

alot of charity organizations can't afford a webmaster, and many would welcome having someone design their websites for free. it may be worth it to get in touch with some local ones (they are easy to find via the web) and see if they'd be interested in some help. if nothing else it would help give you some business experience under your belt and something for your professional portfolio later on :) if you want to design websites then make sure to create samples for all sorts of different businesses, dont limit yourself to one or two types...

alot of community colleges in NYC are offering either continuing education courses in graphic design, or even some majors in graphic design, and these are pretty reasonable financially.

i have no formal art education either, and unfortunately it can be an obstacle in regards to getting employment (not making it impossible, just difficult). alot of employers wont even see you w/o a degree, so developing a strong portfolio is a HUGE necessity!

hope some of this is helpful :)

oh.. and re: 3d.. check out www.renderosity.com if you havent already, they are a pretty strong community of 3d artists, and there are some forums there that may help give you an idea how to get started in 3d...

[mlambel]

Originally posted by nytefall
Heya psilo! :)

This is some advice I got from a friend of mine... especially if your looking to work in web design and wanting to eventually develop a professional portfolio...

alot of charity organizations can't afford a webmaster, and many would welcome having someone design their websites for free. it may be worth it to get in touch with some local ones (they are easy to find via the web) and see if they'd be interested in some help. if nothing else it would help give you some business experience under your belt and something for your professional portfolio later on :) if you want to design websites then make sure to create samples for all sorts of different businesses, dont limit yourself to one or two types...

alot of community colleges in NYC are offering either continuing education courses in graphic design, or even some majors in graphic design, and these are pretty reasonable financially.

i have no formal art education either, and unfortunately it can be an obstacle in regards to getting employment (not making it impossible, just difficult). alot of employers wont even see you w/o a degree, so developing a strong portfolio is a HUGE necessity!

hope some of this is helpful :)

oh.. and re: 3d.. check out www.renderosity.com if you havent already, they are a pretty strong community of 3d artists, and there are some forums there that may help give you an idea how to get started in 3d...

WOW Nytefall!! That was some of the BEST advice I have ever heard! I second the motion.

[Skinny]

Do you have a web page?

Come on over and post on the digital forum, too. I've learned a great deal just from the feedback our generous board members have given.

You might also want to consider freelance work. A lot of companies are reluctant to hire full-time workers in this economy.

One thought....visit lots of websites, and when you think your talents could add something, get in touch with them.

Best of luck! :cat: :cat: :cat:

[Guy]

I'd say it would be important to master Photoshop, with the aid of a Wacom tablet. Also study traditional art techniques. You will want to be well rounded and have a working knowledge of composition and color theory etc.

Spend one year doing nothing but drawing, and draw everything. Make thousands of drawings (literally). Read all you can about it. And think when you draw, don't doodle. Make every line count and you will learn loads from your mistakes. If you don't, you will repeat the same errors and never advance. There are those who hav been drawing for 20 years who can't draw, and the worst part is that they can't see what they're doing wrong. If you constantly ask yourself questions about what you're doing, you will be able to SEE your mistakes and progress VERY rapidly. At the end of a year you should be a competent draftsman. This is the foundation of 2d media, and will help you in so many more ways than the obvious.

Beyond that I'd say to research all the "greats" of your profession, and study their techniques and lifestyles and figure out what makes them so successful. Good Luck!

Guy

[Skinny]

I'd say it would be important to master Photoshop, with the aid of a Wacom tablet....

Absolutely! Work with it until you can make it sing....until you don't have to look up shortcuts,...until you can draw with it as quickly as with pencil and paper.

Keep us posted on your progress, huh?

[JoyJoyJoy]

Psilo...

I am 50 years old and made my living (now retired) in commercial art my whole adult life.. WITHOUT FORMAL EDUCATION. No one has ever asked me for my education information... in the graphic arts, employers/customers just want to know what you can do! Like you, I was financially unable to attend any art schools. In high school, all I had was my artistic talent and a passionate desire to be a graphic artist. At that time, around 1968-71, computers were not available, so my desire was to be a designer/illustrator.

How to do it:

1. Educate yourself. This is lifelong, with formal education or not, but most important for you to self-educate. Read books and magazines, sign up for web graphic groups and read the forums (one is www.gag.com), read graphic artist biographies, so you can see what is going on in that area, what programs are being used, legal issues, etc. Get the basic programs you need to practice and create a portfolio. Search for free programs on web, beg copies off friends. If you cannot find some things, you can take one or a couple night classes in adult education programs (call local technical/computer/art schools). Practice, practice, practice everything on your computer at home.

2. Talk to people doing what you want to do. The turning point in my career was in my early twenties, when I was introduced to a graphic artist doing the kind of job I wanted to do eventually (but I did not have any of the technical skills needed). I asked this stranger to meet me for coffee at a nice restaurant, showed him four drawings/designs I had done, told him I wanted to do what he was doing, and how do I break into the business? He hired me on the spot (surprise!) as a part-time, minimum wage employee. On that job, I learned all the basics I needed, which at that time included typesetting, camera prep, and manual advertising design/prep. I stayed at that job eight months.

Then, I walked into the largest daily newspaper in the Detroit area with a portfolio of a few drawings and some of their own newpaper ads I had redesigned (using the same info). There was no job opening, but they hired me ful-time with benefits. Within one year, I was the head artist for both advertising and editorial departments.

So, tell everyone you know what you want to do, and ask if they know anyone who is doing it. Talk to any 3-D graphic artist you can. Be bold!... invite them to coffee and ask them how they got into the business. Don't be afraid; many older artists (like myself) are very willing to talk about themselves and pass along knowledge to young artists. Gather as much information as you can, make it clear you are available to take any related job... or, even work without wages for six months in order to learn (like an free education!).

3. Never give up your dream. I have continued with a successful career of my choice for decades, without support from my family (my parents never could understand why I did not get a "real job", like secretary), maintaining my own successful free-lance business in many cities where everyone told me the market was saturated and I could not make it, and even worked my way into a high-tech position that only three people in my city could do (and I was the only woman).

YOU CAN DO IT! And, I am not talking about the starving artist life... I paid off my house in eight years (age 40) and retired at age 46 with a nice retirement savings in the bank. GO FOR IT!!!!!! A life as a graphic artist is a wonderful adventure!

Nance

[luvlorn]

^^ awesome advice.

[bloodjelly]

I just graduated in June from UC Davis as a graphic designer and hearing all your tips and helpful advice, plus sharing your experiences, is great!

Most of my professors told us that the market is saturated with graphic designers now and there's no work for any of us...but they made sure we learned the basics - form, shape, gestalt principles, etc... - and the computer was used as a tool only if it led to the best design possible. It's important to learn the fundamentals of good design, because while there may be an overflow of designers out there, many of them aren't that good. Take a look at some of the lacking designs around you, brainstorm how they could be made better, then redesign them. Then, like Joy*3 said, meet with the company and see how they take.

It's kind of a spooky time looking for a job, but the more you study now and develop the tools of the trade the more you'll have to support your future career, wherever it might take you.

[JoyJoyJoy]

Bloodjelly...

Can you hear me laughing???????

Originally posted by bloodjelly
Most of my professors told us that the market is saturated with graphic designers now and there's no work for any of us..

Wish I had a dollar for ever time I heard "the market is saturated"..... HAHAHAHAH! Just ignore that and do what you want.

:clap: Congratulations on your recent degree! :clap: Quite an accomplishment! However, unless you are going to be a hands-on illustrator (with paper & paint, silkscreen, press printing), you will need extensive computer knowledge in several programs... such as Quark, Photoshop, etc. Even if you are hands-on, you must understand what the client and/or printer needs, and this is computer knowledge also. Check newspaper classified; graphic artist ads often list the programs needed for the job, usually MacIntosh. Everything printed today is done by computer: newspaper, magazine, in-house departments of corporations, ad agencies, and in your own business. Even small printers will not take originals or manual paste-ups now; they must all be on disk to the exact specifications of that printer and job.

I totally agree that an good graphic artist must know the basics, but please realize that most of the art teachers/professors in college level art have not worked as graphic artists full time for quite a while, possibly never. They often do not know what is really necessary to survive in the "real world." (but, this can be said of most non-art professors also) You will find that, without good computer skills, you will lose out on jobs... they will be given to less talented artists who are better computer technicians. Computer is the media used now, and will be in the future.

Wishing you much success, Nance

[bloodjelly]

Good point - I was assuming psilo knew the computer skills because he does web designs. Are the main programs to learn Photoshop, Illustrator, Quark (or InDesign) for graphic design?

[Sketchaman]

psilo,

Keep practicing and working hard. I myself have no formal training whatsoever, but I have natural drawing skills. I started playing around with Photoshop in '96, putting in hours of practice each night until the program became second nature to me. All of that practice, plus my natural talent at freehand drawing landed me my first job doing graphic design in '98 and I've been doing it full time ever since. From my experience, employers want someone talented, knowledgable and reliable regardless of educational background. I've worked with many graduates from design schools and was either on par with them or ran rings around them because they didn't have any desire to move beyond what they learned in school. Those I've come across that excelled at what they did, I sucked up as much knowledge from them as I could. I guess what I'm trying to say is a formal education is wonderful but it can only take you as far as you are willing to let it. Success doesn't come from the degree, it comes from the individual's desire to keep pushing their skill to the next level and remaining open to new ideas and fresh perspectives on what they do. Everyday is an opportunity to learn something new and exciting. Keep practicing and don't give up. Opportunity and success will come.

[nicanfhilidh]

Originally posted by JoyJoyJoy
Bloodjelly...

Can you hear me laughing???????

Wish I had a dollar for ever time I heard "the market is saturated"..... HAHAHAHAH! Just ignore that and do what you want.


Three years ago I would have agreed with this statement, now I simply cannot. I have been a graphic designer for a decade now and I've seen first-hand what can happen - in the 90's, everyone was crazy for marketing and graphic designers were in huge demand. Around 1999, the economy crashed and us designers were the first to be let go. (Number One Rule of working as a graphic designer: YOU ARE EXPENDABLE and NEVER FORGET THAT.) It hasn't recovered to this day. I see signs of slow recovery but I do not think we will see the demand for graphic designers as high as it was in the 90's for a very long time.

I'm not trying to be all doom and gloom here, there are ways around this. Basically, what everyone else has said about learning every single thing you can about everything - that's absolutely crucial. And it's none more crucial than in the area of prepress and production. If you know something about printing processes that will set you apart from all the degreed design majors with stars in their eyes thinking that graphic design is like being Van Gogh - and therefore you're more likely to get the job. Plus, the simple fact is, you can design more efficiently if you have some kind of understanding of how your work is going to be reproduced (print [what kind of print, etc.], web, whatever.)

Design these days is almost totally computer-driven. Don't fall into the trap of only sticking to one program / OS platform that you like. Learn all you can and keep up with the current standards. It's good to be proficient in both Windows and the Macintosh, and not to have irrational attachments to either.

When you get out there looking for a job, I suggest starting out looking for straight production jobs, like at a service bureau, printer or other imaging company. Don't be too proud to do grunt work. That grunt work will give you a major competitive edge.

My final word of advice would be to not avoid school if you can at all help it. I know it's expensive, but there are a ton of grants, scholarships and loans out there. If you do go to school major in something like "Art Direction" so you'll get a smattering of managerial training along with the design stuff. This, along with working hard-core production jobs while you're in college, and knowing all the current software and above all, being FLEXIBLE, then you will be able to have a good career as a designer.

[RedRum]

What nicanfhilidh has said is true for those of us in graphic design. Advertising (the biggest employer in graphic design) has taken a big hit in the last few years. Along with the internet bubble crash, quite a few of us are "dot com refugees".

I had a great job working for a small company in Boston 2 years ago as a lead designer. Bubble popped, whole marketing department is out on the street.

Enough doom and gloom (although you do have to be ready to be expended). The beginning of your career can be very exciting. I would recommend interviewing with staffing firms (there should be a whole bunch in the New York area) and "temping" for various companies. It's a grind, but the money can be pretty good and you get to see how the industry works from many different perspectives. Some staffing agencies simply test you in the standard software (like Photoshop and Illustrator) and send you out on production jobs based on your proficiency.

Beware, it can take a lot of energy jumping into a project as a temp, and it can lead to weird social situations (as anyone who has temped can attest to) where you're "shunned" by permanent employees who don't want you taking their job (whether or not you would want it). But I've learned quite a bit from just "working the project" and then moving on. Do be in touch with your agency, because you could find yourself moving on at any time when the project budget gets tight.

Last bit of advice: DO learn as much software as you can and DON'T lie about what you know because you might be thrown right into the mix by someone thinking you're an expert. DO try to learn presentation software like PowerPoint and start designing killer presentations for the sales guys because you're less likely to be kicked to the curb if they stick up for you. Enough for now, Good luck out there!

[JoyJoyJoy]

OOOO - Do I sense some negativity? Hmmm....

Anything negative that can be said about employment as a graphic designer can be said of any profession. No wage job is ever secure, which is why I have had my own free-lance business even while employed. Every profession has their changes and "crashes;" that is just the way life is right now... the only thing we can count on is that things will change.

The wonderful thing about being artists is that we can always adjust. For example, technology changes caused me to lose my well-paying job in 1999. I was a four-color scanner operator and image manipulator on a DS 608 drum scanner. In about 1995, the prices of flat bed scanners and image manipulation programs were lowered enough for most of my ad agency clients to buy their own, instead of hiring me to do the work. Within a few years, flat bed scanners were available to the public for reasonable prices. Poof! There went the job! So, I just switched to oil painting and now sell my artworks. (On eBay, competing with 35,000 other artworks daily... and selling so quickly that I cannot paint fast enough to keep stuff on eBay and do commissions also.)

By the way, the first part-time training job and the first full-time job I had a graphic designer was in the Detroit area in 1980. At that time, the automobile industry (the main employer in that area) crashed, leaving many automobile line workers out of work. Pontiac (just north of Detroit) downtown looked like a movie of the 30's Depression, with about one-third of the store fronts boarded up when I started the full-time job, and as many as two-thirds closed while I was in that job. About that time, we also had a country-wide gasoline shortage, which created lines at the gas stations and prices up to 149.9 (about three dollars in today's money). However, I had a good job with benefits.

Psilo... Don't listen to the doom and gloom stories. There is always work for an artist.

Nance

[nicanfhilidh]

Originally posted by JoyJoyJoy
OOOO - Do I sense some negativity? Hmmm....



Nope. Just good old fashioned pragmatism, definitely not a negative trait for a successful artist. :angel:

[Skinny]

...No wage job is ever secure...

Ain't that a fact!

Psilo, the cautions are worthwhile....there's no use thinking it'll be a cakewalk. BUT, the main thing to ask yourself is, "Do I love doing this?" .

To be successful today requires a LOT of work. Make sure you're spending those hours having fun! Few other choices will determine more your quality of life. Too, in my experience, love of the work is the best indicator of future success.

But what do you think? We've poured out our hearts,....and we'd love to hear YOUR THOUGHTS. :cat:

[Aibrean]

Well I just got a graphic arts degree in May, and contrary to what one poster wrote, my college had teacher's that were doing freelancing while teaching there.

I'm still looking for a full time grpahic arts job, but while I am looking I am also taking up some freelancing jobs on the side. It's a good idea to maybe ask companies if they would like a new logo or have an old one redesigned. Anyone would let you work for them for free. Remember, when you are adding clients to your resume, a potential employer will not know whether you got paid or not.

There are a lot of opportunities and different things for graphic designers to do... Ads, billboards, logos, point of purchase displays, packaging, website design, cd cover design..etc. just to name a few.


Good luck with whatever you do :)