Don't dream it's over
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- yol
Where in the world is the best place to be successful as graphic designer?
Ive been working in London as a freelancer for 3 years and I've found the industry here very conservative. There aren't any opportunities for new designers and the snobbish culture of the upper middle class dominate every studio.
I totally disheartened and deeply creatively frustrated and unfulfilled :(
- i_monk0
Hey now; hey now.
- Hey now, hey now now ... sing this corrosion to me ...Continuity
- GeorgesIV0
and here I was thinking ldn was the top of the game
- yol0
I cant get the visa's for the US, CA or AUS. So the only place I can go is Netherlands.
- hans_glib0
looks like the best place for a talented pleb like you is holland then
- formed0
or just move up the food chain and change things...don't overlook that every new class thinks, more or less, the same thing. That's called "reality" and a "wake up call", we all face it at some point.
:-)
- yol0
You would know what im talking about if you worked here.. Seriously, how does one make a living in the UK!! London is a billionaire boys club!
- you're the exception, btwmonospaced
- Have you tried getting your own clients?breadlegz
- monospaced0
"all the successful designers/illustrators come from private schools!!!"
Maybe that's the difference. It's not "snobbish culture of the upper middle class" either, it's just better, more informed design.
- well at least we know who's side you're on!!!!yol
- I'm on your side, I just think you need to be realistic about your skills before complainingmonospaced
- i_monk0
Three years freelancing is hardly enough time to ascend to the upper echelons of the industry.
And do you think those who are currently up there got there because they did radical work, or because they did what the client expected (which is almost never mind-blowing)?
- yol0
monospaced "...either, it's just better, more informed design." –
I disagree, they are beneficiaries of privilege. I wouldn't be homeless 3 times a year, leaving hostels and living off scarps of work, if my parents could of afforded to send me to a £10k a year private school!!!
I would leave that school with a 100k head start on everyone else and socially well connect to others with money and influence.
Look at Kate Moross, she went a 15k a year all girls school in North London and I expect she did have to take out a student loan to pay for university education!!!
- did someone tell you design school was 10 years long? LOL, it's like 2monospaced
- and you can get a loanmonospaced
- Im not talking about design school, these people have private primary and secondary school education.yol
- I thought you were talking about design education. Real education is even better. Writing skills are huge.monospaced
- Moross is more a case of "Who you know" isn't she related to the moo.com guy?animatedgif
- monospaced0
@yol
I went to a private design school and didn't ask my parents for a dime to pay for it. That being said, I will say with 100% confidence that the vast majority of designers getting the jobs have formal education in the field. It's not that the degree is required to get the job, but it sure fucking helps since it does result in better work. When I hire people, I go straight for the ones who came from good schools because I know they have a strong grasp on the history and correct use of typography. Self taught designers in the freelance market churn out decent bodies of work, but you can see straight through to the lack of education, and I simply don't hire them because it would be a chore to teach them on the job.
- you're sorta supporting his position - you went to private school, therefor only hire those from private school as well.Gnash
- not saying you don't have a valid position. what you say makes sense.Gnash
- It SEEMS like that, but we ONLY hire based on quality of work. The educated designers are leagues ahead most of the time.monospaced
- the others. We still review any freelance work that comes in, regardless of education.monospaced
- iCanHazQBN0
"When I hire people, I go straight for the ones who came from good schools"
-monospaced"but we ONLY hire based on quality of work"
-monospaced- If we are SEEKING, we go for good schools. But we still accept and review anything that comes in.monospaced
- There's no contradiction in those statements.monospaced
- Thanks for clarifying.iCanHazQBN
- yol0
Then you're an exception to the rule.
I've worked at decent studios, done decent work and Im good with typography. Im more or less convinced I wont get a permanent job because I come from the wrong class.
I dont think having a good art education means anything, you are either good or not. Besides I have a HND in Graphic Design and BA from the LCC UAL.
- mekk0
also went on a private school that I paid working my ass off on weekends and during the night. It was worth it! Living in Germany. Also I can recommend designing here! Great office culture, people look after each other etc.
- yol0
So monospaced is on of the elites who discriminate against people because of their background!
- that's not really what he saidGnash
- that's nothing what I said, I think your'e being really immature about thismonospaced
- Gnash0
I think if one hasn't grown up in the UK it's difficult to understand the kind of class discrimination that Yol is referring to. It may not be as overt as it once was, but I imagine it's quite insidious.
- Wolfboy0
"I'm more or less convinced I wont get a permanent job because I come from the wrong class."
Are you being serious Yol?
I'm as working class as they come (also from the North) and I've never seen or felt that I've been at any disadvantage in pursuing my career. I've worked in London since 2001 and I've been freelancing since 2006 and can honestly say I've not seen a class divide.
What do you mean by 'private schools'?
I'm pretty sure all the reputable Universities and colleges in the creative fields are available to anyone. As long as you've got the grades from the previous level of education you can get in. The Uni I went to is down in Cornwall (Falmouth) and in was not exactly swimming in Dukes and princesses.
- EXACTLY WHAT A PRINCE WOULD SAY!!! KILL THE 1%!!! ANARCHYGeorgesIV
- haha I'm as posh as mud. And not the kind kicked up by the horseys at the polo.Wolfboy
- Yes I am. I am also from the North.
Private schools meaning they were not state educated and had access to money and opportunities.
yol - Honestly I have lost count of the amount people I've meet who come from Surrey, Kent, SevenOaks, etcyol
