Should I go to Design School?
Out of context: Reply #4
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- monNom5
Yes, commercial design work is probably the best option of those listed in terms of career prospects. There are a lot of companies out there and they all tend to need some type of design service at some point. It's also very competitive, so you'll need to work hard to build and constantly develop your skills in order to be successful.
A graphic designer is judged almost solely on their portfolio of work. If you can go to school to learn the craft and develop a solid collection of work to show, then it could be worthwhile. Though depending on your skill-level at the moment, it's also possible to learn in an apprentice-style by getting a job as a graphic designer and learning on the job. In 2 years, if you're hungry to learn and immerse yourself in the design world, you'll likely be on a level, if not superior to grads from the school programme.
I was lucky enough to get some early experience with design tools and was developed enough to get a junior design job without college. I've seen enough grad portfolios over the years to know that a lot of colleges are more interested in churning out classes than in producing good students, so don't think that a degree carries significant weight in this industry. It's all about your work, and how easy you are to work with.
Financially, I don't know if I could recommend going into debt for design college. Wages for a junior designer are pretty low, and school has gotten very expensive. I'd look hard at alternatives to get where you want to go.
Hope that helps.
- << +1GeorgesII
- yes, no matter what you do, you better come out with something to show, and no school can guarantee thatmonospaced