OCAD Design Degree Program
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- Mathias
Hi all
I've been recently accepted into Ontario College of Art and Designs degree program as an advanced standing student ... 3rd year because I have a diploma already in Design from Algonquin in Ottawa and about 7 years experience in the biz.
I was curious if there are any grads or folks who have completed 3rd out there and if they can tell me what the course load is like?
And should I even bother going back to school? .... even if I can get a Degree in 2 years???
Thoughts/help???
Matt
- Mathias0
Nobody has any comments on this?
- Xrtions0
I was accpeted too, sent in my letter yesterday, it's late but oh well.
- unknown0
forget OCAD, it sucks, the IAOD is where you want to be.
just look at the benefits:
-insanely high tuition
-instructors who have no clue what their talking about
-sharing your computer with 12 other students
-no degree
-no skills learned
-no job when you graduate
-3 years of study, crammed into 9 months...er, yeah
- Xrtions0
haha so true
- ********0
What do you plan to do with your degree? Will it make you a better designer?
OCAD is ok, but the learning is up to you, it's the opposite of Algonquin.
- Xrtions0
for me, as a designer, if i want to make a living of my craft, then i think it is important not to be ignorant to what has happened before me, weather it is web design or a 15th century painting.
- ********0
why spend all that money just to go and read a bunch of books you can find at your local library?
havent you seen Good Will Hunting?
- ********0
well, if you are going to ocad for design, your still going to have to learn 15th century painting on your own.
besides, the guy who posted this thread is going for different reasons than you are, you have to keep that in mind.
- _d0
I just called them (OCAD) , and even with a 3yr design diploma (GBC) I'd still have to spend another 2 years to get a degree.
5 years of school to get a degree in a field that doesn't necessarly offer more green to individuals who have earned them.
I don't understand the hype about design degree anyway.
- Mathias0
First off
Thanks to all you guys for your words ... good or bad.
Thanks Golden (i think it was) ... I would be kinda going for my own reasons... I want a degree ... somewhat for personal acievement.
It is a lot of money though, and no it wouldn't nessecarily get me a better gig ... another reason I am a little aprehensive ... I am already lead designer for TELUS Web Solutions Toronto ... not that its really fiving me aANY experience.
I've heard you can actually get more money ... but thats after you get the job based on a rockin portfolio.
I really need to spice up my work and get back to basics too.
Have any of you graduated from the program?
- Mathias0
prome4heus ... whats the'IAOD' ???
- exador0
he's talking about the academy..
international academy of designas for me?
well, i respect your desire to get the degree..but it really does have to just be about personal accomplishment..
at the end of the day, it's not likely to get you a better job, or more perks or anything..
the ocad name may open doors tho...
ocad grads, tend to hire ocad grads..but, as for degrees...
that sort of thing is likely to help out folks that want to scale the corporate ladder in business and stuff...
getting their mba's and what not..
but designers?
art directors?you'll learn more by travelling, working in other countries, and reading shitloads of design annuals and magazines..
i can't think of ANY art director or designer i know of that has moved up or advanced thier career any more than anyone else because of a degree..
more often than not, it's the ones that have some kind of innate skill or burning desire to work hard and be the best designer they can be..
still tho..if you really want the initials beside your name and stuff, my hats off to ya..
it's costly tho...and it may take a while..a long while for it to pay itself off..
on the other hand..
wow..
ocad girls..and queen st.
:)
- Mathias0
Exador ... ya rock bro
Thanks for the words ... kinda all the things I have been thinkin about.
I would so rather travel too! ... and I read and review design books now ... for Die Gestalten
there is something to be said about contacts ... and me getting back to basics.
Won't catch me at any IAOD thats for sure ... I here a lot of good thngs about OCAD.
I keep thinkin thatn it will pay off once I start looking at management roles and the like.
I dunno, to be able to do this in 2 years is really tempting ... and considering I MIGHT be able to get TELUS to pay for some of it. But that way I will have to work part-time ... and that could take longer still.
Lots to consirder ... but I realize that at the end of the day I won't get a better job ... just a refreshed portfolio, some connections, a paper and some initials beside my name ... and a wack load of debt POSSIBLY.
thanks a lot dude
- ********0
i went to the academy....
dont make the same mistake i did!
- Mathias0
Sorry Nick - I'm looking for a degree.
Nothin personal brother
- Mathias0
Nick - looks asthough you are doing pretty well though.
- Xrtions0
i dont expect to make more money if i achieve a degree and i dont expect to get any job offers as a result of it.
my main reason is to go and have fun and maybe learn a few things along the way. for example, i would like to learn more about color theories how different colors effect people and i would also like some professional training in typography.
another reason for going is that i dont want to start workin in this field (which i have been for the past 4 years) and burn out at age 25...university should be a fun experience and i dont want to miss that part of my life.
- exador0
no sweat mathias..
i totally respect your wanting to go for it..
and more than a few AD's i know went to ocad...and i have to say, there is a bit of a brotherhood there..
they tend to all know each other somehow, and it's good to have on your resume that you went there...
still tho..that said..it is a big investment, money-wise and time wise..
with luck, it'll pay off in a lot of ways..some of which you might not even know of now..
like, meeting people, connections, that sort of thing...
but i wish ya all the best..just remember, the little initals don't make the designer..
:)but they certainly can't hurt eh?
cheers man
ex
- Mathias0
thanks guys! - for kicks where have you studied?
I've got some thinkin to do
I think a big call though will be how much my work will back me up in doing it or not.
Cause I don't think it would be TOO wise to leave my fulltime gig ... that pays me failrly well.
This city is crazy expensive
- ********0
The funny thing is that I went to Algonquin years ago, and then went to OCAD, that's what made me respond to the post in the first place.
small world.