"Formal Training Required"
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- neonbeige
Okay, so I am just going to say this... I didn't major in design in college...I majored in dance...I AM A SELF-TAUGHT DESIGNER!
People always say it is the portfolio that matters most, but it seems like a majority of job listings I see require you to have formal training. I appreciate the value of formal training...ballet will do that to a person... but I keep debating whether or not I should go back to school... Should I go into debt and get my "formal training"? ...any advice?
- Jaline0
How old are you? Not that age matters much, but I think you have time to go back to school and do it a little differently this time around. If you need a job and they all require schooling then you can either go back or move somewhere else.
Good luck :)
- Jaline0
btw, you have some nice work in your portfolio
- neonbeige0
I am 23. I have been doing freelance work for almost 4 years. I graduated from Columbia University in 2004. So, basically, I am a poor recent grad. I get work, but the last 4 years have been such a struggle...I think going to school would just make things easier... except financially
- ********0
this article by Steven Heller addresses this issue and concludes that training is valuable unless you are me
- ********0
forgot the link:
- Jaline0
yeah, school sucks muchos for financial stuff. Well, I think you could go back to school and see how you feel about it, otherwise move (if that's possible). School is quite useful but as you know it is also expensive. It's hard to say. Some companies care more about your folio, but I guess if it's been hard for the past few years you should consider school.
- dopepope0
Your work is nice. Obviously you'd benefit from more schooling, as would anyone. But if it's going to put you in sick debt, then don't bother. Just do a lot more reading and perhaps give your self projects to do to expand your thikning and portfolio.
- neonbeige0
That article is pretty awesome. I like the term "feral designer." Yeah, I think school would be good. So, now I guess the debate is whether I would benefit more from getting a second bachelor's or if I should get a Master's degree...
- _salisae_0
if you are unable to move ahead in your career then you require schooling.
try applying for a full time, medium level design job and see.
- exador10
i suppose that depends on what sort of work you're looking for..
if design is a hobby, or you just do a little lite freelancing at night for friends, don't bother with school.if however, you want to make a serious career out of this, then school should be a major consideration..
you need not go into serious dept..many fine colleges/uni's offer evening classes, etc...you can make it work to fit your budget...maybe go part time.why?
self taught is one thing. and for most of us, a great percentage of what we know is self taught...
however.
the few years i had in school taught me plenty...courses on typography, colour theory, theory and practice of design, theory of advertising, psychology of advertising....all this is important..you can't 'self -learn' it all....you need someone that KNOWS it to show you...a good prof or teacher can show you things you may not have come across...if you're looking for a career in this field, you don't want to look like some Sunday-painter...you want to be taken seriously...
attending school for design shows a dedication to the craft, as well as shows potential companies that you have indeed studied the art.to say nothing of all the connections and networking you can do in school...to this day i still hang out with a few of my college buddies...have gotten work from them, and steered work towards them...
you'll get out of it exactly what you put in...cliche as that sounds...
- exador10
wow..
just looked at your site..
you've got some exceptional work there man..cheers
ex(still tho...school's a good idea)
- neonbeige0
This is not a hobby, I have been doing this for a living for a while now. And just to put it into perspective...I trained (formally!) in ballet from the age of 6 through college...and it doesn't compare with what I have had to do in order to position myself as a working self-taught designer.
While I was still in school I spent all my free time working and even when I was a jr. web designer for a small firm for over a year I still worked on my own projects every weekend and almost every night after work.
- neonbeige0
by the way...thanks for the encouragement...you are making me blush! (I'm a girl)
- chossy0
It matters not a jot in my profession people simply go by your showreel credits and body of work, in other words your portfolio. If you are a great designer or have a great talet you need no training, if you do not have these skills then you need to go to school and learn some skills, or become a webdesigner.
- ********0
Steven Heller, who wanted to be a cartoonist, has been an art director for... He was art director for Screw.
sounds like this comic
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product…
- exador10
hey there..
didn't mean to infer that it was a hobby to ya..
i posted here before i looked at your site..
you've got talent girl :)school will help out in a ton of ways, but namely it'll give you that piece of paper that says 'i've been formally trained, and am allowed to work in a big studio'...
its' like getting a liscence...
don't really need one to drive, anyone can learn that, but you need one nonetheless...and you will learn stuff...thats actually true...lots of ad agencies hire from specific schools (namely where THEY went)...and like you said...some places just won't hire someone with out that paperwork...
with your skills, you'll be fine..
get some schooling in ya, even if it's part time, and you'll be ok:)
ex
- ********0
neon
i dont have formal training
i took political science in college, than dropped out
so dont be shy about it..
what really matters is where you have worked or a really strong portfolioi always find ppl with no training really good at what they do (except me, i just get around)
http://www.xururu.org/
Andre, he has no formal training but he is one of the top guys in the world for interactive designfor me experience matters more than education
- ********0
neon
i dont have formal training
i took political science in college, than dropped out
so dont be shy about it..
what really matters is where you have worked or a really strong portfolioi always find ppl with no training really good at what they do (except me, i just get around)
http://www.xururu.org/
Andre, he has no formal training but he is one of the top guys in the world for interactive designfor me experience matters more than education
- ********0
neon
dinky doesn't have formal training
- neonbeige0
Oh no, I totally get what you are saying, exador1, and I think you are right.