Back to School?

[King PSYZ]

So a certain co-worker suggested this morning I try and get into graphic design for real like.

Maybe this isn't such a bad idea... I mean while I like sales and all for now, I know it's not something I want to see myself doing for the rest of my days. Mostly because it requires me to remain in a place like Vegas.

If I get into graphic design I can live anywhere, it's such a digital medium now it's comepletely possible to work from home entirely. So I could say work in San Francisco but actually live in Whitefish, Montana.

Maybe I should look around UNLV and find out how much it would cost me to get a degree in Graphic Design...

thoughts?

[beastieangel01]

I find that Graphic Design is incredibly oversaturated.

Be damned good at it, make sure others think you are damned good at it, and you can probably get somewhere with it.

[Bob]

if a certain coworker suggested that you jump off a bridge, would you do that too?

[jabumbo]

runnin' rebels are the shit (y)

[King PSYZ]

I find that Graphic Design is incredibly oversaturated.

Be damned good at it, make sure others think you are damned good at it, and you can probably get somewhere with it.
A few people have liked the work I have done with no formal training, with the right education and direction I think I'd be prety damned good.
if a certain coworker suggested that you jump off a bridge, would you do that too?
Let's talk height and depth and speed of the body of water below and anything is possible.

[HEIRESS]

fuck your coworkers, I say do it so yer going to do it!

[HEIRESS]

OH! except you know who!

[adam_f]

Originally posted by HEIRESS
OH! except you know who!

Lord Voldemort?

[zorra_chiflada]

hmm, doing it at college isn't the greatest idea. i've finally realised now that in a working environment, someone with a degree can be easily shafted by someone with no experience. it also depends on how much you want to be told what to do. i thought that graphic design would be all about expression of your ideas, but the more "successful" people in my class are the ones that really don't have any thoughts of their own, and just want to make pretty things.
another thing, a college degree will not teach you how to be a good designer or the good principles of design. they will just make you pump out work and then say "that's good" or "that's shit" to be honest, i haven't really learnt what makes good design.
are you good with design software (photoshop, indesign, illustrator)? if so, you have an advantage.
it also tends to kill your passion for the subject.
you can probably tell that i really hate my degree :(

ooh, and i forgot. make sure you have your own digital camera and are are confident in using it.

[King PSYZ]

for learning on my own i'm pretty proficient with Photoshop. I seem to understand the basics of how it opperates so I can sorta figure things out.

for me, a college training would be twofold. one to learn something i don't already know about graphic design, and two i've wanted for a long time to have a higher education for my own self esteem. (I had to drop out of High School to help support my familly)

[Lindsey_1535]

Lord Voldemort?
SHHHHHHHHHHH!!! Do not speak his name!! :mad:

[ToucanSpam]

I think Aidan and Zorra are the two best peoples to conult on this issue.

[zorra_chiflada]

I think Aidan and Zorra are the two best peoples to conult on this issue.


we both hate graphic design and are wondering why we are doing it and where our lives are going :(

[Kid Presentable]

thoughts?

How old are you?

[ToucanSpam]

we both hate graphic design and are wondering why we are doing it and where our lives are going :(
thats why i said you two would be the best to consult

[HEIRESS]

we both hate graphic design and are wondering why we are doing it and where our lives are going :(

who doesnt feel that way about their lives everyday really

I mean uh er :(

[ToucanSpam]

who doesnt feel that way about their lives everyday really

I mean uh er :(
:( incoming PM

[enree erzweglle]

If you do it, make sure that your graphics design program includes adequate courses for sound Web design and verify that it offers courses that help you to integrate that Web work into paper product lines. You also want to learn how to single-source manage both aspects of the work so that you work efficiently without running into configuration management problems.

I think graphic design has changed quickly as the Web itself has evolved in the last several years. Most of the designers that I know have had to either go back to school (to take mediocre Web classes--classes that were assembled on the fly) or worse yet, they've had to learn from their customers. (That last bit happened lots and I think a lot of designers lost hard-earned credibility with the technical staff for not having stayed ahead of that curve.)

Good luck deciding...

[King PSYZ]

Well I should clarify, my intent is to go into either print ad or magazine design. these are two things i know i have a talent for and with the right direction could take further.

i am 31 but it's never to late to take a different path as a fortune cookie once told me.

while web work is an interesting aspect, i find it uninteresting. there are some good ideas out there, but because of web dynamics, either pages are overdesigned or far too simplistic. i'd personally prefer to stay in the print relm and occasionally take that over to maybe a basis for a web design.

[Kid Presentable]

^^^
It's wicked for me to see somebody unafraid to take a risk and follow their dream.

I'm going back to school next year, and I'll be 25. With the amount of people my age who have done things like start a family and buy a home, I was wondering exactly how I was going to make it work.

I think I've made enough distance on the path I'm on to realise that I want a change. I also think that logic will benefit my motivation.

In short, good shit. (y)

[ericlee]

so which route do you want to use the graphic design skills?

It seems like you have a good aspect on music and such so maybe you can design inlays for cds..

[King PSYZ]

I'd probablly be most comfortable working on music magazine design and music culture related advertising. be it mp3 players, labels, venues, speakers, clothing, whatever.

I don't think label design would be my thing, it's something I wouldn't refuse, but not the direction I was initially heading.

[Kid Presentable]

so which route do you want to use the graphic design skills?

It seems like you have a good aspect on music and such so maybe you can design inlays for cds..

Maybe he could do Tour Posters and the like?

[Documad]

I have a couple of unemployed graphic designers in my family. They went to shit schools and I have no idea whether they have any talent. They also aren't the most motivated people so I wouldn't take it as a sign. I also have a friend who loves her graphic design job in print advertising but I can't talk about her because she might be stalking me here.

I'd want to interview some people who are doing the job you see yourself doing. I'd also want to interview some people who might be a potential employer. Find out what they think of the degree you're considering. Find out whether you could do some kind of internship or paid job while you're in school. I went to night school while working full time. So did a lot of my schools friends (obviously because they were in night school with me).

I fully support going back to school when older. Some of the most kick ass students I knew in both business school and beyond were the older students coming back. But be realistic about whether you're up for studying hard. It is harder than you remember--once you step off the school track, it takes some real work to get back on. You tend to forget how to play the game. On the other hand, your real life experience is super valuable and you might be more motivated that the aimless kids who wandered into college with no idea why they're there. One of my best friends in law school was 39 when she graduated and she did really well. Another friend who was 40 did really badly. She worked her ass off. He had a difficult time adapting to the rules of school again (my sense is that he was never good at it). She turned out to be a great lawyer, he didn't.

The biggest mistake I saw my adult student friends make was working at their 9 to 5 job instead of taking advantage of internships and low paying jobs that give terrific work experience in the field. In my line of work, it meant that people working as managers at a bank never did the low paying or volunteer law clerk jobs. Law firms tend not to hire people who never were law clerks. The bank managers were terrific and had good grades, but they had never written a legal brief in the real world.

I didn't understand a word enree said, btw. :)

[zorra_chiflada]

Maybe he could do Tour Posters and the like?


it's good work if you can get it. most of the design jobs available here are local, community projects.
i'd like to work for a printing company perhaps. i'm still not sure. i just don't want to be poor and unemployed.

[Kid Presentable]

i just don't want to be poor and unemployed.

You don't need to worry about that. It sounds like you're living in an unnecessary state of fear.

[King PSYZ]

Very sound advice, I know it will be a lot of work and I have to make sure I have the time to dedicate to it before I even consider moving forward with this.

But I love creating different layouts and print ads. I did a few for alruggs school projects when either she had no graphic design partner on a project or the one she had did shitty work, and I loved it.

When I'm at a computer than can access my picturetrail acct i'll have to post some of the work I did with her and maybe some of the work I did for others just cause.

[zorra_chiflada]

You don't need to worry about that. It sounds like you're living in an unnecessary state of fear.

i think it's cause i live in a place with such high unemployment. i really would be happy if i got any job.

[Rancid_Beasties]

i think it's cause i live in a place with such high unemployment. i really would be happy if i got any job.
Move to Melbourne (y)

Most livable city etc etc. I've never been worried about a job here, you can pretty much get part time work anywhere. And full time work, well my parents have always had decent jobs and my dad doesnt have a degree or anything so it can't be too hard.

Just bring a few hundred cases of cascade apple isle with you (a few for me too (y))

[aspartame]

Go back to school, make sure you pay attention in every print production class!!!! Most graphic designers get fired because they can't set up their job files correctly. Design school is for building your portfolio, so take every project seriously! GOOD LUCK!

[aspartame]

Also... if you don't have a mac, try to get one. If you're interrested in print, Photoshop, Illustrator, In Design, and Quark are the main programs you'll be using, so become very familiar with their commands. If you can work fast and don't get stressed easily, you'll do fine.

[King PSYZ]

Yeah, I've been wanting to get a mac as a second computer for doing graphics work.

i know photoshop pretty well and some ilustrator functions, if I do decide to follow through with this I'll get the mac and those 4 programs and spend a few months getting to know how they work before even starting classes.

Here's some of the stuff I've already worked on;
This one I mainly provided an idea or two and Andrea had the vison (http://pic6.picturetrail.com/VOL149/1122153/4340329/52710516.jpg)
This has to be an all time favorite, again Andrea's original idea and I had a lot of fun with this one. Choosing fonts and adding the digital display overlay, also note some changes to the painted controls in the same font. (http://pic6.picturetrail.com/VOL149/1122153/4340329/52710523.jpg)

I'll have to find some more of my old stuff on my home computer.

[aspartame]

Sorry if my reply is too long...
In your first layout, the visual hierarchy is very good. For someone with no design experience, layout and working with a grid won't be a challenge. The position of the chair and the screen works well the type placement, i.e., it directs the viewer where to start reading (the magazine's title), and where to stop reading (bottom right). In the magazine title, consider increasing the typeface and making it one size so it can be read from a distance. The challenge is to make the cover stand out when placed from the top or bottom shelf in a magazine stand, over-exaggerate the typeface so the cover is visible and easy to read. Try moving Musicality under Sanity Ala, justified in the top left corner. Under Musicality, in a smaller font, put never miss a beat, so musicality is not repeated two times. Tighten up the copy and consider moving it to the right (maybe at an angle, but it might not work with the grid), where the desk opens up. In the top left corner, put the month, year, and price in small sans serif type.
In the second layout, COOL IMAGE! Layout is very good as well. The only thing you might consider changing is the typeface in the copy, it's really hard to read. It's auk to use two typefaces in a layout, but no more than two sans serif or a serif and sans serif font. Try flip-flopping the logo and the copy so the logo is the last thing the viewer sees, (when reading from left to right). Increase the type in the title so it's the same size as the vents. I really like the color scheme, works well with the image. What you did with the radio is very creative, that would be a cool t-shirt.
I'm a 31 year old, third year design student, so my suggestions may be completely wrong. Take your portfolio to a design school you may be interested in, and get a more professional opinion. But I think your a natural with layout, but may need some more experience in typography. Most people who are good in layout, find typography a challenge, (I'm one of those people). Hope that helped.

[aspartame]

And always proof read your work before showing it to a client.
"It's auk to use two typefaces in a layout, but no more than two sans serif or a serif and sans serif font." I meant it's OK to use two typefaces... school is a good thing (at least for me).

[King PSYZ]

thanks, I've always been one of those people highly annoyed by anything more than two different fonts in an ad.

which is why that elle cover in sure shots bothered me so much.

[cookiepuss]

Well, I've come to an epihany over the last few days and it looks like I will also be going back to school. i just have to apply for some scholarships and figure out how I'm gonna do it on top of a full time job but I'm gonna do it.

I want to be a vet assistant. I've always wanted to do something vet related ever since I was a child. and I realize now that I've tried everything else that that is what i need to be doing to be happy. I've been wasting the last 10 year of my life, doing things that aren't really what i want to do, I think because I was too afraid to try the thing I really wanted to do.

anyway, I'm almost 30 and it's time. this isn't going to be easy. but if I want to be happy in my life this is what I must do.