To The Graphic Design Freshman:
April 19, 2007 | by CarsonHere’s the deal with choosing a graphic design program: Ultimately you’re going to get out of them what you put into them. I know a bunch of great designers that graduated from a number of diverse schools (everything from state schools to art schools). Conversely, I know some pretty crappy designers that graduated from the same schools. Ultimately it’s up to you- and how much you want to put into it. Your passion and hunger to learn and absorb will have a far greater effect on your education than your choice of schools. Your ultimate success will depend on how well you communicate your ideas and concepts through flawless execution.
The UW - Eau Claire program (which I graduated from) stresses conceptual practices and theories- and does it well, while leaving the mastering of computer applications up to you as a student. (Meaning that you’ll have to spend a lot of time learning the ins-and-outs of Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, Flash, etc. yourself to be truly proficient.) Software is an incredible tool, but no matter how tempting it is- never forget the freedom of pencil and paper. The fine art (studio art- such as life drawing, sculpture, photography, etc.) classes that are part of some design programs will encourage you to think about design in different ways using diverse media as your creative vehicle. When you are exploring different programs- take a look at the school’s curriculum and see if studio art classes are part of their design program. They should be!
As far as preparation for the real world goes: get a design internship! Internship experiences during college summers can teach you more about “the industry” than you will ever learn while attending any design school. If you attend college in a smaller city, I highly recommend expanding your internship search to include some large cities (such as Minneapolis, New York, Chicago, LA, etc). Metropolitan areas provide a much larger arena of creative opportunity outside of the classroom. There’s just something about the intensity of urban areas that inspires creativity.
When it comes to landing a job after graduation, there are two things that are of the utmost importance- and where your degree is from is NOT one of them:
1. Your portfolio. The more it rocks, the better! One way to enhance your portfolio while still in school is to start doing freelance design on the side. Even if you’re doing it for a friend for free, or for someone your parents know for cheap- you’re still working on a “real” project for a “real” client- this will give you a huge step-up on your peers when you graduate and are looking for a job. Make sure to think of every project you work on as an opportunity to create a masterpiece… no matter who it’s for, or how much you’re getting paid (or not paid, for that matter).
2. Your communication skills. Effective interaction with your superiors, peers and clients will play as large a role in your success as your actual design prowess. Your ability to listen, relate and then understand and analyze are all extremely important. Remember: graphic design is communication arts.
