Author Topic: Graphic Design...career advice plz (Read 3965 times)

rodi · « **on:** October 06, 2006, 03:57:22 AM »

So I'm majoring in Anthropology and so far every counselor at my school has suggested I take some other classes, like Graphic Design, to fall back on during my graduate studies...apparently beginning anthropologists don't make money.

So how is Graphic Design as a field? Do they make a good living? How do they find work, as in contracts/freelance or permenant? What skills should I have if I want to get into it?

The Fake Shemp · « **Reply #1 on:** October 06, 2006, 04:04:16 AM »

... Yeah, don't call me!

rodi · « **Reply #2 on:** October 06, 2006, 04:05:52 AM »

Quote from: Willco on October 06, 2006, 04:04:16 AM

... Yeah, don't call me!

Asshole! I know what you do for a living!

edit: ...OH! I GET IT!

Vizzys · « **Reply #3 on:** October 06, 2006, 04:13:54 AM »

I don't have it as a job, but Ive been told by those that do, its more of having a good portfolio/experience then degrees when it comes to graphic design.

Although having a good knowledge of colors/layouts/contrast and stuff would help.

brawndolicious · « **Reply #4 on:** October 06, 2006, 04:57:00 AM »

http://www.evilbore.com/forum/index.php?topic=1155.0

There is a lot of advice in this thread. ignore the parts about phoenix dark and comparing probable college degrees.

Thee Reverend Gary Davis · « **Reply #5 on:** October 06, 2006, 05:21:52 AM »

It's a very easy job, you can always make websites for people on the side if you're short of work too.

APF · « **Reply #6 on:** October 06, 2006, 11:57:23 AM »

I was an Anth major for a bit (then I switched to Philo), now I'm a web dev. Most of the designers I work with make comparable salaries, but there's a lot stiffer competition/fewer opportunities there, IMO. AFA what skills you need to develop, it depends on what your focus will be, particularly if you're debating whether to go exclusively print or web...

MrAngryFace · « **Reply #7 on:** October 06, 2006, 01:05:43 PM »

I have a digital design degree. My current job doesnt involve any of that. Lol

Honestly all the Digital Design course taught me was that I dont want a job in the field. Anyone who isnt struck by artistic brilliance is making Bacardi ads for Maxim.

APF · « **Reply #8 on:** October 06, 2006, 01:58:39 PM »

When you get your first commercial jobs, you'll be doing production work; for the web designers in my office, that means things like creating buttons and stuff. Higher-level designers work on things like building templates and one-offs ("features," etc), using the guidelines built by the IA staff and Art Director. Freelance work is usually take-what-you-get: one of my acquaintences is a very-high-level designer and one of her current projects is designing Q&A pages for a popular Womens' magazine.

The Fake Shemp · « **Reply #9 on:** October 06, 2006, 02:09:23 PM »

I make brochures lolz (god i want to quit this place)

The Fake Shemp · « **Reply #10 on:** October 06, 2006, 02:14:58 PM »

Also, quadfolds are the most annoying things ever invented by man. A trifold I can understand, but why would my company want a quadfold? FOUR TIMES THE UNFOLDING.

MrAngryFace · « **Reply #11 on:** October 06, 2006, 02:16:47 PM »

What do you use to make them? Adobe InDesign?

The Fake Shemp · « **Reply #12 on:** October 06, 2006, 02:31:00 PM »

Combo of Photoshop and InDesign CS2. Those two programs love each other.

I just wrapped up a trifold, a trifold standee for retail and a quadfold this month. The only issue is I'm never in charge of art direction, and while I don't have a problem with authority, I think they could look better (my bosses micromanage).

But, it's another thing to add to my resume, and I'm pretty confident then when it comes to print design... I can pretty much deliver exactly what the client wants.

MrAngryFace · « **Reply #13 on:** October 06, 2006, 02:34:07 PM »

Yeah. My digital design courses were almost all Adobe programs, save the 3DMax courses.

The trinity of Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign are supposed to be the ultimate package for that kind of work. Photoshop DOES do vector but Illustrators Vector shit is soo great.

The Fake Shemp · « **Reply #14 on:** October 06, 2006, 02:40:46 PM »

Well, when I did the school paper, I actually made a brave move and learned Pagemaker instead of QuarkXPress. In the end, it helped, because print is moving more and more away from QuarkXPress and to InDesign.

APF · « **Reply #15 on:** October 06, 2006, 02:55:06 PM »

If either of you are interested in doing web stuff, do me a favor and learn Fireworks (until it gets discontinued)

The Fake Shemp · « **Reply #16 on:** October 06, 2006, 02:59:58 PM »

How is that doing YOU a favor?

I use Fireworks to make animated .gifs and other fun stuff.

APF · « **Reply #17 on:** October 06, 2006, 03:10:03 PM »

Uh that's the royal me, where I speak for all web devs...

The Fake Shemp · « **Reply #18 on:** October 06, 2006, 03:17:20 PM »

I have some experience with Fireworks, but - hey! - at least I own it. I want to dabble in more web design. Teach me your ways, APF.

Prost · « **Reply #19 on:** October 06, 2006, 03:40:05 PM »

I hear you have to be way talented to do this stuff nowadays.

The Fake Shemp · « **Reply #20 on:** October 06, 2006, 03:47:46 PM »

Nah, I'm a hack.

The postcard mailer I did just came in. Eh. It looks too tacky. I did a mock up of a design for them and was told it was "too iPod, too hip". Yeah, that's such a bad move from SUNDAY SUNDAY SUNDAY BUY OUR SHIT!

MrAngryFace · « **Reply #21 on:** October 06, 2006, 04:02:15 PM »

Im not web dev, I do technical work but its not related to either of my degrees lol.

APF · « **Reply #22 on:** October 06, 2006, 04:11:53 PM »

Quote from: Willco on October 06, 2006, 03:17:20 PM

I have some experience with Fireworks, but - hey! - at least I own it. I want to dabble in more web design. Teach me your ways, APF.

Fireworks isn't as strong in terms of image editing, but it's great for organizing your (web page) comps and templates. It's far superior in terms of image slicing and optimization, and has useful things like frames (esp for rollovers) and symbols. What I would love one of these programs to implement would be standard UI element "symbols" (most designers resort to taking screenshots of things like scrollbars and form elements), and some sort of CSS-friendly way of defining box properties and things like that.

rodi · « **Reply #23 on:** October 07, 2006, 03:57:58 AM »

So...oh, sounds kind of interesting. So I don't need to go to art school or anything to become an art dev.? Just take some courses at college in all the relevent adobe programs?

Himu · « **Reply #24 on:** October 07, 2006, 04:17:43 AM »

Suggested that you get a good portfolio and some connections.

rodi · « **Reply #25 on:** October 07, 2006, 05:09:50 AM »

Quote from: Himuro on October 07, 2006, 04:17:43 AM

Suggested that you get a good portfolio and some connections.

Ah, so there's the catch!

Vizzys · « **Reply #26 on:** October 07, 2006, 05:13:23 AM »

learn photoshop so you can make cool pictures like this:

rodi · « **Reply #27 on:** October 07, 2006, 05:15:47 AM »

Quote from: Viz on October 07, 2006, 05:13:23 AM

learn photoshop so you can make cool pictures like this:

(Image removed from quote.)

wtf!

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Author Topic: Graphic Design...career advice plz (Read 3965 times)