The design industry

[Appleseed]

coding is huge, I think. Being able to double as an illustrator/desginer and code

Highly employable trait. Everyone is trying to do more with less, and frankly having a capable graphics person with a good eye ALSO be the one coding or programming the web stuff creates a way more cohesive and simple workflow. You know, for those of us standing over your shoulder point at the screen.

[Yardsale]

I work as an art director; have been in advertising since I graduated and was doing it for 5 years. Then I did some interactive work and now I work as a client-side art director.

[phelen]

For me that's a huge gripe with the industry at the moment from where I live in the UK. They want you to do everything and expect to be paid peanuts for the process. I'm fortunate I work in a company where I'm just tasked for graphic design/illustrations and not be tasked also with knowing how to code. Its not that I'm dismissive of coding and I understand certain fundamentals but I want to play in my fucking playground without rules you know?.

[EG562]

yardsale, how you like working the client side? grass is greener i know, but Ive been curious which side is more better.

side note

i work at a big brand, i design your stuff, i piss in all the designs, i dont give a fuck.

Edited January 24, 2012 by EG562

[Clockwork_killa]

Glad to see this thread is still somewhat alive after all this time.

I seem to remember there were a few people on here like myself that work/worked in flash. How are you finding things at the minute? Are you still doing flash stuff? Have you branched out or switched to HTML5 and Javascript?

On a side note, anybody want (or know anybody that would want) some design work doing pro bono? Trying to build up some personal clients so I figure this is a good place to ask.

[N-O-R-S-E]

Lets revive this thread?

Glad to see this thread is still somewhat alive after all this time.

I seem to remember there were a few people on here like myself that work/worked in flash. How are you finding things at the minute? Are you still doing flash stuff? Have you branched out or switched to HTML5 and Javascript?

On a side note, anybody want (or know anybody that would want) some design work doing pro bono? Trying to build up some personal clients so I figure this is a good place to ask.

Link to your portfolio whenever you offer skills, man. More likely to get bites that way!

There's bound to be a good amount of designers on sufu! Get in here!

[Inkinsurgent]

is it me or is there a gradual expansion of jobs that like to intrude on designer turf?

nary a day goes by without some "conversion specialist" or "product manager CRM" breathing down my neck, waving some retarded test report and declaring that "green buttons don't work" or that "users don't read sans-serif type" (yeah i actually heard both..)

back in the day as a designer you had the authority to tell these people to fuck off back into their powerpoint cage, but lately it seems like everyone and their mom is a subject matter expert when it comes to b2c design.

[N-O-R-S-E]

This has also led into the 'jack of all trades' designer that every employer expects.

Now you're expected to know and do everything, which leads to a lot of pressure, smaller budgets and sloppy work.

Sigh!

[Desaturated]

Hm, interesting. I'm in school they kind of push that and of course I can see the benefit; art school is $$$ and the goal is to acquire that J-O-B, but...it kinda kills my vibe sometimes.

I took motion graphics this past semester and I'm dropping it because I don't like the added pressure of the class. I'm pushing it so hard in Graphic Design and Typography because I actually care about honing those skills. I think I know enough to still be able to implement some after effects in my portfolio.

Also, people love to bring up how "print is dead" which irks me. I'm still planning to switch into a printed matter silkscreening class. I'm gonna go with my gut on this one though because I think it is important to make yourself marketable but also I think the point of college is to tailor make your education.

This past summer I took a design internship at an Ad agency and I must say that I'm not stoked at the prospect of working in such a soulless field. I figure that' not an excuse to stop making what you wanna make though...

Thoughts?

Edited January 2, 2013 by Desaturated

[N-O-R-S-E]

Hm, good insight. I learned a basic intro to coding but I feel like it wont mean anything unless I practice.

I taught myself how to code by taking on more than I should have, it forced me to do it or fail. Surprisingly it worked. I'm now pretty fluent with HTML and CSS. Trying to get my head around Javascript but I mostly use cmd+c > cmd+v for any scripts I need.

Anyone looking to learn code, check out code academy; brilliant.

[N-O-R-S-E]

Hm, interesting. I'm in school...

I'm in my 3rd year, surrounded by people with no ambition. Sometimes I feel the lack of enthusiasm effects the quality of the classes work as a whole. I crave for similar minded people to bounce ideas off, get feedback and generally be in competition with. If you see your classmate producing solid work you sure as hell want to out do them and in turn take your work to a higher level.

In my college/Uni we don't pick 'classes' we get varied projects to work on and we are expected to explore the processes and techniques we need ourselves. This a big drawback for me, I'd love to have days of experimenting with letterpress, screen printing etc. I do screen printing in my own time. DO IT! You'll enjoy seeing your work come together.

I'm trying to concentrate on typography and editorial design. All my projects always end up going down that route.

I was fortunate enough to get an internship at a small agency (2 people) which had a very laid back vibe, I love it there. As its so small there's no ego, and this always your personality to shine in your work.

I can't see myself working for a big agency, but I may not have much choice.

[Desaturated]

Yeah, the enthusiasm and work ethic of classmates is a big deal for me, which is why I'm changing professors for my main GD course.

I'd like to experience a smaller agency as well. the big agencies are where the $ is though. I'd suggest you milk their facilities

Edited January 2, 2013 by Desaturated

[Inkinsurgent]

Now you're expected to know and do everything, which leads to a lot of pressure, smaller budgets and sloppy work.

but at the same time, all those things you're expected to know are 'your opinion' and easily swiped aside when someone's cousin's nephew says that orange is the new purple. it's anti-intellectualism, plain and simple.

[koven]

.....

Edited January 22, 2013 by koven

[Magsåvningsreserven]

a\w3e4ftr

Edited January 9, 2013 by Magnetic

[AH+]

I was planning on transferring to another school and go into their graphic design program but I did my research on the job prospects of the career and it didn't look good at all. I read through various forums and they were all filled with people who could't find a job because of the over saturation of GDs in the field. I really want to do GD but I am completely terrified that after I graduate I will be unable to find a job and then be drowned with debt in student loans. It is something that I really want to do but I am just so disappointed that it is really not a good career to go into... I don't feel confident in taking a risk with so many people who are having difficulty making a living out of it. So anyone have any advice on what I should do? I am really lost.

Edited January 8, 2013 by AH+

[Inkinsurgent]

The risk inherent to a career in graphic design is that our culture of mass production has robbed most people of their sense of aesthetics, and has also desensitized most of them to the concept of artisanal work. As a result, a good deal of potential clients literally cannot differentiate between good and bad design, nor do they see design as the work of a highly skilled individual. They regard design as a step in the construction process, executed by someone who knows where the buttons are in 'adobe'. Sadly, there are a lot of schools and students nowadays who more or less feel the same way about design, and even tailor their curriculum to 'what the market wants'. This is the type of graphic design that has seen explosive growth since the desktop publishing revolution and the rise of the internet, and it's these people who can't find work, because for every button-pushing design job, there are ten 'qualified' people.

Then there's the type of graphic design as it should be, conscientious, technical, theoretical and artisanal. Practiced by some of the more established bureaus, and by highly talented freelancers. These people will always have work, because while there is significantly less demand for this type of design, the demand still outnumbers the few people who work like this. If this sounds like you, go for it, dude. If the first paragraph sounds closer to home, save yourself a future in "can we get this in purple"-hell and pick another creative direction.

[EG562]

get into interactive design. Lots of mobile work out there.

[1M]

The risk inherent to a career in graphic design is that our culture of mass production has robbed most people of their sense of aesthetics, and has also desensitized most of them to the concept of artisanal work. As a result, a good deal of potential clients literally cannot differentiate between good and bad design, nor do they see design as the work of a highly skilled individual. They regard design as a step in the construction process, executed by someone who knows where the buttons are in 'adobe'. Sadly, there are a lot of schools and students nowadays who more or less feel the same way about design, and even tailor their curriculum to 'what the market wants'. This is the type of graphic design that has seen explosive growth since the desktop publishing revolution and the rise of the internet, and it's these people who can't find work, because for every button-pushing design job, there are ten 'qualified' people.

Then there's the type of graphic design as it should be, conscientious, technical, theoretical and artisanal. Practiced by some of the more established bureaus, and by highly talented freelancers. These people will always have work, because while there is significantly less demand for this type of design, the demand still outnumbers the few people who work like this. If this sounds like you, go for it, dude. If the first paragraph sounds closer to home, save yourself a future in "can we get this in purple"-hell and pick another creative direction.

well said.

[N-O-R-S-E]

get into interactive design. Lots of mobile work out there.

I second this.

[N-O-R-S-E]

I was planning on transferring to another school and go into their graphic design program but I did my research on the job prospects of the career and it didn't look good at all. I read through various forums and they were all filled with people who could't find a job because of the over saturation of GDs in the field. I really want to do GD but I am completely terrified that after I graduate I will be unable to find a job and then be drowned with debt in student loans. It is something that I really want to do but I am just so disappointed that it is really not a good career to go into... I don't feel confident in taking a risk with so many people who are having difficulty making a living out of it. So anyone have any advice on what I should do? I am really lost.

I hear this everyday, all the statistics about how 1/10 get a job at the end!

My opinion is... What if the other 9/10 are shit.

Seriously though. A strong portfolio and a good outlook on life will get you far.

[Inkinsurgent]

I hear this everyday, all the statistics about how 1/10 get a job at the end!

My opinion is... What if the other 9/10 are shit.

this. if there are 10 people for the job, they'll pick the best. be the best.

[phen3N]

AH+, if you really want to get into graphic design, don't waste your time/money on shitty graphic design trade schools. do your research and find out what each school's professors and alumni have done with their careers. find a school with truly innovative thinkers. i know that sounds like something out of a TED talk, but it's true: the teachers/students you meet in school influence you much more than the skills you learn, especially in a field as subjective as this. any school can teach you tools and software to design, but good taste and the right mindset are much harder to find.

[EG562]

What are top US schools for design?

Top Tier

Risd

Yale (grad)

Art Center

Cal arts

2nd Tier

CSULB (alumni)

Otis

?

[phen3N]

here's a pretty legit list of schools, most of which are considered "top tier": http://www.businessi...ls-2012-11?op=1

AH+, i saw in the fonts thread that Columbia is the school you're considering transferring to? based on their website and student portfolios, it seems pretty average/mediocre. check out that list, cuz there's a few Chicago-based schools on there if you're tied down to that city

edit: here's another, more global, list of design schools: http://images.businessweek.com/ss/09/09/0930_worlds_best_design_schools/index.htm

Edited January 11, 2013 by phen3N

[BrennisCloute]

mica, mcad, cooper union, cranbook

risd & cal arts would be top for undergrad, Yale for MFA (all personal though). SVA has a heavy instructor list too.

find a school with instructors known in the field or at least vocal about what they believe in (authored books, large following, etc.). also find a school with work coming out of it you like.

you can be one of the best. if you believe that then job prospect statistics don't mean anything.

[mmfood]

I'm currently the marketing director and in house designer for a large medical clinic. I want to eventually become a creative director for an ad agency.

Would it be necessary to go back to grad school (sva, brandcenter, pratt, CMellon) to get a master's in ComD to get into such a position or just accumlate work experience and build a nice portfolio?

The reason I ask is I know many of these schools have partnerships with large agencies and companies. Is it worth the money to go back to school or is it possible to get a creative director position without going to such grad schools?

Edited January 15, 2013 by mmfood

[BrennisCloute]

i think it's possible to do without a master's. not completely necessary but would help you become a better CD.

alt route: art & creative direction is a thing where it may be easier to bounce around to work your way up. a senior designer can bounce into an AD position at a different agency, an effective and experienced AD could easily bounce into a CD position somewhere else if your agency isn't receptive. while doing this, you'll work with CD's daily and learn what they do, what you need to learn how to do better, etc. it's just a chain like anything else. not the most convenient but neither is $60k in loans you know?

check out art director internships.

also check out wk12 too, though i think you may pay for that (?)

[phen3N]

i'm in a similar position as you, mmfood (in-house creative director, looking to move to agency work eventually)

here's what i think: no, you don't need more schooling to get this kind of job. but yes, you do need it to excel at your job and work for a credible agency. in my opinion, it would be worth the money. in fact, i'm tryna go to Art Center in a year or two for Media Design and i'm willing to go deeper into debt for it if i need to, because i see it as an investment. but keep in mind, i value education very highly, and there's lots of designers who argue in favor of work experience over schooling...

are you trying to get into more hands-on, dirty work designing or more creative direction and design management?

[vanitas]

I'm currently in a freelance situation in which my client's numerous demands and constant changes in preference have resulted in me dedicating way too much time/effort creating and altering multiple designs, for the low price that we had previously agreed on (he's a mutual friend and asked me to cut him a "deal"). Would it be right for me to ask for more compensation for my work or am I supposed to just stick to the original price regardless of the extra time I put in?

Sorry in advance if this is a stupid question, I'm new to freelance work.

Edited January 17, 2013 by vanitas