If you are graduating from high school or looking to start a career in graphic design, you might be wondering if it is worth it to attend a graphic design school. It’s true that attending a college with a specified course of study will often bring you closer to your career goals or an ideal job in a given field. However, you might be of the opinion that you are already equipped with the skills, experience and talent that you need to succeed as a graphic designer. That may be true, but just in case you’re curious, here are three benefits of attending graphic design school anyway.
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You’ll learn from the best.
Many are of the opinion that a true artist always remains a student. No matter how much experience you have, you can always benefit from refining your skills in a school environment. At a graphic design college, you will have access to the most innovative advancements in the field. You’ll be able to work on your own personal projects with the school’s first-rate technology, whether it’s a computer or the most advanced design software. Through your school, you’ll be able to familiarize yourself with the same programs used by the biggest design firms. Aside from the technology, you’ll also be able to benefit from your professors. Exposure to a strong faculty with years of experience and expertise in the field who are willing to share their knowledge with you will only enrich your understanding of both technical design skills and the tricks to a career in the field.
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You’ll “firm” up your portfolio and resume.
On the business side of graphic design, you’ll learn that many of the most sought-after marketing and design firms will often only consider job applicants who have earned college degrees and have extensive portfolios and resumes. That is the firm’s way of assuring themselves that the person they are looking to hire has the basic skills for an entry-level position down proficiently. Often, if you’ve had a few years of experience working in an academic environment with highly-trained professionals, it will give you a leg up in the eyes of successful design firms. Additionally, on average, people with college degrees earn about eighty percent more than people without them so a college education will most likely increase your chance at earning a higher income.
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You’ll keep in touch.
Aside from the time you will spend learning, practicing and perfecting your skills at BlueSkyGraphics graphic design school, you will also make valuable contacts that will help you to succeed after college. Many advertising, marketing and design firms have close relationships with schools and professors for this reason. Additionally, there is the possibility of the benefit of a relationship with a peer that will come in handy when you are looking for a job. It is often the people you know that will help you get to where you want to be in life.
These are just three out of many more benefits of attending a graphic design school. School can be expensive, and it is often hard work, but many of the benefits outweigh the disadvantages. Ultimately, the choice is yours.
Transitioning to Web Graphic Design
Web graphic design seems to be more and more in demand in today’s job market. Companies are taking to the internet more and more just to keep up with the competitive markets worldwide. Due to this fact, it is inevitable that companies will need a web site to touch audiences outside their geographic location. Companies have realized that in order to have a web site they must have the knowledge or an individual who can build a web site for the company and maintain it as well. A problem companies are facing with web graphic design is the ability to hire individuals that possess artistic talent as well as a skill to convert that artistic talent into digital graphics.
Companies are facing a reoccurring problem. Their web graphic designer is not really a web graphic designer but a print designer or works with already pre made digital graphics. Meaning the individual lacks the skill set to use programs to transition their graphic art work to a digital format. The print designer is skilled at creating graphic layouts on a physical surface such as poster board. Companies are not realizing this problem until they have already hired and spent money on benefits for an individual that claims they are web graphic designer.
Final Words
The company’s solution to the problem of helping a web graphic designer make the transition from print design to web graphic design may cost more to the company than what the employee is worth. This problem of a lack of knowledge on web graphic programs and making a transition of physical graphics to virtual graphics is raising questions to both the employer and the employees. This can be done through either schooling or through a resource that can provide directions and tools to get the employee caught up to speed on the skill sets needed to complete the goals of the company.
So what if the company you work for doesn’t have the money to help you acquire the knowledge and skill sets for your job? What if you don’t have the money at the moment for school? A solution to these questions is simple. Teach yourself by utilizing resources and downloading a graphics program from a friend or off the internet. There are many different programs and examples out on the internet that will allow an individual to design a web site and get ideas of how to design a web site with graphics. It really comes down to just knowing where to look and taking initiative to learn or teach yourself a graphics program along with a web site building program.
