Kathryn W
Member
Registered: 12th Oct 03
Location: Widnes, Cheshire
User status: Offline
|
Just was wondering wether anyone on here is a graphic designer and could give me some info bout what the jobs entails and what is needed to become one... ie college courses etc...
Any information would be grately appreciated! 
|
Colin
Member
Registered: 4th Apr 02
User status: Offline
|
My sister is, think she done a HND and then Degree - found it hard to get a job though I think
|
Kathryn W
Member
Registered: 12th Oct 03
Location: Widnes, Cheshire
User status: Offline
|
cheers 
|
Rus
Member
Registered: 24th Jan 05
Location: SE London, Kent
User status: Offline
|
its who you know, not what you know. My leature at college has offered me freelance work (website design) while i'm at uni. So get into a course and you never know who you'll meet
|
waynep
Member
Registered: 20th Apr 02
Location: london
User status: Offline
|
im a graphic designer just to let u know lol
|
Hagger
Member
Registered: 6th Mar 04
Location: Hull
User status: Offline
|
HNC / HND is a start , it helps alot if you know the software (illustrator, freehand , quark, photshop etc)
i did an NVQ and started as a trainee tho
|
antscorsa
Member
Registered: 11th Aug 02
Location: london
User status: Offline
|
need a BA hons to stand anychance of gettin a good job.
|
Kathryn W
Member
Registered: 12th Oct 03
Location: Widnes, Cheshire
User status: Offline
|
so it's pretty hard to become one and then to actually get a job as one?
|
Hagger
Member
Registered: 6th Mar 04
Location: Hull
User status: Offline
|
on this college course i did , you went to college a day a week and got a job placement at a design company, and after college finished everyone got a job. but if your too old to start an apprenticeship i dunno how difficult it will be
|
Kathryn W
Member
Registered: 12th Oct 03
Location: Widnes, Cheshire
User status: Offline
|
well im only 16.. going college in september but dont have a clue what to do.. or later on in life.. was thinking about doing a business course.. but then thought about doing some course along the lines of a graphic design... can't do WBA learning for another 2 years.. ya gotta be 18 
|
Hagger
Member
Registered: 6th Mar 04
Location: Hull
User status: Offline
|
there should be something similar at your college then, you get paid £50 a week and just goto college a day a week , ask college about it?
|
Kathryn W
Member
Registered: 12th Oct 03
Location: Widnes, Cheshire
User status: Offline
|
hmm, think i will ring them up tomorrow and see if there is a course to suit me thanks for the advice
|
Rus
Member
Registered: 24th Jan 05
Location: SE London, Kent
User status: Offline
|
quote:
Originally posted by Korsa-Kat
so it's pretty hard to become one and then to actually get a job as one?
i'm currently in my last year of multimedia. Thats a diploma(2year). i've got myself a place at uni for a BA (batchlor of arts)(3year). So in theroy. 5 years of training. and pass it, you shouldn't have a problem getting a half decent job in graphic design. Thats if your good
|
Kathryn W
Member
Registered: 12th Oct 03
Location: Widnes, Cheshire
User status: Offline
|
with these 2 things under your belt would u defo get into a job?
|
Rus
Member
Registered: 24th Jan 05
Location: SE London, Kent
User status: Offline
|
Yes, i would be surprised if i didn't. you go to an employer with a BA and a deploma in graphic design, their not going to turn you down.
|
Kathryn W
Member
Registered: 12th Oct 03
Location: Widnes, Cheshire
User status: Offline
|
soo if i did a multimedia course and got a diploma... would this be enough to get into a job or would i have to go to uni and get the BA?
|
Hagger
Member
Registered: 6th Mar 04
Location: Hull
User status: Offline
|
quote:
Originally posted by Sig16v
Yes, i would be surprised if i didn't. you go to an employer with a BA and a deploma in graphic design, their not going to turn you down.
most the places in my local paper want 3 years of experience , so its not a guarantee. sat in a classroom for 5 years doesnt tell you what its like designing things , in a real company you get very tight deadlines
|
Rus
Member
Registered: 24th Jan 05
Location: SE London, Kent
User status: Offline
|
quote:
Originally posted by Hagger
quote:
Originally posted by Sig16v
Yes, i would be surprised if i didn't. you go to an employer with a BA and a deploma in graphic design, their not going to turn you down.
most the places in my local paper want 3 years of experience , so its not a guarantee. sat in a classroom for 5 years doesnt tell you what its like designing things , in a real company you get very tight deadlines
Of course. Its your portfolio that makes the difference. Thats how i got my place at uni. via my portfolio
|
Rus
Member
Registered: 24th Jan 05
Location: SE London, Kent
User status: Offline
|
quote:
Originally posted by Korsa-Kat
soo if i did a multimedia course and got a diploma... would this be enough to get into a job or would i have to go to uni and get the BA?
i don't think it would be enough
|
Dan Lewis
Member
Registered: 31st Jan 05
Location: Leicestershire
User status: Offline
|
im a graphic designer n i have no qualifactions only passed 2 gcse's n i design n build websites, logo design and sationary.
|
liamC
Member
Registered: 28th Feb 04
User status: Offline
|
Korsa-Kat, Im currently doing a degree in Multimedia Computing, wanting to go along the lines of website design, etc. The software used has range from Flash to 3D Studio Max and shit loads more.
A degree would give you a huge advantage in getting a job in what you want at the end of your degree. A years placement, which counts as a years experience in the middle of your uni degree (Like Im doing) is a must IMO.
Sig16v is spot on though, its who you know not what you know. Someone who I know has managed to get me a placement in Dubai, and at the same time getting me loads of freelance work. Need slices of luck as well as degrees and experience IMHO, like ...
|
waynep
Member
Registered: 20th Apr 02
Location: london
User status: Offline
|
i do it free lance and for a media company i get payed from both so money is ok there and as far as skills go , originality and design sense is something that cannot be taught at a uni or college it comes from inside yourself.
|
thevolt5
Member
Registered: 28th Jan 05
Location: Leicester
User status: Offline
|
Heres the story ----
Im a graphic designer and its hard work advise you dont bother,, wages and money is poor in the long run its extremly hard to become respectable in the industry and earn a high wage in this area,,its to hard work for the pay you get ,and companys like to take the piss with work loads and extreme dead lines non stop.
College will teach you the utter basics and will usually do nothing to do with the job its self,,and find yourself starting from scratch when applying for jobs and going to the interviews.
I had 4 years experience at college,,advice if posstive its for you,, find a job placement within a suitable company and a get hands on work experience if you are lucky.....But be pre-paired to be emptying the bins for a while,,,the grades and sertificates dont me nothing to companys. so you neither qualified in any bodies eyes.
You will find it hard to find a job in the industry companys want really experienced people no matter what,, and dont want traineess as to much hard work to train up ,,have to learn all your self quick and fast and trust me it gets worse find your self on the same wage for a couple of years because of this.
|
waynep
Member
Registered: 20th Apr 02
Location: london
User status: Offline
|
^^^ my post was in reply to yours thevolt5 ^^^
|
R Lee
Member
Registered: 15th Aug 03
User status: Offline
|
I did graphics at GCSE, then went to do 2 years National Diploma Multimedia at college. After that, i then went onto Uni, to study 1 1/2 years BA(hons) Design Management, then quit.
Although i thoroughly enjoyed studying design, i knew that the competition is stupid. Design itself will never die. I wouldn't bother thinking about specialising at a particular area at such a young age, just aim towards the Design market. There are loads of opportunities to choose what you want to do when you hit Uni and you can concentrate on it.
I know loads of people in the industry, family, friends etc. and they have good times and bad times.
As mentioned above really. Wages are amazing, time management is essential, promotion is difficult.
Don't just call yourself a graphic desinger, its much better to be able to do mutiple designs. You'll have the opportunity to do work placements in college and Uni.
I suggest doing Design Managent in the future at BA and MA degree. You get to rule the teams of designers  
|
