Any Graphic Designers/Web artists out in ATOT???

[dbcrossfire]

I'm thinking about going into this as a career. I'm planning on going to a 2 year college for CIS (computer information systems) with emphasis on web design, they teacher vb, cml, html, jave, cgi, all that good stuff in that. And then I would hit a 4 year college, Minnesota state university moorhead for their graphic program/commercial art.

I'm just interested to see how many people out here are doing this sort of thing. Do you like what you do?? Does it keep your attention (examp: your not finding yourself bored at work...) Hows the pay? (dosen't have to be a specific number, generally speaking, is it decient?)

Thanks atot!!!

 

[tantos]

If you really want a "design" job then you should go get an art degree...Nothing beats knowledge of design theories and process. Just because you are a photoshop jockey doesn't mean you can design!

 

[notfred]

<< If you really want a "design" job then you should go get an art degree...Nothing beats knowledge of design theories and process. Just because you are a photoshop jockey doesn't mean you can design! >>



This is true. I work in this field, but my job is more like an internship (but it's not, it just is a lot like one). If you want to do design, you have to learn design. It's a lot harder than it seems to come up with something that's actaully nice looking. I'm not that good at it so I usually end up making things that other people design. If you want to do web programming, all those other skills are important. If you want to do both, I suggest you at least minor in art or design.

The job is fun though, most of the time (making forms for hospiutals is NOT fun). The pay can be from "getting by" to "very good" depending on where you work and what your position is.

 

[whooosh]

I was laid off doing web design for three years. Not to discourage you though, the competition is tougher then ever. I'm going back to school for Game Art and Design degree.

 

[tantos]

I also work in the field.. Good design takes a lot of effort..as my teachers always pound into our heads, design is all about process!

Doing collateral work is so boring..stupid ass brochures and crap...but then you get those creative jobs that all designers look for..now that's what we all want!

Web design is different from regular print design. You HAVE to learn a lot about prepress and how printing is done to become a successful graphic designer.

 

[Juniper]

I think you should be first of all very creative and really interested in the Graphic Design field, if you want to go into it. No matter how hard you study, if your taste sucks, your career wont hit off.

 

[grr8scott]

not sure if this will help, but i am a prof geek, and the wife is a designer, web based design and page layout, i get paid almost double what she is getting, but u mite wanna check the local area where u will want to live once u graduate and see what kind of salaries are happening there.

 

[kami]

Yes, you need a sense of design but some people are making it out to seem like you have to be an artist! No! You can be skilled in no arts at all and be a great Flash designer for example. I'm in a Multimedia Design program (3 year) and web design is just a part of it...we do everything from web to DVD production (interactive menu's, DVD authoring, etc.) to video editing, sound design, etc etc etc. and me and some classmates often go to these parties where a bunch of web and flash/actionscript guru's just get together, have some drinks, and talk about their work (and even work on it). These guys are amazing and you can learn a lot from them, but they always emphasize that being "artsy" is NOT a requirement. There are no design standards...almost any creative level or design style can work on the web, so don't let people turn you off if you're not an "artist."

Also don't get discouraged about the lack of jobs now...everything grew too fast and suddenly everyone and their grandma had their own little design companies. But now little Joey down the street who runs the web design company out of his bedroom is out of work and the true Pro's are taking over. In 3-5 years the market should be VERY nice if you have some good skills (it will be competitive though).

good luck

p.s. you are really opening your options up taking both graphics and web programming, but is there one of the fields that you'd like to specialize in (design vs. backend programming)? You could save yourself some time and money if you were a little more clear on your goals here.

p.p.s. as for the work itself, I really liked it. I worked in a web design firm for about 10 months full-time before coming to college. you don't have to dress up to go to work (unless you consider some decent khaki's and a nice shirt "dressing up"), i worked my own hours basically. some days i'd be in there for 3 hours, some days 10. as long as i had my 40 hours at the end of the week, they didn't care. relaxed atmosphere, got along with everyone...pretty good experience. i don't know if i'd go into this as a career though cause i'm after other things. my goal is to work at some major movie studio producing DVDs but if that fails i got some other stuff to fall back on.