can you learn design? (advertisements and business related things)

[iamme]

is this something you can learn? like making fliers, advertisements, etc.

or is it a talent you're born with?

 

[everman]

Graphic design and Marketing is what you're talking about. You can get a marketing degree, and I suppose an art degree focused on graphic design. So yes you can learn it.

 

[ScottMac]

Certainly, you can learn the rules and conventions but if you don't have a good imagination or inclination for "flair," display, balance .... then all of your materials will come off as dull ... or at least, uninteresting enough that people will ignore it.

Advertisements need a little extra "ooomph" ... something that catches your eye and makes you want to find out what the ad is about. The "eye catcher" or "bug light" element of the ad will vary depending on what the advertisement is for. .... you want engineers or pro-sumer types ... you paste in some specs and stats .... different groups are attracted by different types of presentations .... that part can be learned.

Coming up with something special requires some imagination (which cannot be taught).

FWIW

Scott

 

[yobarman]

My belief is that 99% of people are born without talent. It takes tons and tons of practice to get good at something, especially in music and art. You think all those rock stars came out of the womb rocking out? For every amazing piece of work an artist creates, there are thouands of bad ones.

Graphic Design is something you can pick up if you're willing to learn. My school has a decent GD program, but not many people are good at it. You have to want it if you want to be successful, cause graphic designers are being pumped out by the thousands these days from schools

 

[ThePresence]

I was a professional Graphic Designer for 8+ years. I believe you CANNOT learn design. Sure, you can learn the programs really well, and you can learn the principals of design, tips and tricks, etc. But you cannot learn an eye for design. Either you have it or you don't. I've seen many people in my career who know the programs like the back of their hands, but their work looks like flyshite because they don't have an eye for design. IMO you either have it or you don't.

 

[UnatcoAgent]

Basically what thePresence said above, you need to have an eye for it. There are some of good programs out there to teach you the rules - which is what I'm studying right now >> Link

My program is joint between York and Sheridan college, supposed to be the best in Canada, and in the top 3 of North America.

From what we're expected to do, I'm not too surprised.

You need to be creative though, which is often the hardest part.