Would you suggest going to a 2 year Graphic Design school or taking shorter Certification courses?
December 18, 2009 by
Filed under graphic design courses
I am interested in pursuing Graphic Designing, but am unable to decide whether a 2 year Associates Degree is better(am not considering a 4 year degree), or should I save time and money and go for shorter certification courses in the required softwares? What would you suggest? Thanks…
being a website designer, the real thing these guys a re looking for is skill. if you have it, they want you. sure, a degree may help, but I’ll put fifty down on the guy who makes better graphics. Popular programs to learn:
FlashMX
Photoshop
recomended: MOHO
Short courses are OK in terms of the knowledge you will acquire for certain tools, but may lack theory like publicity, etc.
Another point is if you pretend to run your own business or be hired. Then that would depend on what the hirers are asking for.
Anyway, my best advice is that you pursue the 2 years title because it will give you the possibility of upgrading it pusuing further studies. You don’t know now what you will like to be doing some years after, maybe you will want to change your career and the short courses won’t serve as a base for further certifications at universities and colleges.
My best advice,
Clairdelune
First i reckon u taking the 2 yrs course, finishing the school. Then u ll have a strong foundation. and then meanwhile u can do short term courses.
U could some certification courses in the summer.
Whether u do ur schooling or u do short certicication courses, it depends on ur skills. SO be dedicated and sharpen ur skills wutever u choose to do.
I suppose my name is Redundant Repeater. . .but, You have to really learn the graphics programs. Skill is what will get you the job. If you don’t know the programs, take the software classes, but you will need to spend a lot of time on your own, to really know what you are doing, to get to the point where you have a great portfolio of work for your future employer. Good luck to you:)
Sand’s, sorry but I could not get your e-mail to reply to the answer you left to my question. My direct e-mail is “cplylermodeling@yahoo.com”. If you have MySpace you can see my page at http://www.myspace.com/cplylermodeling
My website is http://www.angelfire.com/film2/cplylermodeling/some_current_models
Graphic Design covers an awfully wide range of jobs. I would suggest the 2 year course because if you intend to go into designing for printing, there is a lot to know about the technical aspects of getting your image onto the paper. Web Design has it’s own set of issues, although both use the same software in many instances. There are other areas in which design has specific needs, rules, tools and issues that you will have to learn somewhere. Take it from someone who had to learn on the job . . . if I had been able to get a two year course I’d have been making a lot of money instead of working for a low wage while I learned the trade. The cost of education is a good investment. Good luck! It can be a very rewarding career choice.
I would suggest the 2 years. The reason being is that you get more material to put together a portfolio. It also gives you connections. The people in your classes may get jobs and then in turn can help you get jobs whether it be freelance or staff. Good luck