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I spent a couple of years studying at a junior college for Visual Communications, essentially a graphic design program. I can say the only valuable thing I learned was from one or two teachers who taught me basic design principles, no computers, no books really. The computer classes were already below my level so I didn't learn much there. Unfortunately I didn't finish the program because of work and now I have no degree which is why I am thinking I am going to have to go and finish school just to get the degree. My company closed it's doors last July and I can't get hired to save my life. Fortunately I am getting lot's of freelance work and it pays really well. Unfortunately it's not as steady as I'd like it to be. The companies I see hiring now care nothing about technical skills all they want is someone with a Bachelors degree. I do not understand this at all in this economy. When I was working I don't know how many people I saw that came to work who had degrees who knew nothing about design had no passion for it and only went to "Art School" because they had some romantic notion of how cool it would be to be a 3D animator or Graphic Designer. Now the market is flooded with people who have degrees from these schools who can't design at all. Everything everyone here has said is right on. The schools can't afford to pay good teachers. The focus is on computers, not design. Frankly I have to say that Design in America is crap compared to what is coming out of Europe these days. Except for a few exceptions like 2Advanced or other new media designers. You see "Art Institute" advertisments on t.v. all the time but everyone that I have talked with will tell you that they wasted their money at these schools for the most part. Although from my perspective in todays job market having a degree and no design skills is still slightly better than being a great designer and not being able to get hired.
s.g.
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Hello everybody.
I ask to please me for my poor English.
When I learned in art college 20 years ago ,we studied drawing, painting, sculpture, design of consumer goods, history of art and many other subjects where we learned fonts, color theory, geometry, composition, theory of design, furniture design, theory of mechanics , metal and wood treatment , modeling and others.
It helped to me so much later.
Now I work as freelance interior designer and teach students in a college. My main subjects are interior design and industrial design. But I discuss with my students their drawings, sketches, paintings, composition works , models and so on.
At the beginning my students draw sketches on paper and we discuss ones. After they find good decision they can to make their projects by hand or on a computer. Actually they mix both ways . I think that computer is not an artist`s brain but only smart pencil .
Valery
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After only starting in the Graphic Design program at an expensive private school, I was hired as a designer. I left school because I was learning more from working and from just reading books to learn the programs.
After 3 years I returned to school, but changed my major to Interior Design. I learned WAY more about designing with original ideas, color theory, spacial relationships, etc, in the Interior Design program. Those key skills have advanced my design career tremendously, and has advanced my painting skills and techniques (so much so that my work has been exhibited and sold across the country).
You can learn how to use those programs yourself, but investing in a course that will teach you how to DESIGN is well worth it!
-Amy
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Many years ago while I was teaching I learned a very good saying;
"Those who can do, Those who can't teach." it is cruel, and unkind to say. But regretfully, more often than not, it is true. Unless you are in the middle of the process, you never learn todays process and are falling behind. Without a firm foundation upon which to build, even the pyramids would fall.
The best school is the school of hard knocks. You never graduate, and are always cramming for finals. Dinner on the table means you passed todays final. Now to start studying for tommorrows final.