Calling all qualified graphic designers

[xjodie]

As some of you will know i am moving on to college soon and i am considering taking A level graphics.

To get into employment within graphics do you suggest going to university and doing a course on it there (after college)?

Or can you get as good a job associated with graphics without having to go to uni?

cheers. :)

ps- i apologise if this is in the wrong board

[simpletouch]

well im just qualified as a graphics designer and when i was attending college my head graphics design of emedia teacher told me uni was a waste of time if u got talent. no 1 can teach you ur talents you got to find them yourself he told me all i needed was a good portfolio and a confidence and it will take you were you want to go! im workin as a photo and digital specialist now my skills has mad the customers come back time and time again so go for it lad i wouldnt waste time sitting threw lectures etc get yourself out there! thats what im doing! good luck lad!!!! xD

[Rybo]

i agree with all the above comment i did a btec at college passed with distiction distiction distiction and have recently started a HND at the same college

BUT...

all depends on where you are? city wise im in birmingham (england) Matthew Boulton college and we are on parr with st martins people from my btec i have spoke to who got in said its no good havent learnt anything they dident know from btec and thats the best art uni

Hope that helps

[drewbie_wan]

i think as long as you have a strong portfolio you can get away without college

[rossable]

college only helps with finding jobs.
in that light i would suggest it, and the more the better!

if you just want to do it for the love of it and don't mind working at something else for a few years till you get really established and able to get a job on a design firm or as an in-house designer then go without. freelance isn't all too easy and jobs don't fall out of the sky at you. make sure you know what you want before you make that decision and things will be a lot smoother (or at least you will be happier with them).

[james]

I ended up as an office junior at a local architects, after my A-Levels (they were just starting to introduce the tuition fees and student loans, which strongly discouraged me from University). After a few months of photocopying and the like, I started helping the interior design team with their graphics as well.

The bosses of the company spotted I had a talent, and paid for me to do a two-year day release course at Oxford College for a HNC in Graphic Design. This was great as one day a week I was studying and improving along with my peers, while at the same time I was employed and so learning all about the working world, how to deal with people, etc. Also because it was in the company interests, any materials I needed, the company paid for (even a portfolio at the end!).

On the other hand, once I’d done my HNC, I was keen to develop more and decided to leave work for a year and study for a HND (only took a year as it was to top up the previous course). So I left home for the first time to live in Nottingham – stayed in a student house with eight strangers - had a fantastic time, and the course - whilst challenging at times, made me a far better designer, without a shadow of a doubt.

I’m now back at the architects, and am in charge of all of the business’ graphic design (stationary, branding, brochures) and also am trying to teach myself new skills (such as web design).

That's an awful lot of waffle there, but i'm just trying to show how there are other ways to get where you want to be, without necessarily the time (and £££ these days) of a degree course.

[picky-very-picky]

You make a good point, if you've got the skill somebody will spot it

[rossable]

Originally Posted by james

So I left home for the first time to live in Nottingham – stayed in a student house with eight strangers - had a fantastic time, and the course - whilst challenging at times, made me a far better designer, without a shadow of a doubt.

DORM LIFE! - ah, how i miss it...

[Orangutan Amy]

I did a HND and my first job opportuntiy (Nestle design studio - the perks were great!) came directly through the college so I would recommend it in that sense.

To get onto this course I did an ND foundation art and most of my course mates did an ND foundation Graphic Design. I would have probably skipped A levels if I'd known I could have but my careers teacher wasn't interested in owt that wasn't maths or science related so didn't advise me!

I would definitley recommend college/uni as it's great fun, wish I was back there! :0)

[S Bell]

in my expierience, employers are much more likly to invite you for an interview if you have a degree. Many say otherwise, but they lie. however, that said, i learnt nought during my degree which wasn't already coverd in my hnd, and found the course non to exiting. it did give me an opourtuninty to create a splendid portfolio though, and cream my tecnuique.

with the words BA(hons) on my cv, i found it much easier to get interviews, some at some prety tasty organisations too ('twas the interview stage wher upon i became unstuck). university can also open doors within the industry for you, which smaller educational establishments can't.