In this episode we discuss whether a formal design education is worth it, or if you’re better off being self taught. We also look at what employer’s commonly look for when hiring designers, and how to make yourself a more attractive candidate. Some of the answers may surprise you!
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Show Notes for This Episode:
[1.00] Finding out what is really in a design course
[2.15] How Lisa’s formal education helped her (and didn’t help her!)
[3.00] Some of the best points of a formal education
[3.50] Do employer’s ever look for a degree?
[4.30] The ego of only feeling like a designer if you have a degree
[5.15] Some of the more fun projects within a design degree
[6.00] Ian’s design education (multi-media course)
[7.19] Why courses don’t always help give you a ‘creative edge’
[7.50] There’s no substitute for experience
[8.00] Why the right decision for education depends on you and your nature
[9.00] Some designers that Ian follows who are getting an education whilst building a portfolio
[10.30] Employers look for experience above all else
[11.05] How we hired Lizzy for Design Cuts (she took her work to the interview)
[12.20] You have the weigh up the right path for you
[13.30] Why design school can give you accountability (but some other options for the self-disciplined)
[15.00] What Lisa looked for when hiring people in her role as an Art Director
[16.00] Design education can go both ways
[16.55] The financial cost of a formal education
[17.30] Other ways you could allocate the finances
[18.45] Think about what you want to do for a creative career (broad vs niche)
[19.40] Dustin felt like a poser, not having a degree
[20.25] Tom’s shortcomings from being self taught (the dreaded comfort zone)
[22.30] Design education can teach good process and workflow
[23.35] A design course helped Lisa a ton with her botanical painting
[24.10] Dustin’s music course, and his honest experiences of this
[25.50] Picasso’s ‘learn the rules so you can break them’
[27.00] Dustin chatting about the Beatles
[27.50] Lisa on how she does several courses a month
[28.50] “You can to train your head first, so your heart can soar” – Dustin and Lisa’s upcoming hit song lyric!
[30.00] How Ian benefits from online courses
[31.30] Why we should take advantage of the education available to us online
[33.00] Follow what you’re passionate about, there is no set path!
[33.40] Ask people who have been there and done it
“A must for every creative freelancer (or those aspiring to freelance). Thank you for being so… honest! Such a wealth of information from people I admire who have ‘been there and done that’. Listening to the podcast every week feels like I’m among friends. Can’t wait for more episodes!” – AG_GD
I’ve enjoyed all the podcasts, but this is the first one I’ve felt I had any input worth sharing. I have experienced both sides of this debate. While I have a job that deals with a lot of design work which pre-dates my formal education, I have found that the formal education has not only sped up my work, but really elevated it as well. Listening to your descriptions of your different educational experiences made me realize just how different my school, OSUIT, is. (Shameless alma mater plug) It’s only a 2 year program and the overall goal of the instructors is to mold students into well-rounded designers with good portfolios. What really makes the program unique is that the school has hired people who have worked for years in the design industry, rather than hire “instructors” with advanced degrees. Plus, being a 2 year state school program, I won’t have to mortgage my great-grandchildren’s future to pay for it. While I’m glad that a formal education isn’t a requirement to be a designer, I am an advocate for it…at the right school.
Exactly!! You can become a master at something just by doing it! Experience and pratice is an amazing thing, I think especially for creatives.
Hi Andrea,
I don’t regret the investment I made into my formal design education for a second, so I’m sure you won’t either. I also believe that a good foundation will set you apart and that’s the main reason I enrolled in my design college. I saw time and time again throughout my graphic design career the positive impact the formal training had on me and my work. There will always be those that flourish without it, and those that flourish with formal training, but for me personally it was a game changer, and it sounds like you are a perfect fit to benefit from it!
Keep at it and enjoy the learning process!
Hey Leigh,
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave such an awesome comment!
I know your incredibly kind words will absolutely blow the team away and we cannot tell you how happy it makes us to hear that you are feeling confident again :D
A big thanks for all the support, it really does mean the world.
This comment is incredibly moving and inspiring Leslie. You’ve certainly been through a lot, and I’m incredibly glad to hear that you’re now focusing on the work you love. It sounds like you are absolutely a graphic designer, and a good one at that! An education is definitely not a barrier to becoming successful, as you’re proving right now.
Thank you so much for sharing your story, and I’m thrilled that our little show could help you to validate what you may have already known about yourself :).
Thanks so much for commenting Leigh. State of mind is a huge part of being a designer, and we all seem to get periods of self doubt. It’s important to realise these are normal, to be honest just go to show that you’re striving to get better.
Your feedback means the world to the four of us, so a huge thank you for taking the time to write. I hope that you’re continuing to enjoy the show, and if we can help in any way with your creative journey, do let us know :).
I absolutely love your podcasts. Being self thought myself and also always not feeling worthy because i never had a formal education, this has helped a lot to feel better about my path and career.
Do you have any advise for a self taught ( or any designer) who wants to go and freelance on a permanent basis? I have been in the industry for 10 years. I live in Namibia. I have just started feeling I don’t get the satisfaction out of my career as I used to, working for an agency. I really want to get on my own and know that I get what I put it.
Any advise?
You don’t mix colors just for shits and giggles? Man, that’s a favorite pastime. Though, in your defense, I learned color mixing in a university acrylics class and have been painting since I was a child. It’s just another hobby for me. haha, I’m teasing.
I’ve always struggled with not having a degree, but the person who introduced me to graphic design has no formal design education and doesn’t even watch tutorials or take online classes. He’s been using photoshop since the beginning. So, whenever I’m feeling like an impostor, I think of his 4 TIME magazine front covers, his brain special cover of TIME, his Memorex tape packaging design, and his Superbowl commercial. Thankfully I’ve always had that to remind me that you don’t need a formal education. It helps that I know more about illustrator than he does. ;)
That makes me so happy to read that! Glad it contributed to your day positively :) Yay!!!
This is fantastic! Exactly how I feel. The Picasso comment, know the rules so you can break ’em. And Lisa, yes, you totally make sense. Train the head so the heart can soar.. just what I needed today. Thanks to all of you!!
I really enjoyed this episode, thank you for liberating me from feeling like I wasn’t a full fledged designer without a diploma!
So happy this episode helped you feel that!! I use to feel the same way about illustrating, but now I feel because we’re creating anyway regardless of our formal skills, we’re still designers or illustrators in our own right! :) And no one can really change that fact!
Thanks for sharing your experience Shellie :). It’s great to hear that you’ve had such a balanced and practical education. I’m definitely envious of the workflows and professionalism that degrees can impart, as I know through being self taught I’ve picked up so many bad habits and had to learn through trial/error (which can be stressful and expensive!). Honestly, it sounds like it was a great fit for you, and definitely a fantastic school :).
Hey Melissa, thanks for your comment and kind words about the show :).
I agree, it’s a hugely exciting time, and more easy than ever to educate yourself on great design.
In terms of building up a network, there’s no one best path, it’s really down to you to put yourself out there. Whether you’re surrounded by fellow students, fellow interns, or just out there on social media, it’s all about your being proactive in your business development and ‘networking’ (although I hate that word). Just focus on forming meaningful connections, and remember – the key is always to provide more value than you receive from the other person – it’s the key to a strong partnership.
Thanks for your comment Eliza, it’s great to hear from you. You’re definitely not alone in self doubt, it’s something we all go through. It’s great to hear that your confidence is building and I’m just excited we can be part of that process. The show started almost like group therapy for the four of us hosts, so it’s great that feeling can extend to you and other listeners :).
So yes, 100% yes, you can be a successful designer without the diploma, just keep up the awesome work!
Hey Kim!
I love this comment! We’re definitely not against formal education, and you’re living proof of some of the best aspects of it. Even if it hasn’t directly helped you to land a job, it may have done so indirectly. Besides that, as you pointed out, it helps to teach all kinds of qualities that benefit any freelancer or business owner. It sounds like you’re in a fantastic situation now, and I can definitely relate to the joys of running your own business.
Thanks for all your support Kim, and I hope that you’ll keep enjoying the show :).