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
Thank you guys for another interesting discussion. Each time you are chosing the topic that corresponds to my reflections and doubts when I think about my job perspectives. I used to think that I have no future in graphic design because I don’t have formal design education and can’t use a real pencil or a brush to create something. I doubted my creativity and tried to change profession. Luckily I managed to gain some self-confidence, and I can see how my skills are improving, leaving the clients happy and satisfied with my work. Your podcasts are not giving some specific information, I see them more like a support group chat, but they make me feel a part of the graphic designers society and I am happy to know that a lot of us share the same thoughts and doubts regarding our profession. This particular podcast is a huge endorsement for the self taught designers like myself. Though I still believe that the formal design education is a good thing and can give a great basis for the future career, I am relieved to get yet another confirmation that you can be a good and successful designer even without diploma.
I’m one more person whose confidence was lifted by this episode. I took a couple of commercial art courses in high school, and I majored in art — focus on sculpture — in college. However, I also majored in sociology and followed college with degrees in theology and law. I am old enough that I predate desktop computers, and I did not use a computer until I was a practicing attorney. But I became the lone attorney to join in whenever the folks from Microsoft came to train our clerical staff on the latest software — and I always stayed to ask more questions afterward. I ended up leaving my partnership at the law firm to return to my first calling, pastoring a church. There I encountered the banal clip art that clutters so many church newsletters. I couldn’t tolerate it, so I combined my love of art and my understanding of how office software functions and began figuring out Photoshop. I revamped all of my own church’s publications, then started doing the same for the churches of friends. That’s when a spinal stroke sent me into early retirement. Amid the many voices of sympathy, there was one clergy colleague who sent me an email saying it was time I started getting paid for my design work. A spinal stroke affects the body, not the brain, he reminded me, and then he told me to get to work. That was several years ago, and my online design business is now humming along, while my freelance work has steadily increased just through word of mouth. Along the way, I have taken several online courses in such things as Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign (thank you, TastyTuts). I also have met with various types of printers who have generously taught me how best to prepare and package my work so that they can produce what my freelance clients need. The variety of the work I get asked to do is terrific, and I am having a great time providing clients designs they use, enjoy, and appreciate. But, at the end of the day, I still don’t have a degree in graphic design, and so I have wondered if I could legitimately called myself a graphic designer. After this podcast, I have decided that the answer is, “Yes.”
Thank you for this very interesting podcast! I think we live in a very exciting age where knowledge and education are more accessible than ever because of the Internet. I am a very late bloomer. A few years ago,with small children at home, I did an online Graphic Design course hosted by a local university which included basic graphic design theory as well as how to use Adobe Illustrator. It was a wonderful introduction into the world of Graphic Design but I knew that I was not and still am not fully equipped to apply for a GD job in the formal sector. I am more entrepreneurially inclined. What was missing for me is the local network one builds while one is studying or in an internship, such who to approach for print-on-demand, or fine art printing, for instance. Am I wrong in assuming one would find those contacts while in an internship or studying? I have through trial and error found some suppliers and services but am not entirely convinced I am on the right track with them.
Seriously amazing job guys!
I don’t often make comments for things like this but felt like I needed to reach out and say a few words.
I’m a young guy living in Australia and I’m a self taught designer. After switching a career path and moving to a new city a few years ago, I felt kinda lost, kinda isolated and kinda shit at design. It’s been a journey, with the constant ups and downs of ‘Am I good enough?’, but I finally feel like I’m confident on my path and it’s been resources like this that have helped me dramatically – not only in ability but with my state of mind about it too!
I love that you guys are honest, likeable, totally unpretentious and just willing to help others. Your talks are real and give relevant info about what your audience needs.
Just want to say thank you! I hope you encourage and inspire many people around the world ⚡️⚡️✌?
Hi Mari-Nella,
So thrilled to hear the podcast has helped you feel better about your creative path! If you don’t want to straight-out quit your job (if you’re like me, that would freak me out!), then I would recommend working on your freelance business in your off time – week nights and weekends where possible.
If you don’t have any clients or small jobs to start off with, I would possibly think of either approaching businesses in your area or reaching out to friends and family and letting them know you’re available for freelance work. Word of mouth is one of THE most powerful tools to grow a business – do your freelance jobs to the best of your ability and go that extra mile for your clients, so when someone asks “do you know a designer?” They’ll be tripping over their feet to recommend you.
And if you’re feeling a little uninspired from being in the same design rut for so long, you could choose a “dream” client as a mock job and design what ever gets you excited, like wedding invitations, or quirky book layouts, for me it was company branding for unusual companies, not corporates. This would be a fantastic piece to add to your portfolio and when you go see new clients and show them that piece, you will be proud that it came from you and the vision was yours from beginning to end!
It really is possible to have a great and happy freelance business. It does take time and hard work, but if you’re willing to put that into the mix, you’ll succeed, gaurenteed!
Hope that helps! Best of luck my friend :)
Thanks to you all for taking the time to put out another thoughtful podcast!
I agree that your innate creative talents and your passion will show to prospective employers and clients more than formal education. I agree, too, that experience and practice are key to developing the skills needed to actually create the stuff that’s in your head. The main reason I chose to enroll in a graphic design program is to learn design theory. I thought that would be a way to establish a foundation and differentiate myself from others who may know the design programs technically but may be lacking something beyond just the technical skills. I heard a designer say once that it is important to “get the bones right,” so I always think that anything good must have the bones right, even if I can’t see it. I also wanted to receive feedback from instructors – for some validation (as Dustin said, so I don’t feel like a poser). I hope I’m not wrong, as it is a significant investment (although it’s a continuing education diploma, not a university degree, so the cost is much less).
As usual, your podcast provides lots to think about. Thanks again!