Becoming a Graphic Designer?

[duarted]

Hey guys. Quick question...how can I become and work as a graphic designer? I have absolutely no experience on how things work in this area considering I'm looking for a radical career change.

Everything I know (although I dont know whether its enough) of photoshop is self taught and I have around 20 pieces of work I've done on my own time. I'm really passionate about creating and I am actually looking at getting a job as a junior graphic designer or something starting from the bottom. Now the question is...what do I have to do next? Do you advise me to take Photoshop and Illustrator courses even though I'm already probably Intermediate or Advanced and then apply for jobs? Or can I just apply for jobs with the work ive done? I know its difficult to answer not having seen what type of things I did but I can tell you they're mostly stuff like ficticious album covers, advertising posters, etc, made up of stock images. When I see all these people with college and uni courses I always think Ill never make it since i dont have any formal qualifications.

Thanks a lot for your help! Im looking forward to your answers :icon_thumbup:

[GlazedEye Media]

Hi dude,

Best way is to contact design companies and find out about vacancies or positions available as a junior designer. Moreover the strength of your portfolio will out-way the qualifications you lack. Continue to improve your skills while trying o pick-up new ones e.g web based. its far easier to find a job in design when you are versed in more than one media i.e. print design.

Hope you find this helpful.

Robin

www.glazedeye.co.uk

[Ian Bonner]

Do you have a creative background for a start?

When it comes down to it you can learn the applications but if you do not have the ideas to put into practice it doesn't matter how good you are with the apps.

It's not a job you can just learn and get on with, you need to have a creative background because that's something that can't be taught.

[duarted]

Do you have a creative background for a start?

When it comes down to it you can learn the applications but if you do not have the ideas to put into practice it doesn't matter how good you are with the apps.

It's not a job you can just learn and get on with, you need to have a creative background because that's something that can't be taught.

well, yes, everybody always told me I should have done an art degree rather than psychology but i guess i thought paying my bills was more important. now im thinking the other way around. my friend has an advertising company and he keeps telling me by the work i do on photoshop that im a waste lol he thinks i should apply for jobs...now...the reality might be different here in the uk. i dont know whether i can apply for jobs without any qualifications or experience even though (lets assume) the work i do is good. or can i?

[SparkCreative]

First thing you need to do is learn to use capital letters...

[YellowPeril]

No amount of skill you have with a computer is going to make you a good designer and believe me, there are a lot of Mac monkeys about.

The first step is great ideas and a pencil - rendering comes much later.

[byronc]

well, yes, everybody always told me I should have done an art degree rather than psychology but i guess i thought paying my bills was more important. now im thinking the other way around. my friend has an advertising company and he keeps telling me by the work i do on photoshop that im a waste lol he thinks i should apply for jobs...now...the reality might be different here in the uk. i dont know whether i can apply for jobs without any qualifications or experience even though (lets assume) the work i do is good. or can i?

dont let anyone put you off - show your designs to people, get work - even if part-time. Apply for jobs - explain your situation - even if you get told what you need to get in at least its a start.
Managers respect people with courage and passion - just do it.

i started doing cms websites with no skill whatsover and just learnt as i went along. Even when i took a long time my clients understood as I went the exrtra mile.....

[Ian Bonner]

My problem here has been mentioned within the forums before, that it seems people just think they can walk into a design profession because it's that easy. Let me tell you, it's not.

Design is a very opinion based career. What one person might drool over, another might tear to pieces. Your friend might be spot on, you might have a talent. But then it is one persons opinion. It might be worth maybe putting some work on here for a few designers to have a look at.

Critique on design forums is sometimes hard, but also very fair. Designers tend to tell you how it is. The point I'm trying to make is that you shouldn't expect to just find work as a designer, albeit as a junior. It's a tough profession and if you can't handle the pressure it will eat you up and spit you out.

If you want to become a plumber, an electrician etc, it will take months, maybe years to get the experience for you to operate to a standard. Design is no different.

[Dave L]

My problem here has been mentioned within the forums before, that it seems people just think they can walk into a design profession because it's that easy. Let me tell you, it's not.

Design is a very opinion based career. What one person might drool over, another might tear to pieces. Your friend might be spot on, you might have a talent. But then it is one persons opinion. It might be worth maybe putting some work on here for a few designers to have a look at.

Critique on design forums is sometimes hard, but also very fair. Designers tend to tell you how it is. The point I'm trying to make is that you shouldn't expect to just find work as a designer, albeit as a junior. It's a tough profession and if you can't handle the pressure it will eat you up and spit you out.

If you want to become a plumber, an electrician etc, it will take months, maybe years to get the experience for you to operate to a standard. Design is no different.

Design, as you say, is opinion-based, but plumbing and electrics are not so in that respect they're very different: one man's great design might be another man's worst visual nightmare but it's not going to burn anyone's house down.

If we ever thought design was a properly patrolled gated community, we surely know better now. In short, if you can design, you can be a designer - and all you really need is a decent visual sense, a dash of common sense and the ability to translate your ideas into two dimensions. You might not be the best but who is?

[Ian Bonner]

Design, as you say, is opinion-based, but plumbing and electrics are not so in that respect they're very different: one man's great design might be another man's worst visual nightmare but it's not going to burn anyone's house down.

If we ever thought design was a properly patrolled gated community, we surely know better now. In short, if you can design, you can be a designer - and all you really need is a decent visual sense, a dash of common sense and the ability to translate your ideas into two dimensions. You might not be the best but who is?

Plumbing and electrics still need tuition and experience. Whether it amounts to burning your house down or not, the fact that you can't just walk into a job that takes experience and knowledge remains the same. In fact I would think there are some executives out there that would care LESS if a place burnt down because of a dodgy electrician. I would say there is more money involved in advertising and marketing and that is more important to some people. We don't need films or premier league football. They aren't a necessity, but an actor gets more for a film than most of us would in three lifetimes.

I think for someone that works in design you're very dismissive of the work we put in to become established in our career. You are right in a respect, that 'all you really need is a decent visual sense, a dash of common sense and the ability to translate your ideas into two dimensions' but I doubt that'll get someone a job in a successful design studio. And if it isn't your aspiration to be successful at what you do, then why bother looking for a career? I thought that's what a career was?