Getting Started

[JH_Designs]

Hi Guys my names Josh and im 17 years old.

So i have been doing graphic design on my computer for around the last 2 years. Not professionally but just as a spare time thing. In the last few months i have realised that it is what i want to do in life and nothing else. I mean graphics and computers are my passion.

When i find myself with nothing to do. i always spend time on photoshop creating things. I just want to know whats the best way to getting into the graphics scene as a career. I recently finished sixth form where i did A-Level ICT which was crud as it was just essay writing and nothing really to do with computers them selves. I often found myself sat in class knowing more about the computers then the actual teachers.

Most of my knowledge is withing Adobe Photoshop and Cinema 4D but as a lot people have and still will tell me, i should learn more about illustrator which i do plan to in the near future :P

I dont plan to go to university as i cant afford it. I do the odd bit of graphics for my friends as they ask me to design them wallpapers and also i have designed advertisements in the past for a gaming forum that had a few thousand members.

so i just wanna know what my best options are... any advice will be highly appreciated.

Also this is my portfolio - JHDesigns: Graphic Designer

Constructive criticism is encourage but nothing to harsh ey ;) aha

[Corrosive]

I dont plan to go to university as i cant afford it.

Jeezus Christ Cameron & Clegg. What are you doing to our youth? :icon_scared: :icon_thumbdown:

[Tony Hardy]

Hey.

You mention computers a lot and I'm sure I'll not be the only one to say to you that design doesn't and should never start on the computer. I started the same way, computers and software, hating ICT because they couldn't teach you anything. What you need to do is get off the screen and get out drawing, observing, sketching and anything else like that. Computers have their advantages, for finishing projects and try variations, but, you need to approach the computer as a tool, something you can use to tie your ideas together, not as a tool to generate ideas.

As far as the education thing goes, if you can't afford to do Uni (and obviously, it's not possible for everyone anymore) then I'd definitely get yourself onto a college course in art/design. I took courses all throughout my education that focussed on both art & design as I felt the two co-existed and shouldn't be treat as seperate entities.

You mention computers and C4D, so that'd tell me that you were primarily interested in rendering/modelling and animation? If that's your sort of thing check out Nick Campbell here; greyscalegorilla.com/blog

I'll have a look at your website now and let you know what I think.

Cheers,
Tony

[JH_Designs]

Thanks for the advice,

yeah i used to draw alot when i was younger before i got into computer graphics, throughout my earlier years of high school i literally did no work because i would just sit in lessons and draw. i used to draw a lot of graffiti style, urban looking things but as i got more on the pc i sorted faded away from that aspect as i realised i could do it on the pc. Plus i do not have a way of getting my sketchs onto my pc as i do not have a scanner.

But as you say i may start getting back into the sketching side of things

now with the uni/college aspect, i live in norfolk in the uk which is a very 'open' area, LOTS of fields. where i live is like 10 minute drive from the nearest shops and about 20-30 minutes from the nearest college that does graphic courses. so when it comes to college, its transport. i do not have a car yet and i also have no job as there is nowhere advertising, thankyou to cameron and clegg for that aswell.

but surely whether you had a degree in graphic design or not. if you can do the work then surely it would not matter? oh.. i dont know

[Boss Hog]

but surely whether you had a degree in graphic design or not. if you can do the work then surely it would not matter? oh.. i dont know

Yes but that's the question, can you do the work now or do you need training/education? Looking at your portfolio (and no offence) I think you need a lot more practice or some sort of training before charging for what you do...at least going by your poster/flyer work on your website.

Sorry if that sounds harsh.

[Tony Hardy]

The nearest college to me was 30-40 minutes by bus, and that's what I had to use until I passed my driving test. Does the EMA scheme still run for attending college? It was £30 a week when I was there, although, I didn't qualify for it. If you really want to do it, you have to find a way of making the ends meet and getting yourself onto a college or Uni course. Once you're enrolled, you can normally blag some sort of transport allowance out of the college, that's what I managed in my second year.

Also, you don't necessarily need to transfer your sketches to the computer. You just need the freedom to work on your sketches in your book, scribbling, doodling, writing notes etc without the computers limitations. Then, you can take your ideas to the computer and try (hopefully succeed) in duplicating them on screen.

EDIT: Forgot to mention this. Yeah, I went through college and got the neccessary qualifications that could get me onto a degree course which I took and came out with a respectable 2;1 degree. Now, I too am looking to garner freelance work and set up my own business, however, I wouldn't have attempted it before college, but that's just me. Personally, I think you could use the training and it would definitely point you in the right direction. If I could do it all over again, I'd have stayed at college and trained for my degree there as the support network at Uni was borderline useless.

[JH_Designs]

At the moment i am looking for a job to get some money so once i have a job and easy transports maybe even my own car, ill prob look into getting onto some courses :P thanks for the help everyone

[Paul Murray]

Apparently Adam Woodhouse is self taught (according to his site) and he's made a pretty big name for himself through his artwork.

Adam Woodhouse | Portfolio 2011

It's not to my taste as it's more illustration than design but from the looks of your work so far it may be the sort of thing that would appeal to you? You could look at other options too, perhaps motion graphics?

After Effects is pretty big at the minute, I used it for the first time today at uni and it's surprisingly easy to pick up

[Tony Hardy]

After Effects is pretty big at the minute, I used it for the first time today at uni and it's surprisingly easy to pick up

Powerful software. That's what I used for 90% of my degree course. Very nice tool.

[Paul Murray]

Yeah, I've been in a sulk all week because we've been given a moving image brief to do but it was actually quite fun to use