Can anyone tell me..?

[ARRIVALS]

Everyone with a copy of Adobe claims to be a designer.

Others who can use Microsoft Word or Paint also claim to be a designer.

[garlex]

What has changed within the Graphic Design industry in the past 5-10 years?

Everyone thinks they are a Graphic Designer as soon as they download Paint or similar! :icon_Wall:

[Dave L]

Academically (and perhaps controversially) speaking, I get the feeling that Graphic Design is becoming the new Media Studies, i.e. a route into academia for the perhaps less-academically inclined with the associated appearance of creativity and modernity (I also understand from something I read online that research indicates a high level of dissatisfaction with GD courses and their ability to prepare graduates for the jobs market). Consequently, while turnover across the industry is in decline, there's a glut of would-be practitioners which, in turn, drives down both quality and value.

[Moominbaby]

(I also understand from something I read online that research indicates a high level of dissatisfaction with GD courses and their ability to prepare graduates for the jobs market). Consequently, while turnover across the industry is in decline, there's a glut of would-be practitioners which, in turn, drives down both quality and value.

I would agree with this entirely I finished my course a year ago and the course on its own would never have been enough, there was massive gaps in my practical knowlege. I have had to do unpaid placements to get to a proffesional standard and ready myself for the proffessional world. In fact I am still doing this part time because web design was something we were never taught !?! and quiet frankly it's a must to have some knowlege. Having said that my tutor was brilliant just working under very pressured demands and tight bugets. I wonder, now the course cost a fortune, if things have changed?

[ahcstudio]

Academically (and perhaps controversially) speaking, I get the feeling that Graphic Design is becoming the new Media Studies, i.e. a route into academia for the perhaps less-academically inclined with the associated appearance of creativity and modernity (I also understand from something I read online that research indicates a high level of dissatisfaction with GD courses and their ability to prepare graduates for the jobs market). Consequently, while turnover across the industry is in decline, there's a glut of would-be practitioners which, in turn, drives down both quality and value.

Well said Dave. There were people on my course that openly admitted to being on the design course because they wanted an easy life arranging pictures, words and pretty colours. :icon_hide: