Studying Graphic design for future career - Distance learning degree vs College

Ads22

New Member
Hi there

Im new to the forum and wanted to get some words of wisdom.

Im currently in the process of changing career and am hoping to become a graphic designer. Im currently in full time employment and i am considering the options to study a HNC/D for Graphic design full time at a college or to study a graphic design degree through distance learning (hopefully over the period of a few years)

It would be great to know if anyone has studied graphic design as distance learning and what your experience was.
The benefit of this would be that i could continue working more hours but am conscious of the additional length of time to study in comparison to a college course which is 2 years.

Thanks
 
Hey and welcome to the forum.

There was a recent topic that went off on a tangent (a bit) and discussed how important degrees were considered when going into graphic design.

I've not personally any experience of on line degrees/leaning but I have chatted to a few people that had and the impression I got was that they and the others on their courses were a little dissatisfied by the running of them and the communication from the tutors.

I don't know who the learning providers were and it was only an impression though.
 
I'm just going to say it.... I honestly would not recommend anyone going into graphic design as a career now.

With the progress being made in AI and the fact that we're already pretty devalued due to 'everyone owning' photoshop making people expect everything for free I personally feel that it is not a good long term career.

Even my more specialised 3D design isn't immune, the progress made with AI code has been exponentially faster than the actual development of 3D design itself, almost to the point that I can't honestly say that I'll have a 'job' in 10-20 years time, it's just as bad for 2D work too.
 
Meh - heard print was dead 20 years ago. Heard that 15 years ago. Heard that 10 years ago. Heard it 5 years ago. Heard it 5 days ago.

A guy I started with 20 years ago said that when they got computers that paper would be dead - everything stored on the computer - there was more than paper than ever before - he said.

Graphic design career is not dead, it can still be a career if you are adaptive.
Our turnover for print/design work per month is approx 250-300k a month.

But I agree - get into coding - even that may be AI soon - maybe get into engineering as a career. Mechanical things will always break. Machines always need servicing.
 
I know this is going to sound old fashioned but if I were running a studio and someone sent a CV and they had obtained a degree online I'd have doubts that it was legit or its validity.
I'm not in any way discrediting these online learning providers but way in the back of my head is that thing where people can become a Minister at the Church Of The Divine Telly Tubby or whatever for $50 online and perform marriages.
 
Yeh I trained in karate for years (3rd degree black belt) and one of the guys who trained with us did an online course in the art of self defence and got a PHD - and insisted that everyone call him Proffessor <surname>.

Sad.
 
The online course is through the university of the creative arts
Heres a link for the actual course
It seems like a legitamate course so appears to work in a similar fashion to the open university, so im not sure if employers would look down on it if this was the case?
 
Just to let you know that I graduated with a 3 year BA(Hons) Design for Digital Media full-time course and, honestly, I learned more online on YouTube and forums like this than I did in the whole 3 years. Yes it sounds all fancy and the lecturers make you feel, "very smart", but that doesn't count for anything anymore. If there was no internet then, yes, a degree would probably be important because you would be surrounding yourself with people who know what they're talking about. As an example I've been stuck on something for days, I joined this forum and within minutes
scotty (Moderator) makes a suggestion and it's all sorted.

So you're already surrounded by people that can help you with anything design related and if you're good you can learn it, build up a portfolio to show future employers. Having said that it also depends on the type of environment you learn best so if it is means sitting a classroom then so be it, but don't be drawn into this idea that there's only one route, i.e the university route, there isn't. Do what ever it is that makes you feel at your most creative and do it whole-heartedly.
 
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