[OT] Graphic Design
- Thread starter Paul_Klein
- Start date
Number47
First Post
I've been in the prepress business, now doing web design, for 14 years. No degree. Learned the old-fashioned way. One thing I can say is that I have seen a LOT of guys start a job right after getting a creative degree. They usually last a month. The jobs that are readily available pay well, but they do NOT want any creativity. They want technical skill. Those jobs that do want creators are often the junior positions for small advertising companies. The pay on those is extremely low, and the pressure is extremely high. If you graduate up to a higher position in the company, the pay gets better but not the pressure.
So, if you are looking to get a degree that will land you a decent middle-class job, make sure you have the technical skills down pat. By technical, I mean you have to measure every little thing and plan out the measurements on paper, using pica measurement. "Eyeballing" will never cut it in the prepress world. Then, once you have those skills, shoot for the high-end prepress market. Work your way up if you have to. You can make decent money. Last shop I worked in I got 24/hour. A good alternative plan would be to thoroughly learn programming for websites. A designer who also knows Javascript, Java, Perl, etc. can command a nice salary, especially freelance.
On the other hand, if you are looking for a truly creative job, good luck. I never went there, but from what I've seen it is mostly thankless and low-paying. Of course, that may just be the people that I have contact with.
Either way, good luck!
Ever want any help or pointers, feel free to drop me an e-mail.
So, if you are looking to get a degree that will land you a decent middle-class job, make sure you have the technical skills down pat. By technical, I mean you have to measure every little thing and plan out the measurements on paper, using pica measurement. "Eyeballing" will never cut it in the prepress world. Then, once you have those skills, shoot for the high-end prepress market. Work your way up if you have to. You can make decent money. Last shop I worked in I got 24/hour. A good alternative plan would be to thoroughly learn programming for websites. A designer who also knows Javascript, Java, Perl, etc. can command a nice salary, especially freelance.
On the other hand, if you are looking for a truly creative job, good luck. I never went there, but from what I've seen it is mostly thankless and low-paying. Of course, that may just be the people that I have contact with.
Either way, good luck!
Ever want any help or pointers, feel free to drop me an e-mail.
Number 47:
I consider myself "technical" when it comes to the programs I use, Illustrator, Photoshop, Freehand, etc... but not in the "pica measurement" sense. I find it a non-issue since I do everything on the computer. When I did do pre-press it was just outputted directly to film.
I consider my job creative a good deal of the time and the pay isn't horrible (maybe... is 18.5/hour horrible? Not great... but not horrible I thought). I do agree that landing a job like this can be tough... but like it was said, make sure you have a good portfolio.
I do agree, that at least for the kind of job I have, you have to know programs like Photoshop and Illustrator/Freehand like the back of your hand and be able to work fast and efficiently in them. I recommend for someone starting out, to simply spend as many hours as you can with them... experiment, see what it cando.
I consider myself "technical" when it comes to the programs I use, Illustrator, Photoshop, Freehand, etc... but not in the "pica measurement" sense. I find it a non-issue since I do everything on the computer. When I did do pre-press it was just outputted directly to film.
I consider my job creative a good deal of the time and the pay isn't horrible (maybe... is 18.5/hour horrible? Not great... but not horrible I thought). I do agree that landing a job like this can be tough... but like it was said, make sure you have a good portfolio.
I do agree, that at least for the kind of job I have, you have to know programs like Photoshop and Illustrator/Freehand like the back of your hand and be able to work fast and efficiently in them. I recommend for someone starting out, to simply spend as many hours as you can with them... experiment, see what it cando.
Number47
First Post
I agree with Arravis, but want to expand. Don't just play with Photoshop and Illustrator. It is actually very hard to learn knew skills that way. Take some good advertising and replicate it. You may not have the exact photos or art, but you can make do with stuff you have. Trying to do what some other guy has done first is a great way to expand your mad skillz.
Oh, and I consider 18.50/hr to be very respectable, depending on area of the country and overtime available.
Oh, and I consider 18.50/hr to be very respectable, depending on area of the country and overtime available.
Marius Delphus
Adventurer
Arravis: I work at Intergraph. I once *interviewed* at MSFC but it didn't pan out (however badly I wanted the job). That interview is why I mentioned the "illustration" route above. 
Number47: I find 18.50 is quite respectable "down here." I agree that sitting down at a program with something to *accomplish* is the #1 best way to learn a program. Heck, I designed 2E character sheets in PageMaker and MS Publisher in order to learn them better. I haven't tried one in Quark yet though I probably ought to!
Number47: I find 18.50 is quite respectable "down here."
I agree that sitting down at a program with something to *accomplish* is the #1 best way to learn a program. Heck, I designed 2E character sheets in PageMaker and MS Publisher in order to learn them better. I haven't tried one in Quark yet though I probably ought to!Maureen Curtin and Kathy Jobczynski, both designers here, used to work at Intergraph; not sure if you know either of them. Anyway, I've heard that Intergraph is a rough place to work. MSFC isn't bad... if you are looking for a job, I can get you info as to where to send a resume.
Don't feel bad about it not "panning out" here at MSFC. It took them a year to call me back after my interview, lol.
Don't feel bad about it not "panning out" here at MSFC. It took them a year to call me back after my interview, lol.
mikedidthis
First Post
Interesting thread. I've been doing graphic design for almost 10 years now. I agree that you need good technical skills (i.e., know the programs like the back of your hand) if you want a corporate job, but the low-paying fun jobs are where your creative itch will get scratched.
Something I would suggest is that as you go down this career path, don't be afraid to do a little cold-calling if you see some work you think you can do and that you know you would enjoy. Last year, I contacted Privateer Press on a whim. That little contact led to me being able to design the interior of the Monsternomicon (their newest release) as well as their character portfolio. Two of the most fun jobs I've done in the last year!
--Mike South
Something I would suggest is that as you go down this career path, don't be afraid to do a little cold-calling if you see some work you think you can do and that you know you would enjoy. Last year, I contacted Privateer Press on a whim. That little contact led to me being able to design the interior of the Monsternomicon (their newest release) as well as their character portfolio. Two of the most fun jobs I've done in the last year!
--Mike South
Paul_Klein
Explorer
Thanks for the great replies! Seems to be a lot of you guys down South
I do play around with Photoshop and Illustrator a LOT in my free-time. But those are the only two programs I have (can't afford the others), and I only have Photoshop 6.0 (again, can't afford to upgrade).
Keep the replies coming! I look foward to reading them!
I do play around with Photoshop and Illustrator a LOT in my free-time. But those are the only two programs I have (can't afford the others), and I only have Photoshop 6.0 (again, can't afford to upgrade).
Keep the replies coming! I look foward to reading them!
Paul_Klein
Explorer
Thanks for the great replies! Seems to be a lot of you guys down South
I do play around with Photoshop and Illustrator a LOT in my free-time. But those are the only two programs I have (can't afford the others), and I only have Photoshop 6.0 (again, can't afford to upgrade).
Keep the replies coming! I look foward to reading them!
I do play around with Photoshop and Illustrator a LOT in my free-time. But those are the only two programs I have (can't afford the others), and I only have Photoshop 6.0 (again, can't afford to upgrade).
Keep the replies coming! I look foward to reading them!
Similar Threads
