How essential is a design degree to a designer?
Having gone through the process of formal education in graphic design and illustration (and paid the accompanying expenses) Many designers have often had to ask themselves the question: ‘was it worth it?’
The simple fact is that, with the evolution of the internet to a level where intellectual and technical resources are freely available, those wishing to break into our industry have at their fingertips the necessary tools and know-how to make a start. Fortunately, the majority of professional designers aren’t selfish with their knowledge, and a huge number of blogs and articles will address issues such as common layout mistakes, and advice on getting work print-ready etc. So the theory of designing can be ‘self taught’ relatively easily, and it’s not just a case of accessing the necessary tools online, but not knowing what to do with them.
However. Something to be said for formal training is that you can learn a lot better by doing. You tend to remember methods of design practice if early on in your education a tutor has been able to drill it into your thinking. One good example being when I was studying for a foundation degree we had many sessions focussing only on principles of hierarchy. Nothing but old school cutting and pasting and enlarging on a photocopier. Ultimately these methods, which may have seemed tedious at the time cemented an understanding of hierarchy in my thinking that would never have stuck so well had it just been some advice that I read say, in a blog post. (think the karate kid, painting the fence.
Of course there’s a middle way between being completely self-taught and investing thousands of pounds and several years in a design BA. Many institutions offer short, part time courses or evening classes that can really be useful as they equip you with technical skills to make a success in the design world, but most importantly they provide the mentoring aspect that can help to establish good practice early on in a designer’s career.
Extra Links:
http://www.lcc.arts.ac.uk/courses/further_education.htm
http://www.chelsea.arts.ac.uk/shortcourses/
http://www.gold.ac.uk/icce/shortcourses/
Do you think you need a degree to freelance?
All content © 2010 by Acuity Designs
Maybe there is a difference between this question for design and this question for development. I don’t really think so. I think at the end of the day there is proper theory and best practice behind every subject that is rarely grasped properly without some kind of formal education.
Self-teaching has a fundamental flaw – you can only teach yourself what you know to teach yourself. You can ask for help and advice, but if there is a gap in your knowledge you will not know it is there without something to guide you.
That doesn’t necessarily mean a University lecturer, rather I think this role of “knowledge gap detecting” is often best filled by colleagues, fellow students or a good peer group. So if you are determined to go it self-taught, don’t go it alone, find a group of like-minded enthusiasts and you are much more likely to be successful in your pursuit.
[Reply]
I would say that just about anyone could freelance. The trick is finding some one who will actually pay you. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a job at a big design firm a degree in design is almost always among their top requirements.
http://twitter.com/Colorburned
Colorburneds last blog post..33 More Paint Brush Style Illustrator Brushes
[Reply]
I’m a firm believer in the middle ground technique. Self-education is about more than just reading books and blogs and practicing. At some point, you have to step outside your comfort zone and the best way to do that is to learn from someone who knows more than you. Whether you take some classes at local colleges, hire a tutor, or have good friends (forums are a great resource for this) critique your work and give you solid constructive criticism you do have to be pushed if you ever want to grow, which is essentially what the educational system is about.
It’s also not out of the question to push yourself to try things the hard way. Start from a ground up approach. Study basic principles as well as practical techniques. Self education is all about balance, just doing gets you nowhere and just learning also gets you nowhere. You need some of both.
Dawsons last blog post..Seeing HTML and CSS from the inside out using Firebug
[Reply]
I think when you get an education you have the ground work for being a good designer. Where as, if you don’t get an education you can do the work a certain way, and it is right, but don’t really know why you are doing it.
It’s more about copying how people do something when you don’t get an education versus, learning how and why you do something with an education.
Tylers last blog post..Business Card Giveaway: Winners
[Reply]
I already have one but don’t sense much difference.
[Reply]
The self-educated designer who’s armed with talent and years of practice is no worse off than the graduate who’s armed with talent and years of schooling.
The key is talent, because ultimately that’s what matters most. Are you good, or do you suck?
If you’re good, it doesn’t matter how you got there.
I’d also venture to say that the designer who had to have the drive to learn EVERYTHING on their own may have some other quality over those who were handed it all in a relatively structured learning environment.
Lizs last blog post..Top 5 Economic FAIL Tees
[Reply]
I agree, you do not need a degree to design. You may be naturally talented and can self teach although I would still recommend one. You may save money by not getting it, but schools can really teach you a lot more and give you more experience then teaching yourself over the internet can.
[Reply]
I have spent many years renovating houses with new layouts etc for my own benefit and for friends. I then wanted to go into this professionally and am now half way through a degree course. I initially took the degree course to put off the inevitable going back to work having raised my children, but I was surprised at how much I was taken out of my comfort zone by many of the assignments I have had to do.
Whilst I feel my previous knowledge has given me a great grounding for this business I would agree that had I gone freelance straight away my clients would have been restricted by my own experiences. I now feel I have gained a better understanding for a clients brief rather than imposing my own ideas.
[Reply]
from what I saw, even if you don;t have a degree in design you can have a change, and that change would be represented by a portfolio. have seen people with some work that spooked me, especially when I knew they didn’t spend a money on college, just a lot of time in front of a computer.
[Reply]
Design is about
* understanding problems
* offering creative solutions
The particular solution to any design problem will depend on the individual designers:
* ability to communicate with and listen to their client,
* their creative talent(s),
* their experience of encountering similar problems,
* their lateral thinking,
* their understanding of the principles that govern good design (typography, colour theory, etc.) and, lastly,
* their education
Design principles can be garnered through through formal education or self-tuition. However, the rest depend on experience and natural talent. And there is just no substitute for these.
.-= Cole´s last blog ..The curse of the money spider? spinning the web of data [2] =-.
[Reply]
[...] Do you need a degree to freelance [...]
I'm a firm believer in the middle ground technique. Self-education is about more than just reading books and blogs and practicing. At some point, you have to step outside your comfort zone and the best way to do that is to learn from someone who knows more than you. Whether you take some classes at local colleges, hire a tutor, or have good friends (forums are a great resource for this) critique your work and give you solid constructive criticism you do have to be pushed if you ever want to grow, which is essentially what the educational system is about.
It's also not out of the question to push yourself to try things the hard way. Start from a ground up approach. Study basic principles as well as practical techniques. Self education is all about balance, just doing gets you nowhere and just learning also gets you nowhere. You need some of both.
<abbr></abbr><abbr>Dawsons last blog post..Seeing HTML and CSS from the inside out using Firebug</abbr>
[Reply]
I would say yes and no. No,because you can teach yourself with all the resources that are out there. Heck, Youtube is pretty much a college with all the tutorials on there. Being a college grad(BFA(graphic design) myself I would say that some of the stuff I’ve learned in college I could have taught myself by reading books. And yes, because the faculty and colleges have connections and can network with people that you wouldn’t have access too. There are a lot of perks from just being a college student that you could benefit from, such as discounts on computers, software, supplies, etc. And you can’t get an internship most of the time if your not in college. Overall, I would say that it is up to the individual. But in my opinion I would say just get a degree, because you’ll become a well-rounded art student(not just graphic design) and you probably will be able to obtain a CAREER that is irrelevant to art just because you have a degree.
[Reply]