Graphics Design Specialist
My boyfriend is preoccupied with looking into colleges, and one of the majors we both agree that he will perform best in is graphics design. He is really interested in anything related to the visual arts etc, and graphics design and photography are the two things he likes the most.
However, before he puts in his application etcetera (which asks about his professional and intellectual aspirations) he wants to know more about the field, such as the average salary a graphics design specialist can expect and what opportunities he might have. Thanks!
I own a small web design business, although my degree is in Commercial Art (kinda like a mix between graphic and fine arts). I was extremely lucky to start my business early enough to get established before everyone and their cousin went to school for a graphic/multimedia/web design degree. I had a portfolio before they played commercials for these schools every five minutes, and began turning out young "artists" by the thousands. I'm very angry at these schools for not being very up-front about the business, and the likelihood of decent employment. When I went, they were very up-front about our chances of success in our chosen field (slim, at best). It's a bit better than a degree in Feminist Studies or Philosophy, but not by much.
My sister-in-law graduated two years ago with a degree in multimedia design (a bit of everything from print to web design), and she's still managing a one hour photo dept. at Winn Dixie. Her school told her that they had a 95% success rate with students finding work in their field after school (an obvious lie, since she's in contact with a lot of students she attended with, none of them employed in the Arts in any way).She's turned in hundreds of resumes (as a pro, I know she's very talented) without any luck. Actually, without a single response. As far as I know, I'm one of about 5 in my class who actually work in a related field (out of about 50 students).
It's very, very tough. Average pay varies, but plan on making about $10-15 an hour. Employers DO NOT value creativity the same way artisans do, unfortunately, and they make it obvious that you can be easily replaced.
Your "just out of school" portfolio doesn't mean anything, so it can take 1-2 years thereafter to create one that anyone will consider looking at.
Your best bet is really to start a small business, which will require capital, a REAL portfolio with REAL clients, and lots of patience. Once your established, you'll either be one of the lucky who finds work, or it will be a CONSTANT, NEVERENDING, nagging search for clientelle. Clients will be hard as hell to work with most of the time, and they will almost always undervalue your work.
Also, your success in this field depends on your location (I can't stress that enough). I live in a medium-sized city. If you don't live in an area that's at least modestly large, don't get your hopes up. There's not much need for Graphic Designers and the like in the 'burbs or rural areas (besides doing mockups for the paper for $7/hr.).
Don't forget about the student loans, as this type of education won't be cheap (around $50k for an Associates).
I'm not trying to burst anyone's bubble here, but I'm telling you things as a pro that no admissions officer would ever know (or admit to even if they did). The commercial arts, whatever specialty, are a difficult field (understatement) that only those with an extremely strong drive to succeed and perservere will achieve with even a mediocre level of income. And that's with inhuman patience thrown in to boot. I've been doing this for 5 years, and am getting quite sick of it myself (the constant chase for clients).
I'm saving to invest in another business that will free up more of my time for my own personal artistic endeavors right now (like writing).
It's been fun, but not real fun, if ya know what I mean. And I've been extremely lucky.
-snip-
The population of where we live is 450k+ and where he would be going to school at has a metropolitan area of 8 million (Chitown ftw)
The population of where we live is 450k+ and where he would be going to school at has a metropolitan area of 8 million (Chitown ftw)
That's pretty decent of a size community. Of course, that also means that competition will be sizable as well. I hope I don't sound like I'm trying to rain on anyone's parade. I'm not. I've had a good career so far, and have enjoyed the work I've done for the most part. I also know that I'm in the minority (big time) in that way, and feel that the best thing to do when asked by young hopefuls about the real-life experiences of commercial artists (myself, friends, and colleagues) is to present an honest, unflinching portrait of the field. I've done that.
I'm hardly saying that he shouldn't try to achieve his dreams, quite the contrary.
I'm getting the message across that if he wants to be successful, he'll have to truly be extraordinary in ways that most careers just don't require (outrageously talented, and more importantly, extremely business/money savvy... just what artists hate to hear).
On the other hand, I'm very proud of what I've accomplished so far. I just feel that every aspiring art-school student should have a reality check with themselves before going into the field. With admissions officers hard-selling you the whole pie, it's best to know what's in it.
Good luck, and I wish him the best. :)
That's pretty decent of a size community. Of course, that also means that competition will be sizable as well. I hope I don't sound like I'm trying to rain on anyone's parade. I'm not. I've had a good career so far, and have enjoyed the work I've done for the most part. I also know that I'm in the minority (big time) in that way, and feel that the best thing to do when asked by young hopefuls about the real-life experiences of commercial artists (myself, friends, and colleagues) is to present an honest, unflinching portrait of the field. I've done that.
I'm hardly saying that he shouldn't try to achieve his dreams, quite the contrary.
I'm getting the message across that if he wants to be successful, he'll have to truly be extraordinary in ways that most careers just don't require (outrageously talented, and more importantly, extremely business/money savvy... just what artists hate to hear).
On the other hand, I'm very proud of what I've accomplished so far. I just feel that every aspiring art-school student should have a reality check with themselves before going into the field. With admissions officers hard-selling you the whole pie, it's best to know what's in it.
Good luck, and I wish him the best. :)
It's either graphics design or something in the visual design area, or engineering (which is what his dad is pushing because he's absolutely just awesome when it comes to Mathematics).
If you are talking about using computers to do such, thats what my dad does. He's worked in the industry for like 21 years or so, and makes about 50 an hour, though he had no college when he began.
Americai
24-10-2005, 08:28
I own a small web design business, although my degree is in Commercial Art (kinda like a mix between graphic and fine arts). I was extremely lucky to start my business early enough to get established before everyone and their cousin went to school for a graphic/multimedia/web design degree. I had a portfolio before they played commercials for these schools every five minutes, and began turning out young "artists" by the thousands. I'm very angry at these schools for not being very up-front about the business, and the likelihood of decent employment. When I went, they were very up-front about our chances of success in our chosen field (slim, at best). It's a bit better than a degree in Feminist Studies or Philosophy, but not by much.
My sister-in-law graduated two years ago with a degree in multimedia design (a bit of everything from print to web design), and she's still managing a one hour photo dept. at Winn Dixie. Her school told her that they had a 95% success rate with students finding work in their field after school (an obvious lie, since she's in contact with a lot of students she attended with, none of them employed in the Arts in any way).She's turned in hundreds of resumes (as a pro, I know she's very talented) without any luck. Actually, without a single response. As far as I know, I'm one of about 5 in my class who actually work in a related field (out of about 50 students).
It's very, very tough. Average pay varies, but plan on making about $10-15 an hour. Employers DO NOT value creativity the same way artisans do, unfortunately, and they make it obvious that you can be easily replaced.
Your "just out of school" portfolio doesn't mean anything, so it can take 1-2 years thereafter to create one that anyone will consider looking at.
Your best bet is really to start a small business, which will require capital, a REAL portfolio with REAL clients, and lots of patience. Once your established, you'll either be one of the lucky who finds work, or it will be a CONSTANT, NEVERENDING, nagging search for clientelle. Clients will be hard as hell to work with most of the time, and they will almost always undervalue your work.
Also, your success in this field depends on your location (I can't stress that enough). I live in a medium-sized city. If you don't live in an area that's at least modestly large, don't get your hopes up. There's not much need for Graphic Designers and the like in the 'burbs or rural areas (besides doing mockups for the paper for $7/hr.).
Don't forget about the student loans, as this type of education won't be cheap (around $50k for an Associates).
I'm not trying to burst anyone's bubble here, but I'm telling you things as a pro that no admissions officer would ever know (or admit to even if they did). The commercial arts, whatever specialty, are a difficult field (understatement) that only those with an extremely strong drive to succeed and perservere will achieve with even a mediocre level of income. And that's with inhuman patience thrown in to boot. I've been doing this for 5 years, and am getting quite sick of it myself (the constant chase for clients).
I'm saving to invest in another business that will free up more of my time for my own personal artistic endeavors right now (like writing).
It's been fun, but not real fun, if ya know what I mean. And I've been extremely lucky.
Listen to this poster. He is not trying to discourage you, but actually inform you. It really doesn't matter if you live in a very large city, but it does raise your chances by a noticalbe margin compared to smaller towns. I wanted to become a 3d animator (and have) and am well versed in graphic design programs such as adobe illistrator, dreamweaver, paint, the all powerful and universal photoshop, and the only related job that was available was the local newspaper for page layouts in which the only technical knowledge that is needed is black and white color shade usage. I have an associates degree in Digital Imaging Technology which is an alias for graphic arts.
I AM a graphic artist. However, a graphic artist with no real job opportunities one can actually LIVE off of. Most are abismal in pay. You'd make more working in a more established company.. which in fact I do. I have TWO damned good jobs with great hours earning and saving money. I'm saving money for a reason.
Within 3 months of no luck in finding a decent graphic arts company, I wisened up quickly and noticed the best way to be successful is to become a business owner and manager. Thus, I am getting a bachelors in business and management. Though I know its ridiculous to think the local area will ever use real 3d work, I know having a successful business (which is a grand task and risk) gives one far more freedom to have the job and working enviornment one wants to have one elsewhere if necessary.
Graphic arts has become.... an art hobby. I do it, I know it, I don't make any real money off it. Business however has become my career aspiration while working 2 well paying jobs that provide me with not just funding for day to day affairs, school, but also a possibly much better future.
Also, to mention, there is a serious buisness decline with digital imaging currently. I wanted to get into it, because my dad could hook me up with his company, but he's been having very little work recently(spends most of his day reading, napping, etc, because there is so little work). This may and probably will change, but its a slow period at the moment.