Adobe PhotoShop

[John Smith]

Hey All,

Awesome Forum, lots of useful information I can use, I have been reading lots of threads in the last few days.



I am 19, and I got to college in Vermont for Meteorology. I always loved art, and took 5 years of it in high school. I enjoy it. I didn’t go to college for it because my dad said I will go know where with it. Well after being in college for 2 months, I know what I need to do, and I am doing it. I am transferring and going to an art school. I have been reading lots of information, and there are tons of careers out there, business, advertising ..blah blah blah, I am sure you all know this already.



Anyone, I wanted to get a little ahead of where I am now, and I would like to purchase a software and teach myself a few things before I enter my new school.



I just need advice of what would be the best first software to experiment with. I am really not sure what to look for.


Thanks a bunch.



John

[balou]

Welcome John. I think the best thing to do would be to talk to the art school you are transferring to about this. Seems the best route. But, Adobe Creative Suite is pretty much the Graphic Design standard. Quark is another popular layout program similar to InDesign (InD is part of the Creative Suite). Also, read, read, read. Go to the library an check out books on Graphic Design. Good luck!

[PrintDriver]

Not to bust your bubble here. Yes there are lots of careers in Design but there are also far more designers than job opportunities.

This is a service industry. Believe me, the concept of Art suffers dramatically the lower you are on the food chain.

Have you done any informational interviews, job shadowing etc.
http://www.graphicdesignforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4322

As for software, pony up for the Adobe Creative Suite. Get the Pro version. You have a student ID right? Check out Academicsuperstore.com. They are a legit site. There are a couple of others but I don't remember their names.

[John Smith]

Not to bust your bubble here. Yes there are lots of careers in Design but there are also far more designers than job opportunities.

This is a service industry. Believe me, the concept of Art suffers dramatically the lower you are on the food chain.

Have you done any informational interviews, job shadowing etc.
http://www.graphicdesignforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4322

As for software, pony up for the Adobe Creative Suite. Get the Pro version. You have a student ID right? Check out Academicsuperstore.com. They are a legit site. There are a couple of others but I don't remember their names.

Thanks for the two quick replies, I was surprised.



You didn’t bust my bubble. No worries.



I am a determined kid, and I am also motivated. It’s not all about the money for me, but for my dad. He is very successful and he didn’t want me not to be.



I’m ready for what ever challenges come my way. Life is not easy. But you have to do what you love.



Yes I have a student ID. I will check out that sight, and definitely go by the software you recommended. Thanks a bunch.



John

[PrintDriver]

I envy your enthusiasm!

Please take at least one more word of advice. Get a job or internship as early as you can. Don't wait for the 'college internship' in senior year. Entry level work in this field requires about 2 years of solid experience. Get it while you are still in school. If you can get a production job, all the better. Learn the back end and you'll know how to deal with print jobs in the most efficient, least costly manner.

I'm warning you, this isn't all about Photoshop and making pretty pictures. Clients can be a mean, ornery lot and Art does suffer. Sometimes grossly when it's a choice between pleasing a client or going hungry. :D

[John Smith]

I envy your enthusiasm!

Please take at least one more word of advice. Get a job or internship as early as you can. Don't wait for the 'college internship' in senior year. Entry level work in this field requires about 2 years of solid experience. Get it while you are still in school. If you can get a production job, all the better. Learn the back end and you'll know how to deal with print jobs in the most efficient, least costly manner.

I'm warning you, this isn't all about Photoshop and making pretty pictures. Clients can be a mean, ornery lot and Art does suffer. Sometimes grossly when it's a choice between pleasing a client or going hungry. :D



Hello,



Thanks for the reply. Yes, I know it's not all about pretty pictures in Photoshop. I know this site is strictly for graph design, But I am not even 100% sure I want to do graphic design.



You seem like you know your stuff. Have you ever heard of the book called "Career Opportunities in The Visual Arts?" It is a very informative book, and illustrates 61 careers that one can go into in the visual arts. It also tells you the duties you will perform, employment prospects, and advancement prospects.



I have a meeting with a woman at my university; she is head department of career services. I will show her the careers I am interested in, than we will start narrowing down some schools. I am taking it slow; I don’t want to make any quick decisions.



That sounds like a great idea, and smart as well. I am in the middle of nowhere right now in Vermont, but I would love to work for an internship if I were able to find one.



I left my home town in central New Jersey to come here. Probably one of the worst moves I made my whole life. There are tons of opportunities where I was located. I had NYC, east of me about an hour away, and Philly about an hour west.



As of now these careers seem very interesting. (Of course most of them are jobs you work up the ladder to get, but just keep an open mind)



- Production Artist (advertising)

- Graphic Designer (advertising)

- Art Director (advertising)

- Creative Director (advertising)

- Advertising illustrator

- Commercial Photographer

- Production Designer (more like a dream) My brother makes movies, and Making movie with him me and a producer would just be freaking awesome, but again...but employment prospects and advancement prospects are ridiculously poor.



So, as you can see, I’m not sure of where I want to go, but it seems advertising and theatrical seem to be somewhat down the right road.



It’s frustrating, and life is stressful for me right now. I just need to stick with my dreams.



Thanks again.

John:cool:

[Broacher]

John,

Not to be negative (too), but I just thought I would warn you about putting too much faith in any school's career councillor's understanding (or description) of the reality of the world of graphic design. It's been my experience that because graphic design is such a popular program choice (there's almost always a lineup) that very few want to scare that golden goose by telling what it's really like. Government services that contain 'career prospect' info are often just as bad.

Tons of careers? Hmm.... maybe. But there's tons of frustration, dead-ends, and disappointed talent too. It's not all about the money for you-- but is that because somebody else's money is paying for your schooling?

If that's your dad-- I can certainly understand his concern. My wife and I are both art college grads, I'm the one that stills working in this field and we have a daughter who's about to start college in a year or two. She's very gifted and smart in a lot of things, but both her mom and I get very nervous whenever she starts to wonder about a career in the arts. You have to ask yourself how much you are willing to risk, vs. training for a more stable and 'traditional' career choice where you can afford to develop your creative talent as a labour of love--without the threat of falling into a career ghetto.

On the other hand, I've also seen and known a few guys like you do very, very well. Not because dad's money allowed them to not worry about student loans, but because just knowing it was there in case of emergencies, they could afford the confidence it take to take bigger risks -- that's not something all the rest of us could afford.

Good luck!

[John Smith]

John,

Not to be negative (too), but I just thought I would warn you about putting too much faith in any school's career councillor's understanding (or description) of the reality of the world of graphic design. It's been my experience that because graphic design is such a popular program choice (there's almost always a lineup) that very few want to scare that golden goose by telling what it's really like. Government services that contain 'career prospect' info are often just as bad.

Tons of careers? Hmm.... maybe. But there's tons of frustration, dead-ends, and disappointed talent too. It's not all about the money for you-- but is that because somebody else's money is paying for your schooling?

If that's your dad-- I can certainly understand his concern. My wife and I are both art college grads, I'm the one that stills working in this field and we have a daughter who's about to start college in a year or two. She's very gifted and smart in a lot of things, but both her mom and I get very nervous whenever she starts to wonder about a career in the arts. You have to ask yourself how much you are willing to risk, vs. training for a more stable and 'traditional' career choice where you can afford to develop your creative talent as a labour of love--without the threat of falling into a career ghetto.

On the other hand, I've also seen and known a few guys like you do very, very well. Not because dad's money allowed them to not worry about student loans, but because just knowing it was there in case of emergencies, they could afford the confidence it take to take bigger risks -- that's not something all the rest of us could afford.

Good luck!

Not to be negative?
Nah...You werent, not one bit.:confused:

Not to be mean, in any way. My father sent me to college beacause I earned it. I have an older brother, who cant go to college because of his grades, and he failed out of a comunity college.

Let me just tell you, I cam here to ask a few questions, but it just seems like a motivation killer. I have been in hell these last 2 months. I have no idea where or what I want to do with my life, and I have been working on trying to go in the right direction, and I come here and it just seems like the complete oposite.

I know I am a lot younger than you..I am assuming since you are married, But let me tell you one thing. Confidence, and motivation goes a long way....Along with you tallent.

Thanks for the post..

John

[budafist]

Well, you're not much younger than me (I'm 22), if you want to do this, go for it.

Just make sure you pick up as much experience as you possibly can while you are studying. So that when you are out of university looking for a full time job you have some experience under your belt. Every piece of work you do - think of it to go into your portfolio. Have a look at what employers look for in portfolios - have a look at other designers portfolios. Never stop learning. In this fast moving industry, you stop learning and you fall behind.

[John Smith]

Well, you're not much younger than me (I'm 22), if you want to do this, go for it.

Just make sure you pick up as much experience as you possibly can while you are studying. So that when you are out of university looking for a full time job you have some experience under your belt. Every piece of work you do - think of it to go into your portfolio. Have a look at what employers look for in portfolios - have a look at other designers portfolios. Never stop learning. In this fast moving industry, you stop learning and you fall behind.

Thanks for the advise.

[Riya]

Let me just tell you, I cam here to ask a few questions, but it just seems like a motivation killer.


Printdriver and Broacher are not trying to be negative. It just comes across that way. They have seen (I'm guessing here, but I'm pretty sure I'm right) so many young people, like ourselves, come into this industry with a very idealistic view. No one ever tells the college students what it's really like. You don't hear about the picky clients and the poor salaries and the cutthroat competition. And ultimatly, if they are not in the industry for the right reasons, they will end up unhappy.


I have been in hell these last 2 months. I have no idea where or what I want to do with my life, and I have been working on trying to go in the right direction, and I come here and it just seems like the complete oposite.


I know how you feel. I've been there. I spent all of my senior year in high school and part of my freshman year in college wrestling with my passion for writing, my love of art and design and the knowledge that it would be a long time before I could support myself doing either.

Keep working towards finding a direction for yourself, and don't get discouraged if you make a few wrong turns along the way. As young people in this country, we literally have the ability to do anything and be anything. We are limited only by our determination.

But you need to know that after you have finally made a desion about what you want to make of yourself, it doesn't get any easier, especially if you decide to go with graphic design.



Confidence, and motivation goes a long way....Along with you tallent.


This is true, but it gets frustrating when you have no chance to prove your talent and motivation to potential employers because you can't even get your foot in the door.



My advice to you:

-Keep your optimism. It's important.

-Learn as much as you can about the industry. Use this forum, other places on the internet, your local library.

-Do some job shadowing. Go to a local printshop or design firm and explain to them that you are considering a career in design and ask if you can follow someone around for a day or even a few hours and see what it's like.

-Make friends in the industry. Designers, printers, everyone. Talk to these people and learn from them. They will also be vital when looking for a job.

-Get an internship even if the pay is crap or non-existant. You will get first hand experience, which is the best way to decide if this is for you. If you decide that design is for you, you have that all important job experience. If not, you've learned something about yourself and are ready to try a different direction.

[Alan G]

I wouldn't want to add much to this discussion, John, except this link. I think you'll find it relevant and very useful. The top article in the blog is the text of Steve Jobs' Commencement address to graduating students at Stanford last year.

http://okaysamurai.com/