what you guys think about this approach??

[thecldriver]

Well i recently graduated from college this past may, with a bachelor degree in fine arts (graphic design). And thus far, finding a job has not been easy for me. I blame my school first off. They never really prepaired me properly for what i was about to face and breezed through programs such as Pagemaker (didnt even show us quark) illustrator , photoshop, 3dstudio max, etc. What they did show me was how to do alot of jobs by hand and marker rendering which is useless in our field. A woman at a book publishing company was really impressed with my marker renders and suggest i take classes to make my marker skills even better because she likes my style. I am soo against this because i gotta think about me and who the hell uses marker renders in a business??? What i did decide on doing besides gettin a dam masters degree like my fam sooooo badly thinks i need( like i really want to teach). Was to enroll in a computer essentials for graphic designers year long course which breaks down, evalute every tool, teaches techniques etc at FIT (fashion institute of technology here in nyc). I basicly am going to be focusing on Adobe illustrator, Photoshop, Quark Xpress, and Indesign. The courses are cheap for me here in state (275 a piece for 7 courses) and i gain a certificate and much better knowlege of these programs than i already have. Big perm feels its a great idea and investment, now i need to know what you guys think... sorry for writing a bookhttp://www.graphicdesignforum.com/emoticons/roll.gif

[Ryan8720]

Sounds like a smart move to me.

http://edgewebdesign.org/ryan2.gif (http://www.edgewebdesign.org)

If it weren't for the last minute, nothing would ever get done.

Never put off till tomorrow what you can avoid all together.

[thecldriver]

thanks ryan, i am really hoping this beefs up my skills and helps me get to where i want to go. I am hungry right now and even when i get a job i want to stay hungry, so i dont get comfy in my spot and slack

thecldriver sounds good just watch out for all the fags out there if anything run towards the Garden where real men hang out. No I'm just joking, good idea though or you could go to Devire in Long Island City right after the 59th street bridge in Queens, it's off Queens blvd. They have a good rep for there IT and Web courses so I’m assuming there Graphic Courses are up to par.

[Mickey]

Your making the right decision. I was in the same boat after I graduated with a BA in graphic design. I started working for a printer doing prepress and learning the programs did that for 2yrs all the while taking class just like you described. The prepress skills and the certs I got for all of the different courses i took is what landed me the job I currently have. (only designer for a national non profit association catering to over 25 thousand members.) My portfolio could have been better when I interviewed but the experience and training is really what got me the job over the 50 or so other caniditates. Now my portfolio is sweet and i run a frelance business on the side. And I have only been out of collage for 4 years now!

Take as all the classes you can and learn as much as you can, it can only help.

http://home.wi.rr.com/mygraphics/konceptcreative.jpg

[thecldriver]

hey mickey got a couple of ?'s for you. where do you reside, how much do you make in prepress and how much do you make doing your on the side business?? just curious cause i was thinking to do the same exact thing you are doing. thanks

[Mickey]

I live and work just outside of Milwaukee Wisconsin. I started at $28,000 and left the prepress job at $30,000. I just really started to pick up on real freelance work in the last few months but I would not be supprised if I make between $10,000 and $20,000 this year in freelance work alone.

Where are you from?

http://home.wi.rr.com/mygraphics/konceptcreative.jpg

[thecldriver]

hey i am from new york city. i am guessing when i get into prepress here i can prolly make around 24-30k a year. i am going to also be freelancing as my side job. hey contact me on AIM or aol Thecldriver

[REDeye]

Dude...at least you have a Bachelors Degree. All I've got is a crappy Associates degree. I would have one, if I didn't get jyped into getting financial aid and (shoulda got a grant) and if it wasn't so exorbitantly expensive to live here. Not onlywas it very difficult for me to get a job, but there are no jobs out here in the Bay Area. Not for what we do.

So I was faced with a choice. Either give up my dream being a graphic designer/CG artistand find a new career, or face a long, perilous road ahead—doing what I enjoy most.

I chose the latter. I'm glad I did. Since there is almost no graphic design industry here—I decided to make my own. I marketed myself to all the local musicians, targeting low-budget groups, and built a reputation based on professionalism. I met my deadlines and always kept my word. Despite the long, hard hours doing penny-antework, I soon found that I was very adept at learning. That's what I think school did for me. It didn't teach me how the real world was...but it did teach me how to teach myself.

Now I have a fairly decent reputation amongst the musicians in the area. I work with rock bands, hip hop crews, singers, and just about anyone else who comes around. I plan to begin my own clothing line and continue expanding.

Note that I have never worked at an ad agency or design group (but I will soon, actually), but I did get a lot of prepress experience at a print shop. Would it have been better if I actually had the money to go to school and get that BS? Perhaps. But that factdidn't stop me from doing what I had to do to follow my dream.

Oops. It appears I have written a book also. Anyways, my point is...don't ever give up. Do not stop. The money will come. Just keep improving your skills, speed, and corporate etiquette and I think you will find what it is that you seek.

____________________
a force in itself

REDeye

[D]

You know whats funny about this, my instructor (college student / graphic design major) mentioned how he would rather hire someone who was skilled with their drawing/marker skills when it came to developing logos and illustrations compared to the person with just finished versions of their work.

Reason why is because he knows that the person who he is interviewing is able to produce ideas right away rather then just sit infront of computer for god knows how long and then finally create something, and who knows if the final version is even good since there is nothing to compare it to.

I am sorry to hear about your experiences thus far, but keep your faith up. I admire you wanting to go back and learn what you felt were deprived from. It shows you have a commitment and dedication to your field. Keep that attitude, some people either never have it or feel it takes too much effort to keep. You'll find your job soon enough, best of luck.

[coconut]

work for the local newspaper, you will come away with a wealth of information and a desire for short deadlines. May I just suggest one thing if you haven't already thought about it, if you do freelance work, have a contract labor agreement, before hand.. work for the wise.

Coconuthttp://www.adleragency.net/ads/pearbug.jpg

[uncle carbunkle]

i second that emotion. gonna be going to small claims court myself, soon. best to have this stuff nailed down first.

>> rudie can't fail <<

[defjoe]

I also think it is a great idea.

i hear stories about how some people have met people that sya they want them to be able to draw and do marker comps. Even though I agree that you are a better designer if you know how to work out your ideas on a piece of paper with a pencil.

but I am hard pressed to find someone HIRED because of this method. It's all crap. they SAY it but when it comes down to it... very little or no computer skills... no job!

'I will become the most powerful Jedi ever!'

[D-Zine]

I'm with Joe...sounds like a good idea to me. I learned all the marker rendering and paste ups and everything in college but I also learned all the computer skills too. They didn't even teach you Quark..WTF? Even tho I think its gonna be passed up by ID its important to know it bc right now its still industry standard.

I think its a great idea also.

Boobie Island or Bust!

[Drorain]

do it

- Everyday, all the time, without fail!

[defjoe]

^best imput of the day and potential QOTW candidate^

'I will become the most powerful Jedi ever!'

[damnalky]

if you're good with hand work. you can become an illustrator. yea?

[thecldriver]

wow i thought this thread had died out. i am glad to have gotten soo much good feed back. My marker rendering skills came to me naturally, my professor one day gave me one simple example of how he did it and from there i practiced on it and perfected it. being an illustrator doesnt sound too bad. but my heart lies with getting these computer programs down and learning them like the back of my hand and broadcast my work through them. so in a nutshell... on my journey i am going to get my foot in the door by going to manhattan and look for a prepress job and work there for 1-2 years and get to know all of the ropes and study other artist work. then God willing, i am going to land myself a real graphic designer job and do freelance work on the side. I Love This field and that is all to it.....

[uncle carbunkle]

you can be an illustrator and use the standard design programs, but just because you can draw does not mean you can illustrate.

you should do what you love (*yak!*) and what you proposed sounds like your best option.

give 'er.

>> rudie can't fail <<