"I don't like Graphic Design anymore"

[artistsdad]

This was dropped on me while in Colorado with the kid, checking out a couple of schools. Art Institute of Denver (bad vibes--not interested), and University of Colorado in Boulder (great vibes + a Virgin Records store + a couple independent/used record stores in the area + vegetarian dishes in the cafeteria--PRIORITIES?!?).

Eating in one of the eateries on "the hill" after the campus tour in Boulder, I asked what the GD program there was like, and she says "I don't know. I don't really want to do that anymore. I just want a fine arts program". :confused: Great.:confused: Well, she's never met a stranger, so I suppose she'll make a good taxi driver when she graduates...

Hopefully it's just a phase and she'll get back to reality before it's too late. Is it the teenager in her, the female in her, or the artist in her that makes her go whacko every so often?

We've told her we'll support her in whatever she decides to do, but we didn't see this coming. She's always been rather down-to-earth, logical and pragmatic. What the heck happened?

[Cyan_Ide]

Do you know what sort of 'fine arts' she wants to do?? If she wanted to previously do graphic design, perhaps she's considering illustration? That's sort of got the whole commissioned illustration scene going on for it. That wouldn't be so bad.

Of course, maybe she'll end up doing something else, or end up liking graphic design after all, to your chagrin. I don't know how those programs work, but here, in our earlier years, and through studio classes, we dabble in pretty much everything. I originally went to school for 3D/special effects. Yeah, I was going to be one of those .007% of people who work for Pixar or Lucas or whatever. LOL! More likely I'd be asking if anyone needed a side order of fries with the skill I have with Maya, not to mention pretty much anything that moves... :D Fortunately enough, I had a lucky stroke of exciting design professors and a sort of 'mid-college-art-life-crisis' that steered me in the direction of graphic/web design, which is where I am now.

Our college has a bachelor's in studio art in addition to the design degrees, so I know a whole bunch of classmates/friends that are in the studio major. In my life drawing III class, it was mostly studio art folks. They seem to have good heads on their shoulders, but I'm going to be completely honest, the whole concept of the 'studio art' career gives me the heebie-jeebies. Mostly to do with the art critics or museums liking or not liking your stuff on a whim. I give them major props for their bravery.

As far as pursuing the fine arts stuff, from what I hear it's all about the networking (much like everything else is of course, but amplified, I think). I hope she's a good people person. Hobnobbing with all of the museum folks and things like that. Best of luck, I'm sure she'll do alright, she seems like she has some good parents to guide her.

[Drazan]

fine arts is just about as broad range as graphic design.

Illustration, anything from book covers, cartoons, storyboards, illustration, art exibits, art aquisition and management (museums, large corps, etc), courtroom sketching (still allowed when the cameras are not allowed), forensic sketches (recreating the bad guys face), now there's the whole product illustration for future product concepts, on the shelf representations (as you have seen everything is vector simulated right now), mockups of what this future building will look like, movie concept art, calendars, gaming cards etc.

It's not just about trying to sell art from a studio anymore. I've actually run across several people who paint both digitally and real materials for several of the above items I listed. And even enough so that it is all they do.

But you have to be very very good to break into this feild and be sucessful at it. It can be done, but in a way it is even a harder job than graphic design.

Jade

[Tea]

It is harder, but the thing is someone with a fine arts background coupled with GD skills is hard to beat.



Doesn't she already have some computer skills? Trust me, once they get going in classes they will see other things that draw them into areas they are interested in anyway. But who knows, she could end up doing just about anything, but the creative mind is so advantageous I can't begin to tell you. Of course I toot my own horn, but I've noticed recently that other teachers, keep stealing my assignments and damn it, I have to come up with new ones.

Just go with the flow Dad. :-)

[tuliptree]

I agree, go with the flow right now. Let her get her feet on the ground and figure out what is important and what she wants to do. Its hard to know exactly what you want to be doing at that age.

I originally entered school in the graphic design program, but switched over to a fine art degree in painting much to the chagrin of my parents and grandparents. Was it practical? Not really. But the more they pressured me to stay in graphic design the more I wanted my degree in fine art (not to say that was the only reason I did it, I truly did desire to pursue my degree, but it sure fueled me and made me feel like I had to stand up for myself rather than me stopping to think about it in a more practical sense).

By the time I graduated, I had decided on my own that a career in gallery shows and all of the other things mentioned above was not the life I wanted. But I will say this: the foundation my degree gave me is something I would never take back, and it is a huge benefit to what I am doing now. So I have no regrets.

With that experience I suggest, since she's just entering school, she should take the time to really figure out what she wants to do if she's not 100% sure. Don't worry about it right now. She'll figure it out--she sounds like a smart, talented girl. It just sounds like she needs to be given a chance to experience the different offerings, to take a variety of courses to find out what feels right, rather than picking a degree right off the bat, investing the time, only to discover its not what she wants in the end. I have a hunch she'll do just fine. Hang in there!

[The_Black_Knight]

Speaking from personal experience:

It is far better that your daughter change her mind about what she wants to do now (and she may change back anyway), rather than spend four years getting her graphic design degree, then three months into her first job out in the field realizing that she may have made a mistake.

Trust me on this.

[CkretAjint]

TBK is right. I have a friend that spent 80K on a degree in 3d animation. She now teaches dance to young kids (6-13 years old) cause she likes it WAY more... She's still paying off her degree to.

[Broacher]

It is harder, but the thing is someone with a fine arts background coupled with GD skills is hard to beat.

Guess you haven't talked to many illustration grads lately, eh?

[morea]

Speaking from personal experience:

It is far better that your daughter change her mind about what she wants to do now (and she may change back anyway), rather than spend four years getting her graphic design degree, then three months into her first job out in the field realizing that she may have made a mistake.

Trust me on this.

^ Definitely.

The average college student changes their major something like 3 times; at least, those were the statistics back when I was in school.

This is a very crowded industry. It's hard to find a job because there are more designers than there are jobs available. Even with a degree and several years of experience it can be quite difficult. GD involves working a sometimes thankless job with lots of tight deadlines. It can be very frustrating when a boss/client "forces" you to compromise what you know is a good design to add things like starbursts and swooshes and basically to "ruin" all your hard work. It's also a job that demands very little respect from the general public. (I've actually been asked, "oh wow, you can get a degree in graphic design?")

I can think of lots of reasons that someone might change their mind about pursuing this as a career. It's not for everyone, and it's definitely better to figure this out early on than it is to find oneself burned out and depressed several years down the road. It might be a good idea for your daughter to meet with her student advisor and talk about different careers that might interest her; she can always major in something else and minor in fine art or GD so that she can keep her hand in it in case she decides that she DOES want to pursue it later on down the road.

[drawingguy]

I went to school for Graphic Design and then switched to Illustration. As an illustration major I was able to fine tune the basics that I may not have been able to do as a GD major. Honestly I wasn't very solid in the basics of drawing and painting and I needed a lot of work going into college.

That said, if I would have stayed as a GD major I still would've been able to work on my drawing and painting, just not as extensively.

So I guess what I am saying is:

I went to Syracuse University. At Syracuse you were able to experience basically any part of art and design you desired. You could take sculpting, painting, figure drawing, photo or even animation classes( I think) as electives. My advice would be to stick with the GD and
use electives to experience the wonders of fine arts.

Disclaimer: the above ramblings are from the mind of a graphic designer turned illustrator turned graphic designer after realizing that freelance illustration is a tough biz. The above poster always feels that deep down everyone should take the path that brings them the most happiness, although not being flat broke can make you happy too.

[garricks]

TBK is right.

I went through 3-1/2 years of a Music Education program. Then I hit student teaching. *shudder* I changed my major in the second semester of my senior year, which automatically put me on the five-year plan. Things went downhill from there. But I ended up OK...:D

[Virgo Nightingale]

I got a degree in Music Industry. Decided it wasn't for me before I even got a job. I wish I'd geared my years in high school more towards art and gotten a degree for GD instead. I do however like where my life has found itself, and my life might be very different if I'd taken that path back then. Not sure I'd want to trade that in. ;)

[artistsdad]

Yeah, I know. It's better to change now than after she's gotten a degree in it. And I know that majors are changed frequently after a year or two. And that people change careers 3.8 times during their life or whatever.

I guess it was the feeling of being blind-sided on it that really got to me. That's what her whole focus has been, and she's talked about how much she enjoys it and all--to have her proclaim the change while we're in the process of looking at colleges just really torqued me. Why the hail am I taking time off work and spending money we don't have to go look at colleges you're not sure you're interested in???

And she still wants to go to Savannah to check out SCAD. She may be thumbing her way there...

[morea]

I hope you're kidding.

[budafist]

Just let her figure it out herself. Who knows, maybe graphic design was just a phase and now she has snapped out of it.

[Red Kittie Kat]

... ahh another reason I'm glad I don't have kids ... you are damned if you do and damned if you don't.

... and they make you insane and spend all your money :D

[budafist]

... and they make you insane and spend all your money :D

I thought that was women? ;)

[frankster]

I find the american system of university strange. In the UK you choose what you want to study and you go study it, for three or four years. Just that subject. You have to know what you want to study before you go see the universities because it's that department that you get shown and meet the staff and other students from on the open days. You choose 6 universities to go on your UCAS application, you visit as many of those as you can afford and interview with them then you get offers back from them stating what grades you require to be admitted. You pick a first and second choice and then when your grades come in, you phone to confirm you have the grades to take the place there and if you don't then you go to the ones lower down your list that offered you lower entrance grades and if you don't have grades to go to any of them then you go through something called clearance, which basically matches you up with any left over places across the UK that are willing to have you or resit your exams the following year.

[Tink]

We too are now paying 70K for a degree in 3d animation where there is not much hope for finding a job (my husband) and I have a degree in GD and now have a part time, not too impressive job. I have a full time job in a completely unrelated field just to pay the bills. As many said before, if she thinks this is not for her, be thankful she figured it out now. She may rethink her decision, she may not.. but my advice for you, being the parent, to just stand back and be the support system for her. Sometimes it's just nice to hear, "don't worry about it, everything will work out no matter what you decide."

[budafist]

I find the american system of university strange. In the UK you choose what you want to study and you go study it, for three or four years. Just that subject. You have to know what you want to study before you go see the universities because it's that department that you get shown and meet the staff and other students from on the open days. You choose 6 universities to go on your UCAS application, you visit as many of those as you can afford and interview with them then you get offers back from them stating what grades you require to be admitted. You pick a first and second choice and then when your grades come in, you phone to confirm you have the grades to take the place there and if you don't then you go to the ones lower down your list that offered you lower entrance grades and if you don't have grades to go to any of them then you go through something called clearance, which basically matches you up with any left over places across the UK that are willing to have you or resit your exams the following year.

In New Zealand it is the same as the UK. I applied for a Bachelor of Graphic Design and every class I did was related. There are no "core" papers where I can meet people doing other degrees. I don't do maths or english or any stuff like that. I wonder if since my degree is 3 years of design related classes if it is a stronger course than a degree where you might be spending some of those 3 years doing classes that aren't related to design.

At my course I had to submit a portfolio and attend an interview (with yet more portfolio work) with 2 of the university staff. Once I was accepted, it was still on hold until my high school exam results came in and if they were too low I could still be denied entrance.

You can't cross credit from a Marketing degree to a Design degree half way through your studies here because the classes are totally different. We had 2 students that came into our course in 3rd year from a different design school. Even that was really hard for them since they were way behind in software classes. I can't imagine trying to design after building your degree doing 2 years towards something else.

[artistsdad]

Hmm, double posted, somehow...

[artistsdad]

Thanks for all the responses. And those of you have mentioned that it's good to find out now, it's might just be a phase, etc. are all probably right. It's not a great catastrophe, just a big surprise. I don't like surprises. Guess we shouldn't have had kids, huh?

She'll be fine, whatever she decides to do. And I think it will be somewhere in the design/print field, with her freelancing on the side with painting, drawing, sewing, etc. She's always been creative, always gotten along well with most people, and she's still always right (after all, she's 17)and the world wrong... I shouldn't say that--she's a good kid with a pretty level head on her shoulders.

And yes, I was kidding about her thumbing to Savannah.

Frankster/Buda--the university concept you mention sounds pretty logical to me. No wonder the US doesn't use it. Except for manual trades, that is. Most of our technical schools are set up that way.

She was all excited today that she was hired to do an "ad campaign" for a local non-profit. It has to do with a drug court that tries to keep non-violent druggies out of the judicial system and help them find help to get themselves cleaned up, off drugs, and back in society. If they choose the drug court instead of normal court, they have things they have to do, and if they get off drugs and do the programs, their criminal record is expunged. Anyway, she's been hired to do a logo for the organization, design a letter head, pamphlets for distribution around town, t-shirts, posters, and possibly some print ads for the local underground newspapers/magazines. It pays her by the project, she'll get credit for her Tech course, she can work on it during her Tech class, or work from home for the most part, go downtown for "creative meetings" as necessary. They gave her some ideas as a starting point, and turned her loose. She's stoked right now. Hopefully it will last. She said she did have to ask about the nicknames for the drugs that are in use these days, because none of the kids she runs around with are into them. The lady in charge of the organization had seen some of the posters my daughter did for the "Feed the Children" organization's benefit last fall. Started asking questions until she found out who did them, and called the kid up to see if she would be interested.

Hey--thanks for listening and throwing your two cents' worth in. Or whatever your area's equivalent to two cents is. You folks are a pretty good bunch.

[Drorain]

don't worry to much dad, these are the types of things you need to deal with as a parent and she needs to deal with as a teen growing into an adult. she might be unsure, perhaps she's read up on the competition of what design is like, maybe she can't choose an industry, perhaps pushing pixels isn't just her medium.

If she's helping out the non-profits still, that's great someone that has a little less in life will benefit from her work. Nurture her sentiments on giving back to the community, let her find the way to express it. Fine arts is an amazing field and has many crossovers into the more regular industries, her talents will develop, you never know, you might have a 'Goldengirl' or 'Renaissance Woman' on your hands. Just be supportive, SCAD has great programs, and in more than just design.

[Optimusdinkus]

Ill be honest, if it pays a scholarship, get the hell in there.
I had a free ride in college, so if I didn't like what I studied it didn't slam my pocket book and I can decide later if I want to pursue grade school. Lets not even go into opportunity costs with school that can make the cost rise to 120k easy sometimes.

To be honest though, I would try and enroll her into a portfolio driven institution, the best comes from places such as that especially if she has the talent to do so.

[John G]

"I don't like Graphic Design anymore"
me too

[Maker]

"She said she did have to ask about the nicknames for the drugs that are in use these days, because none of the kids she runs around with are into them."

I told my parents that too when I was under their roof. lol.

Most kids today are into the dangerous drugs they fish out of parents perscription stash. Remember the public service announcement from MY youth:

Parents who use drugs, have children who use drugs.

the doctor's script doesn't negate that. That shlt kills.

[artistsdad]

Yeah, that thoughts' always in the back of your mind as a parent...

But she comes from a long line of boring squares. Her mother & I never did any of it, and we've seen no indication that she and her friends are involved in it. She quit hanging with one group because they were getting into it. One of the kids she was friendly with in grade school, she quit hanging with in jr. high because of the girl started boozing it up. She OD'd on meth & died in 10th grade. I think it had a profound effect on a number of the kids out of the neighborhood.

She's a good kid, we give her a lot of room, but we still check in on things often enough we feel she's headed down the right road...

[Riya]

If it makes you feel any better, I know more people making money in fine art than people making money in Graphic Design (exculding all of you internet people). But then again, I am working in the fine art field, not graphic design.

[longboy]

I make moneys in the Graphic Design field. It can be done.

[artistsdad]

I suppose it's a bit of a knee-jerk reaction on my part...but I've got to have some excercise to go with jumping to conclusions...maybe she was just testing the waters to see how we would react...making sure my heart medicine was doing its job...

I keep telling both the girls that they need to make enough to support us in or old age. Actually, if they're able to make a life they're happy with, we'll be satisfied. We've tried to rear them to think for themselves, so I suppose we ought to let them do that. In the long run, they're gonna do what they're gonna do, just like we did. Our parents haven't disowned us yet, even when I would have if I were them...Guess I'm a bit of a control freak. Hail, I'm still 18--I shouldn't have to deal with this stuff already.

[Maker]

well I majored in fine art the first time I went through college (on my parents dime)

then after getting my arse kicked around on the art festival circuit for a summer, I started teaching class, then after getting my arse kicked around by middle schoolers for three years, I put myself back through college for a design degree.

Now Im pretty weell off, aside from the student loans. there is life after "experimental life decision making goes ary"