Oh my gawd!!! What have I done???

[idaho]

I cannot believe that I just let my boss talk me into going back to school for another masters degree! The first time was rough but this is going to be worse.

Someone please shoot me.

-Idaho
'You want it when? Ok, no problem. Excuse me while I pull the magic wand out of my ass!'

[D-Frag]

Ha, good luck, the pre-requisites alone are astonishing : )

http://img15.exs.cx/img15/7863/nufrag2nk6zq.jpg

digitalcamwhore (http://digitalcamwhore.deviantart.com/gallery/)

Thanks to vend3r (http://www.graphicdesignforum.com/profile.aspx?f=35&m=97279&p=4762) for the sig

[D-Zine]

Another Masters??? Whyyyyy??

LOL!!

Good luck with that Idaho! Is he paying? LOL

Power to the Oldschoolers

[Patrick Shannon]

Why are you complaining? It's a job, be glad you have one. (^_~ Sorry, couldn't resist. I mean that in the most lighthearted way.)

No really, I actually wouldn't mind if an employer sent me back to school (oddly enough, the happiest times in my life have been when I've been in an educational institution or environment). Though I find that jobs hiring employees (in this business) based on degrees alone is highly suspect, and I really don't understand going back to school for another if you've already had real nitty gritty hands on experience. On the other hand, it's not unheard of to be sent to school for something 'specialized,' say...if you're lacking a few skills in Flash or something, but this is a little different, of course. I've had all kind of college graduates (a handful which were four year) boasting academic credentials which gave me 'press ready' stuff, and I've had to pull teeth to get it though their heads about why the object in question wouldn't work, etc. Heck, one of those students was my former co-worker's daughter, and she got pissy when I tried to explain why it wasn't a good idea to design things in Quark with 'special' effect plugins. (In short, I - and a lot of other places for that matter - didn't have them)

Patrick Shannon

'Dear valued customer, go home and die. Signed, your friendly graphic artist.'

http://www.patrickshannon.com/mwwc_sm.gif
My War With Culture (http://www.mywarwithculture.com)
Political incorrectness reinvented.

[idaho]

Well the first masters was in graphic design and 3d animation technology. Great degree but it hasn't done crap for me. This time around things are a little different. I'm looking to get out of this field and my boss wants me to move up in the company so...I'm going back to school for an MBA.

I've been doing graphic design for a long time and it's time to move up the ladder. I haven't burnt out on design. I love it as much now as I ever did, but it's an AMAZING career opportunity and my family depends on me.

I guess there's always the occassional freelance job.

Yes I have a job and I'm damn glad too!!! :)

-Idaho
'You want it when? Ok, no problem. Excuse me while I pull the magic wand out of my ass!'

[Allen Harkleroad]

Another Masters? H E Double Hockey Sticks, i would give me left gonad for one (LOL). If they want to pay for some or most of it then go for it. If not get OTJ experience. OTJ has done more for me that the degree i do have.

Allen



Allen Harkleroad
'I didn't do it... You didn't see me... You can't prove a thing...'

[Akewz]

Actually, this could be a great segue(sp) into an interesting topic(forgive me if it's been done)
How do most designers who have a degree, feel about designers who don't?

I personally think degrees don't mean as much as talent, but I've met people who will not hire anyone sans a degree. I think it's silly, but then again, I'm not doing the hiring.

Any thoughts?
Sorry if it's a beaten dead horse of a topic.



Oh yeah... good luck with the MBA idaho.

[idaho]

I've got years of OTJ experience. This time I'll be making a complete career change. Graphics is gone. Enter Hospital Administration.

I won't comment on the degree/no degree thing. It's a touchy subject for me.

-Idaho
'You want it when? Ok, no problem. Excuse me while I pull the magic wand out of my ass!'

[defjoe]

waste of time.. but if he's paying for it.

'I will become the most powerful Jedi ever!'
'I'm the damn designer, bitches!'

Check out my indie comic book!
www.assassinsguild.net/ (http://www.assassinsguild.net/)

[idaho]

What's a waste of time? The masters? Not when you look at the income potential for hospital administrators. We're talking 6 figures. Why do you think that medical costs are so high. They have to pay the administrators somehow. :)

-Idaho
'You want it when? Ok, no problem. Excuse me while I pull the magic wand out of my ass!'

[Flaming Moe]

I'm still in highschool, but I think unniversity is dumb. It's for people that have no practical skillz and stuff. My older sister went to unniversity and dropped out after 2 years! All she learned was how to read a stupd book, and sit in a class with 10 million other peeps!

Noooooooooooo thanks!

Una-panoona-banka!

[defjoe]

idaho said...
What's a waste of time? The masters? Not when you look at the income potential for hospital administrators. We're talking 6 figures. Why do you think that medical costs are so high. They have to pay the administrators somehow. :)

Yes Masters for our industry. tOTAL waste of time but I do want my doctor to have it! ;)

'I will become the most powerful Jedi ever!'
'I'm the damn designer, bitches!'

Check out my indie comic book!
www.assassinsguild.net/ (http://www.assassinsguild.net/)

[Nina]

LOL defjoe! you got that right


Nina

[morea]

agreed.

I refuse to have a battle of wits with someone who is unarmed.

[greyghost]

Akewz said...
Actually, this could be a great segue(sp) into an interesting topic(forgive me if it's been done)
How do most designers who have a degree, feel about designers who don't?

I personally think degrees don't mean as much as talent, but I've met people who will not hire anyone sans a degree. I think it's silly, but then again, I'm not doing the hiring.

Any thoughts?
Sorry if it's a beaten dead horse of a topic.



Oh yeah... good luck with the MBA idaho.

Personally, I look at the designer's ability. I wish corporations would see that, but I also understand it's harder for some HR person to understand 'designese.'
My degree is in journalism. But I discovered graphic design while working corporately and loved it. And the next place took me in as an artist, in spite of the degree.
I've met people with a degree that SUCKED monkey balls as an artist.
I've met people without a degree that just blew me away with their ability.

I think what corporations don't understand is the term 'artist' - artists don't fit in that box of degree=automatically great at design.

when it comes to certain clients, remind yourself:
You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink.

I'm an ARTIST, not a MAGICIAN!

[Flaming Moe]

But someone should still get some kind of training after high school right?

Una-panoona-banka!

[defjoe]

right flaming moe. go to a print shop and ask them if they will allow you to intern. Even if for nothing. work there a year or so and then try getting an entry level job. by the time people are graduating college, you will have at least 2 years experience under your belt. you going head to head with them for a job... you will win out 9 times out of 10. Trust me.

'I will become the most powerful Jedi ever!'
'I'm the damn designer, bitches!'

Check out my indie comic book!
www.assassinsguild.net/ (http://www.assassinsguild.net/)

[Flaming Moe]

Cool. Thanks defjoe. BTW, I think hobbits are stupid too. And def leopard rocks!

Una-panoona-banka!

[Rhodeder]

I would highly suggest going to college if you want to get a job other than at a print shop. My main goal is to work for making movie websites. And you have to have alot of degrees to get hired at that because directors dont care how many years you have. They see success as the college you went too.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v159/rhodeder/siggy.jpg

[Rhodeder]

Just picture it like this, you been in the web designing industry for 25 years do you think its gonna make a big difference compared if you say

I have done web designing for 23 years and i have a masters degree in graphic design, flash design and in web programing.

Who do you think will get hired?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v159/rhodeder/siggy.jpg

[morea]

^ whoever asks for less money, since both are qualified. Seriously.

[morea]

or if both desire a comparable salary, it ends up being whoever's personality meshes best with the current employees.

[Magnus]

That's an odd example, considering web design has only been a tangible field for what, 15 years at most now? When you have almost a quarter century of experience, regardless of your training, it becomes a moot point. However, when you have 5-7 years of schooling vs 3 years of experience and 2 years of school....it makes a huge difference. The person with the experience will get the job hands down. I'd even go as far to say that depending on the job, someone with up to 15 years experience would beat someone with a masters in GD and only 8 years experience, or similar situations.

Know this: Spammers, Flammers and Trolls will be shown no mercy and given no quarter. They will be pursued to the ends of the earth and executed Mod-style.

- Magnus

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v39/TlantMagnus/trollkill.jpg

[imagemaker]

Many employers look for a degree simply to see if you’ve got what it takes to make a long-term decision and stick by it. Can you be interested in something long enough to devote that kind of time and effort to a cause.

Are you teachable? If they’re going to invest ANY time to teach you, will you stay with them a while?

No offense, but if Flamin’ Moe had a different role model and approach to education, he would know enough to spell check and proof his message before sending to '10 million other peeps'.

There are many that feel that ‘practical’ (mechanical) abilities are a fall back if you don’t have the gray matter to learn. There is nothing lacking in working with one’s hands. Skilled craftsmen are to be highly lauded for their unique abilities. But though they did not go to college, they still did extensive study as an apprentice, and for many trades had to pass an exam to be licensed and bonded-a comparable ‘sheepskin’ asserting that they have not only studied, but also learned.

Whatever you get a degree in will likely be obsolete in 25 years, so it won’t matter much then.

My degree was a good starting point. I learned principles of design (but not production methods), how to work with others, craftsmanship, presentation, etc. I learned the real meat of being a ‘design studio’ once on the job. Even then, there was a period of ‘apprenticeship’ where one learned the details of the shop, and the industry.

I would recommend ‘Higher Education’ to increase thought power, learning ability, exposure, diversity, collaboration, contacts in LOTS of other fields, etc., but rely on on-the-job-training to learn my chosen industry and how to make a living at it.

--Ciao for Niao--

Ethan

[kakasensei]

Ohh I see many other clients have had the same problem in refeering to a problem of this magnitude

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v456/spydawebb/nejisig3425.jpg (http://photobucket.com/albums/v456/spydawebb/?)
some of my earlier works....

[MoodsR4Cattle]

I went to college as a music performance major - but never finished. Played in bands for years after. I had never used a computer until 1987 (Commodore 64) and it had some kids art program on it. As the years went by the computers got better (now a Mac), the software got much better and I kept learning. At some point I created a print project for someone and was paid for it. Word of mouth spread and I ended up doing quite a bit of graphic work at home (after I got home from my day job). In 1996 I created my first website - a paying job. Again word of mouth gained me more work.
So I've always been a freelance graphic / web designer and it's been my full time job for 5 years. At one point a year ago, I considered looking for a steady grahic/web job (as we all know, freelance work can sometimes be feast or famine). Almost all the ads for graphic or web designers required all kinds of degrees and education. Required, Ha! No, Demanded. My portfolio and years of experience meant nothing - I couldn't even get an interview. /emoticons/blink.gif

I may not be a great designer, and I don't know if an education would have made me better or not, but if you're looking to work for a company, you may need that degree. But don't forget the freelance option! /emoticons/thumbsup.gif

Moods

[timelinegap]

There are many paths... and two different people can see two different things looking at the same image.

I wandered the same hallowed halls as imagemaker and learned many production methods... and later remember working with him where a new graduate came to a job interview with only her diploma as her ticket to a new job... and being shocked that she was told that the diploma was pretty but to come back with samples of her work.

For me personally the best learning experiences were working with people with a common interest and ambitions. A good mentor is a gift from the muses. I have been fortunate to have a few that pushed my buttons and stretched my limits.
A friend or two who will sit with you and mess with techniques and share ideas and mistakes over a bottle of whatever.

Higher Ed is only a mistake if you won't profit from it... apprenticing/interning provides membership into the club... cooperating efforts/sharing continue to pay the dues. I have made use of all of them and always gained.