grapgic artist without much artistic talent?

[metalfun]

Hi,
I've been considering graphic design as a career, but I don't know if it's right for me, because I'm not that good at hand-drawn pictures or pictures made with software. But, I would like to work with graphics. should I persue media arts in college or leave the media arts for the talented artists?
Thanks

[Big Perm-dizzle]

you dont need to be able to draw well...and college can teach you the program knowledge....

you can always change your major.....I started as a marketing major and took an advertising class which taught photoshop and love it....so I made the switch

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[YellowDart]

Yea, strong illustration skills aren't a must for a designer... but it certainly does help on occasion. To start off, why not take a design class or two in school, or even @ a community college to test the waters. ;)

[Silence04]

yeah, software today has made it a lot easier for anyone to persue graphic design. but their is only so much a computer can do, the rest has to come from somewhere...


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[defjoe]

I've seen al lot of designers that can't draw a lick... but the best designers are ones that can work off a computer.

'I will become the most powerful Jedi ever!'

[Big Perm-dizzle]

yeah I have seen plenty of fellow students who are awesome at illustrations and drawing but they cant do a think on a computer... its all in the finished product

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[uNiTY]

im in the same boat metal. i am currently one semester away from a psychology degree, and it took me 3.5 years before i realized i dont care to do anything with it. i have always been interested in the psychlogy aspect of advertising and the human response to how ads are presented, colors etc. once i get this psych stuff over (only because im one semester away) im wanting to go back to school for some graphic arts stuff. cant draw worth a damn

[DeleteYourself]

i'm not talented at drwaing or painting, either. But I imagine it would help. I've been considering getting some books to try develop those skills. I will say that you can totally be an effective visual communicator without those skills. Graphics programs, creativity and the message itself are the key ingredients for good gd.

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[metalfun]

Thanks for the responses, all.
That was the message I was hoping for.

uNiTy, care to share some interesting things about how images can influence consumerism?
Is what I heard about the color yellow enticing people to buy a product true?

Thanks againhttp://www.graphicdesignforum.com/emoticons/thumbsup.gif

[DeleteYourself]

I know that one of the reasons McDonalds uses red and yellow is because they make you uncomfortable and want to leave quickly...thus making your visit faster and allowing for shorter turn around time.

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[casedsgn]

Drawing, painting, design, etc. are ALL based on the same principles. Balance, composition, contrast, color relationships and theory, etc. You don't nessecearily need to be able to draw or paint to design well, BUT being able to do so can only help your designs.

[uNiTY]

i dont know crap about all the color mind conrtol stuff, but i do know i catch myself starring at pictures or commercials just becasue the color caught my eye. damn pop-ups.

it funny you said that about the McDonalds colors. i just noticed today (on a 7 hour drive from St. Louis) how ugly the Mc'Ds buildings are compared even to Wendy's hahha

[Big Perm-dizzle]

your crazy McD's has some sick buildings well atleast in Orlando there are

'color mind control' is overrated to me well its definately not something that would top of my list in designing a logo

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[PrintDriver]

We have a retro McD's up here on the MassPike out near Springfield that is really kinda cool.
It's those arches man.
Big huge golden boobs.
Now boobs always make me think...hmmm...well Food isn't my first choice...

As for drawing, I'm with Case. It's all related. All of the designers I know can create masterpieces on a piece of cardboard with a sharpie if they have to to get their point across. A lot of times they have to in 'Show world' when the client decides to take a hard left turn midway thru a project you have two weeks to build and cover. Whole graphic layout concepts, even whole stage layout concepts. Sometimes a computer is just not readily available on site, the client has to catch a plane and wants the pdf on his comp when he lands (and the poor print guy is waiting in expectant horror for the new file).
But not everyone is in, or intends to be in show business.
Like Case says, Color theory, balance, and relationships go with the drawing territory. It really can only help you to at least know the basics.