which end of the mouse do I use again?

[greyghost]

I think folks here were on to something when they suggested Graphic Artists/Designers need a new title.

But I think the designer title should change with year's experience, or better yet, level of knowledge, so people know what they are hiring. I suppose this means a test of some sort, and I personally don't care for any tests now I am through with college.

For example, in my last thread here in the Soap Box, I mentioned a new logo that was an inch and a half wide, and that I could tell some n00b artist had done it cheap. Turns out, it was the owner's sister, who is a "graphic designer" (who obviously never learned how to color in the lines). The "graphic designer" said the logo should be fine and I can resize it to whatever size I need.

That would be true, if it were vector instead of a 72 dpi jpeg. ;)

Any ideas for this new title?
Uber-Designer, maybe?

[tony620d]

creative corporate-tool?
lol

[tZ]

Professional practice determines the "level" of designer more so then the aesthetically pleasing nature of any given work.

Knowing the technical aspects of application for a successfull outcome in final production. In this day and age that is what it amounts to (i.e. rgb over cmyk, vector over raster, etc).

Because the fact of the matter is alot of people think it so easy a kindergardener could do it.. When they do it and it lacks the correct technial knowledge to make it a reproducable in print. It may look aesthetically pleasing... but what good is thta is it doesn't print,lol.

unless a raster logo works... then more power to you.. I would say.

n00b sounds about right

[morea]

Any ideas for this new title?
Uber-Designer, maybe?

Maybe NOOBER designer?

[Mynock]

We just need to add "Proffessional" infront of our titles whatever they are. That we we take the power. I fish, but I'm not a Professional Fisherperson. I play basketball (well sort of), but I can't call myself a profession basketball player. I doubt the family member got paid, and that's what makes up professionals. And I guess we know what we're doing.

[morea]

And I guess we know what we're doing.

Hey! Speak for yourself! :D

[Mynock]

Ok, I guess I know what I'm doing. :)

[CatintheHat1]

I always wonder what these people mean by "graphic designer" - I had a regular client tell me he had just finished a university degree in graphic design, then go on to tell me that I only need to put 72 dpi images in a PDF that was set for press....he's still doing that to this day - printing my proofs instead of waiting for the high res files.

Another woman who used to be very popular in my niche market claimed to have a Master's Degree, no less. That woman never kerned a letter in her life. All her display titles were unevenly spaced.

I have no degree in design, so I can't even claim it, although I do have a degree in Psychology/English/Biology. What I have done is worked in print houses, for magazines and major newspapers and done copywriting and layout for major international companies since 1981 - but that counts for a hill of beans in some cases.

I will say though, that a woman (recent college grad) I regularly use in England seems to be much better trained in prepress than those graduating on this side of the pond. In fact, she's taught me a thing or two when it comes to using software efficiently (I'm self-taught). I haven't had to tell her anything, she just does it correctly. When I use freelancers from North American I spend hours explaining this stuff.

Cat on the soapbox

[Ghastly]

From my experience graphic design courses do not prepare you for the real world...though theoretical knowledge is important, I would argue that it is useless without being taught how to apply it correctly. I was fortunate enough to get some damned good training at a printshop *whilst* at college. The amount of times I have torn my hair out because some idiotic *graphic designer* has sent me a file that I can't work with is too traumatic to think about.

I also believe that people joining such courses should be vetted more thouroughly for their suitability because apart from the fact that some people are just pathetic, moronic, and talentless P.Shop chrome filter/MS Office clip-art monkeys (these types of people do graduate)... others are wasting their time and skills on something that they'll grow to hate.