I was working as a motion graphics designer and video editor for the past 18 years at my last company before they closed their US facility recently. Now I’m eligible for Trade Assistance (some free schooling) and I’m trying to figure out which college program to take. The main two I’m looking at are Graphic Design and Web Development/Design. Both are for Associate’s Degrees.
I went to a non-accredited school for Multimedia Design (Associate’s Degree) 20 years ago and learned a little bit about everything. Over the course of working at my last job I became specialized with my main tools being After Effects, Photoshop, and Premiere (and a little bit of Illustrator). I only ever used Dreamweaver in the early 2000s - so much has changed since then. And I never used InDesign.
In my job searches I’ve found the skills I’m missing are in web design and print. Web design seems more future proof though could it be more susceptible to outsourcing? The little experience I had with it wasn’t as fun as my motion graphics work. With print, I like the idea of designing something that doesn’t just exist in the digital realm.
The other things I’m considering are that the Web Design program is online only (never took online courses before) and Graphic Design program is all onsite classes though it’ll be a 50 minute drive to get there. Also, the Graphic Design program is the closest to what I’ve already taken and I imagine a considerable amount of it will consist stuff I already know. However, the school I went to for Multimedia Design was non-accredited and no longer exists unlike the one that I could go to for Graphic Design. Don’t know if that matters much in this field unless I eventually want to transfer to get a bachelor’s or something.
Anyway, I’m having a difficult time deciding which route I want to take and I’m curious if anyone else has any suggestions/advice.