So, you're thinking
about a career change and getting into graphic design. You may currently be in
a different creative career, or perhaps you have not gone through the
traditional creative education process.
You don't have any
creative qualifications, and you may be wondering, "Is it too late for me
to be a graphic designer? "Where do I begin? "And do I need to go
back to school?"
In this, I'm going to
discuss these questions, and I'll be recommending some approaches on things you
can keep in mind. In this, I'll also be sharing my experience and advice on
your education options. So, the path to becoming a graphic designer can be a
long one. You can spend years learning and a lot of money on books, college
courses, university courses, and even online courses. So, you may be wondering,
"Is any of this actually necessary?" Well, part of becoming a graphic
designer is through the traditional education system. In fact, it's quite the
important part. These are vital years where you get the chance to practice your
skills and study to become qualified. One of the reasons this is key is because
at the end of it you have a specialized portfolio, which is the foot in the
door to the design industry.
However, in my opinion,
I don't think this is the only way to become a graphic designer. I believe
personal development, talent, determination, and ambition can be equally as
important and valuable. Most employers today don't look at your education. They
look at the person, the experience, and the portfolio of work.
So, the first question, is
it too late for me to be a graphic designer? Well, quite simply, the answer is
no. It is never too late to pursue a career in creativity. The only thing that
will ever hold yourself back is unfortunate circumstances and your skillset. If
you feel you have what it takes, you have the passion, commitment, and
determination, then you can reach your goal, but be prepared. It is by no means
easy and will take some time, even years. So where do I begin? Well, if you're
starting from the beginning, it will prove harder, but not impossible. If you
take the right steps in the right order, you can quickly prepare yourself for
the industry. To get started, I would suggest you undertake six key steps. and
I would recommend you do them in the following order.
Step one, learn and
research.
Step two, collect.
Step three, be inspired.
Step four, practice.
Step five, seek
education.
And once you are ready,
you can apply your skill in the last step, step six, and apply for jobs.
Next question, do I need
to go back to school? Well, if you're older and currently in a non-creative
career,
chances are you will not
have gone through the traditional creative education process and don't have a
portfolio of work to show. To enter into the design industry, you will need a
certain level of skill and portfolio of work. Now this can be developed
casually in your own time, but if you're serious about changing your career to
get into graphic design, I would recommend you seek education in your spare
time. This will help equip you with what you will need to enter into the design
industry. Now your education approach here will be an alternative one. Students
from a young age will have spent years exploring a broad creative curriculum. You
may not want to spend years learning, so you're going to need to be more direct
with your education choices. Here you can consider taking up some evening
classes. Try and look for evening classes or workshops in your area, in your
local colleges or universities in subject you really wanna specialize in, subjects
like creative web design, graphic communication, hand lettering, screen
printing, and so on. These will encourage you to exercise, build, and practice
your skills, and help you start to build a portfolio.
As well as evening
classes, you can enroll in various design courses online. These will provide
you with briefs which will change you and encourage you to produce more work, all
of which will aid you in the development of your portfolio. So those are some
options you can consider for education. So,
if you're looking for a career change to graphic design, have passion and drive,
then I would encourage you to go ahead. It's never too late. Just remember,
take your time and don't make any rash decisions. Keep in mind, it is possible
to build your portfolio and skills in your own time while undertaking another
job. Only when you feel you have a good portfolio and you're ready would I
suggest you fully commit to a new job in design.
This is dummy text. It is not meant to be read. Accordingly, it is difficult to figure out when to end it. But then, this is dummy text. It is not meant to be read. Period.
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