So this is my sophomore year in highschool and i decided to take computer graphic design for one of my subjects. After having spent atleast 2 days in that class my teacher isnt the best at what she does. She graduated from SDSU w/ a bachelors degree in art etc. All the things that say she majored in that course etc.
I’m already more familiar with everything she has taught the class the for, and she showed me her portfolio. Well, not the best? Not trying to sound mean but I honestly think I am better than her.
She always asks me questions , has me do things like teach her how to slice a website layout, simple html, and help some of the other students (when im not a ta.
But anyway
I realized if I am much more "talented" (as my teacher says) than a college graduate (well my teacher...), is there a point in majoring in graphic design/art?
This question really stretches out to a lot of the people on emptees here, there are many talented designers here, even way better than me that are still in highschool.
Wouldnt it be a waste of money paying for something each semester or year to learn something you already know and are familiar of?
Some people say it’s for the degree you get after you graduate to show it off to different companies, but it really depends on your work.
My plan when I go to college is to major is something that will help out in graphic design or maybe my clothing line. Such as marketing & business. You’ll learn how to get the clients, sell the shirts.
Well you know that’s just my opinion on majors in graphic design.
Question for those college grads / college students who are majoring in art. Has being/attending college helped out your artistic abilities?
Thanks for reading
34 Comments
volatile v said 2 months ago
this is how i feel sometimes, at least up until you start talking about marketing and business instead.
skull with hair said 2 months ago
i was gonna read this post, but you typed way too much so no thanks!
heythequickness said 2 months ago
Lmao
skullface said 2 months ago
but I think about that sometimes, too
heythequickness said 2 months ago
I didn’t read it, but Basil, just be super fucking kick ass at whatever you decide to do and you will get work. I’m sure having a title of "Graphic Design" major helps, but it doesn’t take you anywhere if you suck. Your in highschool, I suggest get ahead of the game and start designing and learning as much as you can now, so when you get to college you’ll kick fucking ass while everyone else is out partying and having sex with hot women.
Joey said 2 months ago
i didn’t finish high school.
Jon Kruse said 2 months ago
I’m a college graduate. Are you better than me?
Not everyone that goes to school for graphic design will be good at it.
bandwagonmerch said 2 months ago
Dude college isn’t very necessary. I think the best thing it does for most people is make them less socially awkward. You are learning other peoples path to success though. You also have to remember that these university’s and schools are businesses. They want your money. They made that piece of paper so powerful for a reason. It’s the fundamentals of business. They make people "need" the degree. Another thing to consider is why they pour so much money and time into sports teams. Its marketing to get people into their school for tuition and merchandise!
I’m not saying school is a bad thing. I wouldn’t go to a doctor who hasn’t gone to school but as far as graphic design and all of these types of majors where the people who work the hardest not the people who have the degree’s prevail.
woooo
basil said 2 months ago
oh trust me i plan to party too
basil said 2 months ago
and kick ass
Im not saying im better than anyone who graduated from college aside from my teacher, or calling anybody out.
But yeah that is true, i dont want to take something i wont benefit in
Killer Napkins said 2 months ago
me too
bandwagonmerch said 2 months ago
GED
Joey said 2 months ago
yeah, that!
bandwagonmerch said 2 months ago
Ha I did that, and didn’t go to college. I’m glad too. Saved hella money and I’m not in debt, owning my own biz being my own boss. It’s nice.
Joey said 2 months ago
i attempted college. i didn’t really go to that either. i was not meant to be in school i guess.
skullface said 2 months ago
after-lunch skipper!
bandwagonmerch said 2 months ago
Yeah man I hate school. I just can’t do it. I just read a lot of business books and learned myself on screen printing since i was a 16. Learned from others as well.
Joey said 2 months ago
they really shouldn’t let kids leave school for lunch if they wanted us to come back after
basil said 2 months ago
emptees made a huge change for me. along with books & tutorial sites.
a killer wombat said 2 months ago
damn strait... yeah, I will come back for that last 2 hours of school, I think not.
Joey said 2 months ago
exactly!
"Crazy" Mike said 2 months ago
I think this applies to me . . . plus now a days my mom just keeps nagging me and nagging about how me taking graphic design was a waste of money . . . since I don’t have a "real" job . . . I have no idea how it worked out this way =/ . . . I’ve seen quite a few people who are a lot more worse than me getting hired for design work(this idea was just reestablished in my mind after looking at your teacher’s portfolio).
a killer wombat said 2 months ago
Plain an simple, if your willing to put in the time and effort on your own this is an industry you can do quite well in with out any formal training. It helps with some web stuff because that can get kinda confusing but lets face it, with graphic design / illustration you either have it or you dont. No class is going to make you more creative or a better artist. It will help you grasp the concepts and techniques better but will not turn you into an artist.
jaynajaynajayna said 2 months ago
http://www.kristaoliver.com/
...probably why she’s teaching high school.
Last year I went to Northeastern for Business & Spanish. Guess what about majoring in business? It’s fucking BOOOOOOOOORING
If you’re smart you can figure that shit out yourself, read books, get help.
Now I’m at Massart majoring in graphic design/illustration. I’m having the same exact thoughts as you are, only I’m a sophomore in college. I’m giving it a year, if I don’t like it enough to put myself in debt for it, I’m dropping the fuck out.
In this field what people will look at is your portfolio and your work experience. For some people college will get them where they need to be by building their portfolio to put them in the position to get work experience, (or you know, internships blah blah blah) for some people it’s just a hindrance. But you might feel entirely different by the time you graduate/are applying for schools. I definitely did change my mind a few times between when I was a sophomore and a senior.... and it’s still changing it.
I would just say don’t worry about it and go be 16 and feel up some 16 year old girls and get drunk in your dad’s garage and stuff. I know it sounds cliche, but enjoy high school as much as you can. I’m only fucking 19 I miss being at home and not paying rent and doing whatever the hell I want with no repercussions. Man. The days!
...anyway. If you do decide to apply to school, you will get a sweet deal wherever you go. So why not just go somewhere and try it out? Ain’t no shame in droppin out and it’s a good experience, great way to move to a new city and meed rad kids.
Edit: her stuff is balls! The photography is funny
gameyy said 2 months ago
I was going to college for a graphic design degree and dropped out after 3 semesters. I can’t say it was a total waste of time since it did help me get in some practice in different art methods and helped me start thinking more outside the box, but it wasn’t until I actually started doing design commissions that I feel I actually started "learning" anything.
From talking with other folks in the field, this seems like a pretty common experience. The problem with college is that it quickly becomes about the education itself rather than its application in the real world. I started realizing this in my last semester when I was looking around at all these other students fretting over their drawing grades and sculpture due dates when I had actual design job deadlines to worry about. It made less and less sense to let those classes take up so much time when I could be out getting more clients and focusing on refining my graphic work.
Anyhow, I really feel that’s why there are so many college grads who are doing something completely unrelated to their degree. They never learned how to apply any of it and actually make it work for them.
So like other folks said, just work on your art while you have the time, go get clients, and keep networking.
skullface said 2 months ago
I would like to say thank you to Baz for making this thread and to everyone who is contributing/has contributed!
Perudoesitbetter said 2 months ago
I think it really depends on the person and since no two people are alike i feel that neither experience will be alike.
I think college helps immensely with the education of the field and gives you the tools to succeed. But it’s really what you do with those tools that matters. What eric says is completely true, the lack of real world application is sometimes limited and really hinders many students from seeing the reality of the industry. But I feel that students should not just be passive learners and should take initiative in enhancing their skills outside of classroom aswell.
If you have enough initiative you might not need college, which i know many that have not attended and are amazing designers. But I wouldnt go so far as to discredit college education entirely.
If you want it you will succeed, whether you are in college or not. But it’s really up to you.
Joey said 2 months ago
for me: barnes and noble > college
Jon Kruse said 2 months ago
Amazon.com
Black Gold Society said 2 months ago
Also...Along those lines. I graduated from college with a degree in Communications and Public Relations. I am currently not using either. When I graduated I got an internship with Fueled By Ramen which led me to be hired afterwards working in Merchandise.
So that being said. Even though you get your degree in one thing, you could always end up doing something else. Life is crazy like that.
sjkaufman1 said 2 months ago
There’s been plenty of people who have been successful in the art and design world without college. To be honest I learned small things in college. I had a few amazing professors and a ton more just ok. You have to go into it with an open mind and make the best of every situation. Because, there is always something to learn.
The majority of stuff I learned on my own, just working alone on a project. Critiques help because you learn how to look at your work and others critically. Sometimes I think that the things I gained in college have helped, but I’m slowly learning how to merge what I learned in college into my own ideas and its sort of a slow process.
Bottom line, college helps, but tons of people have been successful without it. You just have to have the drive to pursue your work, always do your best to grow in some way and look at your work critically.
Also, arrogance can be a bad thing, because I used to be. I’m not saying you are, but even if you’re better than your teacher aesthetically there is probably things she can still teach you.
ithew said 2 months ago
I went to college for the experience,
it was an expensive experience
didn’t learn a whole heck of a lot
but I had a fuckin awesome time
awakendesigncompany said 2 months ago
I went to college for 2 semesters.
It helped me in the aspect of 1 thing:
Learning InDesign. The only reason i say that is because if i didn’t go to college i would’ve give up on that program. I hate it with a passion, but i was forced to use it for my assignments.
The reason i quit was b/c my company was picking up drastically, and i had no other choice but to show it way more attention than being at school just to get a piece of paper saying i know what i’m doing.
I agree with some of the earlier people who were saying that they had real clients to tend to.
I had real clients coming in left and right in my 2nd semester, as well as assignments. I always chose to invest a ton of time into my real job (obviously), and i always viewed the assignments as kinda a waste since my hard work was only for a grade ya know (not sure how many other people view it that way) But like my professors were always like, treat this assignment like a huge client job, and the due date is your strict deadline. I guess i saw that in a different light then the rest of the clients since i was seriously involved with having REAL clients.
I guess it can be good for some people to go for a graphic design degree, but if you’re already really good at it just develop a strong portfolio and work 110% to get your name out there. You’ll get with the right people to succeed in this with a good skill set.
Personally i would hate to be in college still b/c i’m doing graphic design with my company full time now, and doing quite well without the degree.
pzn said 2 months ago
lmfao
there’s a reason why she’s a teacher