How to enhance my graphic design education?
You should have a very solid grasp of typography. I’m sure you’re covered formally and have solid compositional skills, but you can’t go wrong having a background in illustration with strong typographical skills. Also, if you want specifics on which classes to take and/or professors, let me know, I graduated SCAD graphic design.
I go to SCAD (for Photography) and considered staying to get an MA. I decided against it because from what I haved gathered, it would have been basically an expensive year of self-directed study. I don’t know about design or illustration, but for me I know what kind of images I want to make and I don’t need to take out another student loan to do so. I can do the same work on my own time (and simultaneously get paid) rather than going further into debt. If you’re heading in a fine art direction, then I think an MA/MFA is a good way to go, but not if you’re heading out into the commercial world. I agree with everyone else, take the money you would have spent on tuition to support yourself while you build your freelance career.
allthingsfixable, I’m guessing because there aren’t very many illustration jobs, most illustrators work as freelancers. apipameme, you say that you already have the technical skills and the software knowledge. That is most of what you need. Just don’t think of graphic design as Art. Graphic design is a craft, and I mean that in the highest sense of the word. I think the technical skills are the basis of the work. But of course, you also need to know how to approach the process. Taking some classes at SCAD if possible would help, especially typography. And get to know the graphic design faculty or grad students and talk to them about it. I would recommend reading Edward Tufte’s books and attending his seminar if possible. There is a specialized field of design called information design which he mostly addresses, but I think the principles are the same for good graphic design, because it is all about communicating concepts or relationships visually. It boils down to identifying signals a
to elaborate. I realize that illustration jobs can be few and far between, but what I was trying to say concisely was why waste time and money building a design portfolio if what you want to do is illustration. However if you’re looking for a more stable full-time job, I would just apply for any creative position you can find. Apply for a Jr. Graphic Design position, or work as a production artist if you want to get your foot in the door at a design firm or ad agency. In the end it’s your portfolio and your personality that will get you that first job. I got my first Jr. graphic design job with out having received my diploma yet. Don’t bother with spending the money on the second degree or the Edward Tufte seminar just yet ( I agree E.T. is amazing, but not worth the money for where you’re at.
