for those who actually do this for a profession. and who went to school for this.
what is a good school to goto for a web design/ graphic design program. I have been doing this for the past 5-6 years now and really would like to persway this to the next step.
I would really like to move down to Florida for school. but if i were to stay in the area. i am looking for good suggestions for a school of a program like this.
DOZER ask him
RIT has a great new media/Graphic design program. As far as florida goes, maybe check FIT
RIT is way over priced. and i hate people that go there.
RIT is not overpriced for what you get. +1 for RIT.
School? What’s that?
<== Professional Graphic Artist
I’d like the degree just because places look for it on your resume. Learn the programs and gain skill on your own. Get a business degree as a nice backup.
i know the skill quite well… i am just looking for the paper that tells others that i know it. That is most important.
Lie about it…1% of employers check*
*(I made up that stat btw)
I’m going to side with pumice on this one. I’m also a graphic artist by trade, but my degrees are in industrial and automotive design. when I came back to buffalo, I realized that there were zero ID jobs here, and learned all the programs by sitting and playing with them. having a nice print portfolio helps a lot.
the degree is good, but having the experience is what will get you in the door. brush up on indesign, illustrator, and your PS, and do some “odd job” freelance work, or get in with a temp agency like superior (they do a lot of graphic/web temp work).
good luck with it, maybe you can take someone urban exploring to trade for freelance jobs. 
What do you know? Its amazing how many people think they know good web design, or good design in general.
School is a waste of time, buy books, read, learn.
Get an internship and build experience if you want to be hired.
BTW anyone can learn software in a matter of weeks or months… Its like learning how to use a ratchet. Its only a tool.
Skills I look for include: A good Design sense in general, Layout, Interface and Interaction design, knowledge of web standards and the coding behind it, etc.
Flash, Action Script, HTML, XML, Photoshop 5.5-cs2, Illstartor, InDesign, Dreamweaver. javascript(basics) ASP(basics)SQL(basics) .
please don’t dis-respect me as some n00b to this stuff. as you seem to do.
I am not disrespecting anyone, at least not my intention…
Do you have examples of some of your work?
I am always critical of people who say they know web design or say they know flash, because many people think they know it, but really have no clue.
I will respect someones work if it is worthy of respect. There is WAY too much horrible design and horrible coding on the internet to not be this way.
My bro is in graphic design dirty domestic driving sheep fucker is making 70k designing displays and fucking boxes. He was self educated but when the company he works for wanted him to learn more they paid for him to go to the art institute of pittsburgh… I know a guy that went there for tv production as well and they both said its top notch… If you can deal with living around pittsburgians.
the web design program there is not so great… you can get the same education by yourself and go to a cheaper school to get the paper if you really want it.
check ur pm.
Are you stupid? How many companies hire people based soley on “I taught myself this stuff…” The piece of paper is what matters just as much as the talent if not more in some cases…
A piece of paper matters, but not as much as you would think. Employers like to see that you have some type of degree, in something… but (in this industry) they Hire primarily based on Portfolio and Experience.
Many of the key players in this industry have come from completely different backgrounds, never having any formal education on this stuff, or never attending college at all.
I go to the Art Institute of Pittsburgh for graphic design… for forever now. It’s ok. An Associates degree (imho) would be worth it. I’m getting a Bachelors and it seems so pointless anymore…very repeatative and I’m not learning any more than the associates people are, except it’s taking me a hell of alot longer to finish. And those extra classes I take over what the associates people take, aren’t anything new or different.
So if ya ned that piece of paper, an associates degree from AIP would be worth it.
EDIT: They’ve been changing alot around at the AIP trying to go from a private tech school to a university type deal. I know they offer certificates now for certain subjects, as opposed to going full time for a degree. So maybe even look into that if you don’t want to do a full time thing.
theres too many ppl in the same position as you that DO have a degree…you having a degree proves to them more then just that u know how to use computer programs. go to RIT, get a degree and then make 60-80k a year. taking 4 years out of ur life to go to school will indefinitely pay itself off once u get a job. thats my 2 cents.
I also went to the art institute of pittsburgh. while the experience was great and I wouldn’t trade it for the world (pittsburgh is a great town to live in at our collective age), they were teaching us clay modeling while the industry had since graduated to 3D modeling programs such as maya. I can sketch, render, and sculpt with the best of them, but there is only so much you can do with outdated skills.
my coworker went to AIP for graphic design, and I knew and dated a few GD’s while there. they teach a lot of theory and program stuff, but not so much of the practical shit. I have yet to see one graphic designer out of there use accurate traps/chokes, and they never got into the whole prepress thing, (negative processing, direct-to-plate, etc.) which is HUGE in buffalo.
and…
Employers like to see that you have some type of degree, in something… but (in this industry) they Hire primarily based on Portfolio and Experience.
having a nice print portfolio helps a lot. the degree is good, but having the experience is what will get you in the door.
that’s two guys in the industry already sharing the same thoughts, so take it for what it’s worth. I’m not discounting the fact that a degree is really, really good to have, but 2+ years and a slick portfolio can go the distance.
$0.02. seriously though, keep it up, it’s one job where you never get too tired of doing the same thing.