Is graphic design college worth it in 2024?

Dave Maluyo
31 Dec 202305:40
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThe script chronicles my winding journey to a graphic design career. I started with ambitious university dreams but could only access community college courses initially. After dropping out from boredom/impatience, I worked various jobs before returning to community college in 2019 for a graphic design degree, learning typography, branding, web design, etc. Through required internships I got professional experience. Fellow students pursued graphic/UX/web design careers. I struggled with coding but leveraged my branding and graphic strengths. Ultimately I didn't finish my degree but kept interning, building my portfolio. Balancing work, school, and life burned me out. If starting over I'd work full-time and learn design online, progressing steadily without school pressures.

Takeaways
  • 😊 I first wanted to study graphic design in California, but couldn't afford it and attended community college instead
  • 🤔 I dropped out after one semester, either because I was bored with theory classes or impatient to learn practical skills
  • ⚙️ When I returned to community college, I learned about many aspects of design - typography, motion graphics, web design, etc.
  • 😎 The internships were very valuable real-world experience
  • 💻 I struggled with coding and web design classes, so those projects in my portfolio weren't as strong
  • 🤝 Connecting with classmates helped me understand my strengths and weaknesses
  • 🎓 I graduated but was a few credits short of the official degree
  • 🎨 Most employers cared more about my portfolio than a degree
  • 🚦 If I could do it again, I'd work a day job and learn design through books, YouTube and personal projects
  • 😀 Community college was a good option for me, but self-teaching works too if you have the discipline
Q & A

  • What was the first type of design program the speaker attended?

    -The first design program the speaker attended was a community college that offered graphic design classes, but they dropped out after one semester.

  • Why did the speaker drop out of their first design program?

    -The speaker doesn't remember if they dropped out because they were bored with the theory and history classes or if they were impatient and stubborn, but they felt like they weren't getting the education they wanted fast enough.

  • What types of design did the speaker learn about in their second design program?

    -In their second community college design program, the speaker learned about typography, motion graphics, web design, web development, and branding.

  • What was one of the best parts of the speaker's second design program?

    -One of the best parts was the internships they got to do with real design studios, where the speaker got to help on real client work and gain valuable experience.

  • What design careers did the speaker consider pursuing?

    -The speaker considered pursuing careers as a UX designer, web designer, web developer, and other design roles.

  • What were the speaker's strengths and weaknesses in terms of design skills?

    -The speaker struggled with coding and web design but was naturally talented at branding, illustration, and graphic design.

  • Did the speaker graduate with a design degree?

    -No, the speaker was a few credits short of graduating with a physical degree, but they completed the program and decided to pursue more internships rather than additional classes.

  • How did the speaker build their design skills outside of school?

    -From 2018-2019, the speaker spent time after their day job learning design on YouTube, free online classes, and through books while working on personal projects.

  • Does the speaker have any regrets about their educational path?

    -While the speaker doesn't regret the specific education received, they do wish they had more time with family and friends rather than having to focus so intensely on work and school.

  • What advice does the speaker have for aspiring designers?

    -The speaker advises taking advantage of affordable community college classes if possible, but if that's not an option, recommends learning design through books, YouTube, and personal projects.

Outlines
00:00
😞 Navigating a Route from Interest to Passion

The first paragraph describes the author's early interest in graphic design in high school and desire to study it in college in California, but being unable to afford it. They briefly attended community college for graphic design before dropping out, either due to impatience with theory classes or wanting to learn faster.

05:02
😊 Finding the Right Program and Gaining Experience

The second paragraph discusses the author going back to community college in a new graphic design program years later in 2019. They learned about various design areas like typography, motion graphics, web design, etc. A highlight was the required internships at real studios, allowing hands-on client work experience. But the author still struggled to decide on a career path even after exploring UX design, web design, etc.

😀 Making Connections and Getting Feedback

The third paragraph talks about meeting classmates in the program with different strengths, allowing friendly competition to improve each other's work. Seeing their career ambitions in graphic design, UX design and web design made the author also think about which path to take. They applied to many entry level graphic design jobs after graduating in 2022 without the physical degree. The author felt the connections made and project feedback in college made it worthwhile, but admits spending significant time away from family and friends for school was difficult.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Graphic design
Graphic design refers to the craft of visual communication and problem-solving through typography, photography, and illustration. In the transcript, the speaker first discovered graphic design as a potential career path they wanted to pursue in university. Graphic design is a central theme as the speaker explores different educational paths to gain skills in graphic design.
💡Community college
A community college is a local higher education institution that offers two-year associate's degrees and vocational training. The speaker attends community college twice to study graphic design - first briefly in 2013, then completing a full graphic design program in 2019. Community colleges provide an accessible and affordable alternative path to university.
💡Internships
Internships provide on-the-job training and experience for students through temporary placements at companies related to their field of study. The speaker highlights internships as one of the best aspects of their community college program, giving them experience working on real client projects.
💡Self-taught
Self-taught refers to learning a skill on your own without formal education. After dropping out the first time, the speaker spends 2018-2019 learning graphic design through YouTube, books and free online classes instead of university. However, they decide structured college is better for them.
💡Portfolio
A portfolio is a collection of an artist or designer's best work that showcases their skills and abilities. The speaker notes most graphic design jobs just required a portfolio, not a completed college degree. Portfolios demonstrate practical skill, which is vital in graphic design roles.
💡Typography
Typography involves designing and using typefaces to make language visible. It's a key skill area and class in the speaker's community college graphic design program. Good typography enhances visual communication.
💡Motion graphics
Motion graphics use video, animation and visual effects to create the illusion of motion for digital media. This is another key class in the speaker's program, showing the range of graphic design sub-disciplines students study.
💡Web design
Web design covers crafting the layout, visuals and user experience of websites and web applications. The speaker struggles with web design and coding classes, realizing those are not strength areas for them.
💡Branding
Branding refers to marketing practices that help establish a unique identity for a company or product in the minds of consumers. Branding and illustration are strength areas in the speaker's design portfolio after graduating.
💡Career paths
Career paths describe the professional journey or sequence of jobs within an industry or field leading to greater expertise and responsibilities. The speaker explores multiple potential graphic design career paths like UX, web design, and branding before deciding to pursue general graphic design roles.
Highlights

I first discovered graphic design as a career path I wanted to pursue, hoping to attend university in California.

I first took community college classes in graphic design in 2013, but dropped out after one semester.

In 2019 I enrolled in a different community college graphic design program, learning typography, motion graphics, web design and more.

The internships through the program provided valuable real-world experience working with design studios on client projects.

I struggled with coding and web design classes, so those projects in my portfolio were not as strong.

Getting to know classmates exposed me to others' strengths and made me evaluate my own abilities.

Most classmates wanted to pursue graphic design careers, making me question if I wanted something similar.

I graduated in 2022, though technically short a few credits, and pursued internships over additional classes.

I applied for many entry-level design jobs - most didn't even require a degree, just a portfolio.

Community college was a good alternative for me, but self-teaching is another viable option.

From 2018-2019 I tried self-teaching via YouTube and free online classes, but lacked discipline.

The connections and projects with feedback made returning to college worthwhile.

If starting over, I may have kept my day job and built a portfolio on the side instead.

Working full-time while attending school full-time burned me out quickly.

Take advantage of affordable community college classes or self-teach using quality free resources.

If unable to take community college classes, use books, YouTube and personal projects to learn design skills.

Transcripts

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