5 replies to this topic

[Clandestine]

alright so im going to HTI getting my associates in Graphic Designs, and i have a year left and right now i dont fill ready i guess. So what should i expect after i graduate? What do the jobs look for, what should i start doing for my portfolio, tips, what to do to increase my skills? (do alot of tutorial?) anything to help me be ahead of the game. And im going to be getting my bachelors after, i dont know of what yet. i like to make websites code things make layouts, but i dont think webdesigers/programers make that much. And graphic design is a wide field of work. So yea i just want to be ahead of the game and be ready for anything that comes my way, becuase i look in my class and people seem like they dont even care, and they are just there to say they went to college. Thank you i could reallly use some tips becuase im really want to take this seriously becuase hopefully it will be my career.

Thank you

Edited by Clandestine, 01 January 2006 - 03:07 AM.

[Ghost]

Well graphic design (in Australia anyway) has moved towards have a good profile. I worked at a graphic design place for a couple of weeks and I asked what courses I should do after I leave school. They said that to get 'priority' over others, you should have a good portfolio as thats what it mainly focuses around when applying for a job.

Regarding your portfolio, I'd suggest having as much diversity as possible...website layouts, corporate identity graphics....anything that comes to mind...even some Photo manipulations might work. When I was working, I had to create a billboard for a real estate company, and then I had to super impose it into a photo of where it was going...so maybe something like that could also help

Anyhow, I'm probably not the best one to ask because I'm 15, but I'm sure there are a lot of others around here who know what they're talking about GL!

[Bryn]

Graphic design does pay quite well.
I was looking at the wage figures on coroflot and people can be paid up to 22k - 31k ( UK ) as their first design job.

[codie]

so dude ur saying we grad students and wanabe designers who are getting close to becoming fully fledged designers could make 22-31 pounds a year ...... times tht by three to get the NZ equivelent and i cud b earnin 66-93 000 a year.



hmmm i might look at a diff industry now like 3d or film, my dad earns umm well lets just say alot more then tht and he only works 1/3rd of a year filming documenties and tv shows.


opps srry 4 focusing arnd me

Edited by codie, 02 January 2006 - 05:51 AM.

[-Michael-]

Typical designers in my part of the U.S.(Southeast) make 21k to 48k a year. I suppose that's not really that5 bad, more than enough to make a decent living.

Anywho, just get yourself out there, leave buisiness cards wherever you can, a huge portfolio is a must, and on every website design you make, leave you're mark and a link to your site if the client allows it. Try and advertise yourself in the newspaper, and if you can have stickers made, tohse are great too, just stick em where they'll be seen.

In short, do whatever you can.

[Jaymz]

-Michael-, on Jan 2 2006, 08:19 AM, said:

a huge portfolio is a must, and on every website design you make

A short, concise portfolio is much more effective than a huge one Have a few of your best works in there and talk about them a bit, customer testimonials in there along with the actual design look very nice