| A degree in design is not absolutely necessary at this time, but it's highly recommended. There is a movement towards professional certification as a means to assure quality and competence in our field, bringing a higher level of professional recognition in the public's eye.
While there are always some people who can be a success without education, they are still taking the more difficult path because generally speaking, those with a degree will have the edge when being considered for a job.
School is incredibly important for a number of reasons:
1. The amount of knowledge you learn about all aspects of design such as history, color theory, typography, composition, logo and corporate design and branding, production, web design, and many more subjects, depending on the school.
2. Graphic software programs are merely tools. Tools are not any good without a concept, plan and experience to guide their application. While one can read books and gain knowledge that way, it doesn't compare with a classroom situation where you can see a vast variety of "solutions" to the same given problem using different concepts and varying degrees of technique and experience. You start to see pretty quickly why some designs work and others don't.
3. Classroom critiques are also invaluable. It forces you to analyze a piece to the point that you are able to discuss it in very specific terms. In addition, when you are working on a design alone, it's hard to gauge if your design is effective. We get so close to what's in our head that we're not always objective in how it is actually interpreted. Classroom critiques help you understand how others view your work and whether you're accomplishing your goals.
4. If you're going to be offering professional design services, it's important that you know some history, the basic rules (and whether you choose to follow them or break them), and a whole host of critical bits of knowledge that are required to produce a professional design for a professional fee.
5. A degree in design, in most instances, will give you the edge over someone who doesn't have one when you're in the job market. The competition is so fierce these days that employers will use every means possible to weed out applicants. Some firms will not only demand that you have a degree, but also that you have a degree from a prestigious design school. Most schools will have a class on how to put together a portfolio, resume, and cover letter. And, schools usually have career services in aiding you to find a job once you graduate.
Arguments against a degree always seem to include the time and expense involved. It's important not to let this stop you. There are ways to afford it. Go to a school that is not as expensive, and/or get a student loan. You don't need to start paying the loans off until you graduate, so you can put all your concentration into studying. As far as time goes, say a degree takes 3-4 years. Whether or not you go to school, those 3-4 years are going to pass by, and when they do, would you rather find yourself with a degree, or still be trying to decide or waiting for the perfect time? There's no time like the present. Get started now. You won't regret it.
When you have a degree, you have already shown any potential employers that you wanted to learn, stuck to your education, and completed it. That shows a certain commitment on your part that is important to employers.
You will never regret having a degree. You may, however, regret not having one. |
