Striking Graphic Design Careers With An Online Course...
If you have a good eye for visually pleasing material - for example on a poster, a book cover, or a magazine - then what about taking a career course in graphic design?
Most often graphic design students are good at drawing and took art at school. But if drawing's not your specialist skill there's no need to despair - much of today's graphic design work is done sitting at the computer, not the drawing board!
Graphic designers can work for large design houses, smaller specialist companies, or as self-employed freelancers working from a studio at home. You can study to degree level at university or opt for vocational commercial training which many view as more useful, in fact many university graduates opt to up their skills at design colleges to gain a greater commercial edge as a working designer. Equally you may decide that you'd like a bit of commercial training prior to attending uni, and you can get that by enrolling on a short portfolio course.
What Should I Look For in A Training Provider?
With so many training options available for graphic design students, there's a learning curve to go through in order to pick the one that's right for you. Check each college out thoroughly, as the quality of course material and teaching does not all conform to the same standard. There are various training providers at the side of this page - be sure to look at several because the more you look at the better your decision process.
By Bookmarking this site you can give yourself easy access to it at any time - a shortcut is Ctrl D. As you get more acquainted with the different websites you'll start to understand what you're looking for.
The most obvious basic requirement for a graphic design college is the quality of their own website. When design is their product, all their marketing must reflect that. Do you want a course that you can do on your computer at home, or are you looking for training in a classroom with other people? Over what time period will help and assistance be provided? What others items will you need that aren't included in the training costs? Look for testimonials from previous students, and from employers who've taken on ex-students - what was it that impressed them the most?
Compelling Cases
Creating your own portfolio of designs will be an essential component of your training. The quality of your designs will be the most significant thing you can present to the first company to employ you. Any college worth considering will enable you to build a commercially relevant design portfolio as part of your coursework, so look on each website for a gallery of display work done by current trainees.
Designer Preferences
Software skills are taught on graphic design courses, which means trainees must enter college with a good level of computer literacy. You'll predominantly be taught how to design using Adobe CS4 applications such as Illustrator, but there will still be an aspect of print-based design to your training.
Many colleges use Macs rather than PC's, but students who want to work from home on a PC can usually obtain PC versions of the software if that is their preference.
To become a graphic designer, you must have good interpersonal skills and the ability to sell your ideas to clients. The majority of commercial images, photos or wording will have been created in a graphic design studio somewhere. Graphic design puts together shapes, wording, colour and imagery in a stylised presentation that at its best communicates a statement for the product it represents.
Design Principles That Work...
Design training will teach certain essential elements, such as the importance of composition, shape, white space and texture. Spectacular designs can be achieved when these key principles are adhered to - as many successful corporate campaigns can testify to.
Customers need to be courted and informed, tempted and delighted. The first thing they see are the graphics - that's why they're so important!
The right college will take you from where you are now to where you want to go. Seek out training that over delivers on its promises, and make your new life better by design!
