| Home > Community > Forums > Business Topics > What does a professional graphic designer mean to you? |
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| What does a professional graphic designer mean to you? |
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NikashaDesigns says: |
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To me it means you are either A) fully educated as a graphic designer or B) have worked as a designer with some amount of education in that field. |
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Posted at 11:09 am, June 19 2008 EST - Report this post
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thefunkyfelter says: |
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A pro graphic designer is someone who can create innovative design, produce that design in the appropriate graphics software, meet all the latest technical specifications to execute the design and prep it for its purpose, and be able to communicate with the client effectively to meet their needs and follow up if necessary. |
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Posted at 11:12 am, June 19 2008 EST - Report this post
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littlecrabdesigns says: |
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I am an advocate of designers becoming formally trained. The amount of things I learned in school coupled with my professional career as a designer for the company I work with has been priceless. |
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Posted at 11:13 am, June 19 2008 EST - Report this post
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thefunkyfelter says: |
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I also think that formal training of some kind is absolutely invaluable, but the truth is that anyone who is talented and has gained the proper software education by whatever means (self-taught too) can be a valid candidate for a graphic designer. Portfolio matters an extreme amount in this industry. That's just how it is. |
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Posted at 11:15 am, June 19 2008 EST - Report this post
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littlecrabdesigns says: |
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One of the things I did notice that show having a degree is def. a great tool are jobs that are requiring a B.S. degree in graphic design for entry level positions. |
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Posted at 11:22 am, June 19 2008 EST - Report this post
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JenMcCleary says: |
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I don't think it's absolutely necessary to have a degree in design. I have a degree (BFA) in painting/printmaking, but then did an additional certificate program in graphic design. But I do think that some sort of formal training is good. |
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Posted at 11:27 am, June 19 2008 EST - Report this post
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fivedot says: |
many professional graphic design jobs in my area require a bachelor's degree in graphic design or some sort of fine art degree. it's been my experience in interviewing and working in the field that many companies will not consider you as a qualified candidate if you do not have formal, collegiate training in the graphic design/fine art field.
to me- a professional graphic designer is someone that knows the ropes. they've been trained in a 2-4 year program in the design/fine art field, have real-life work experience (thru in-house employment or freelance) and their hourly rate reflects that of a professional graphic designer- and rightly so. |
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Posted at 11:33 am, June 19 2008 EST - Report this post
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Diffraction says: |
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My husband is completely self taught graphic designer and he's absolutely fantastic at it. But he's been doing it for about 6 years now so he's got some experience under his belt. While a formal education is great, a lot of people pick things up first as a side gig or a hobby and quickly turn it into a profession. It's about how much you know, not how you learned it. IMHO |
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Posted at 11:36 am, June 19 2008 EST - Report this post
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dippylulu says: |
I think there is no replacement for a good solid education in the subject. Yes, you can be self taught in all the latest software, but it doesn't replace the years of learning color theory, history of print, typography, life drawing, design history, photography, and all the other stuff a good school will offer. I studied graphic design and typography 1986-1992 without touching a computer.
On the other hand, going to a bad school will do you no favours either.
I hate to say it, but after being in the business for *cough* a long time I can recognize a schooled designer from a self taught in seconds. |
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Posted at 11:38 am, June 19 2008 EST - Report this post
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