Are there any Graphic Design majors here?

[UglyCasanova]

I am currently majoring in CS, but I got the feeling that it might not be for me. I have really been into art all my life, and that's what everyone thought I would major in at first, but over the last 2 years I have been extremely interested in PC hardware and software, but most importantly programing. I decided CS was for me, so I have been in it for a while. I still love programming, but now I am feeling as if I had made a mistake. The more I talk with people, and the more I wander around the art building, the more I miss drawing and art in general. CS just seems to dry and boring for me, and while I love computers and coding, I am not sure that I could see myself sitting behind a screen writing code for the rest of my life.

Now for you Graphic Design or any art in general people, do you like it? I have always had a huge problem with people telling me how and what to draw, and that is one of the reasons that I never could stand art class. This was a huge factor that made me stay away from becoming an art major. I know I can do it because I have won many awards and have been offered several full scholorships, but the fact that someone is controlling my art pushed me away. How do you cope with this, if it even is an issue with you. And I assume that you do get to do some coding when designing web sites and the such, correct? Aaaagghh, this is driving me insane.

 

[odz]

I am probably going to go into Graphic design, even though I suck at drawing. I am not sure how hard it is to get a job in design but I have decided that I want to do something I enjoy for a living. ANd graphic desgin is the only thing I would enjoy.

 

[UglyCasanova]

Originally posted by: odz
I am probably going to go into Graphic design, even though I suck at drawing. I am not sure how hard it is to get a job in design but I have decided that I want to do something I enjoy for a living. ANd graphic desgin is the only thing I would enjoy.

That's my reasoning. I know I can enjoy drawing and design because I've been doing it for about 16 - 18 years now. I dunno, because I also don't know what the job market is like for artist, and while cool and all I really don't want to be a starving artist.

 

[blurredvision]

My brother's girlfriend is majoring in graphic design. Mabye I can ask her a couple of things.

 

[bolido2000]

My sister is a graphic designer. 6 years ago she got 4 job offers when she graduated from college. The initial pay is pretty low, but after some years the amount companies pay is ridicolous. A couple of months ago she was doing freelance and she was getting paid 600 a day (she worked there for 1 month).

 

[UglyCasanova]

Originally posted by: bolido2000
My sister is a graphic designer. 6 years ago she got 4 job offers when she graduated from college. The initial pay is pretty low, but after some years the amount companies pay is ridicolous. A couple of months ago she was doing freelance and she was getting paid 600 a day (she worked there for 1 month).

See, that's the kind of stuff I like to here .

 

[rootaxs]

I have majors in Business Computing and Information Systems, but i do Graphic/Web design for a living. Seeing as i love art and aesthetics it wasn't a tough choice for me to pursue this career instead of what i took in College. I wouldn't consider my college years a waste of time however, it doesn't apply to my current life but i learned a lot from it nevertheless.

Graphic design is, IMHO, a very flexible career especially if you get in a company that does just that. Otherwise you'll be stuck with the "tried and true" mentality where it'll be hard for you to "spread your wings and fly" as far as creative freedom goes.

The only drawback to this field is, (and no offense to those whom it may apply) most recruiters find it hard to see the difference between someone with the passion and skill to do design and someone who just knows their way around Photoshop. So, in the recruiter's eyes - if you know Photoshop and demand $$$ less than the other candidate with years of experience then the one with less demands gets the job.

Just like in the traditional world, Computer-based Graphic Designers (or any Computing-related art opportunities) can sometimes be referred to as starving artists. So in the end it's a choice of doing what you love and having a decent salary or doing what you may not love as much yet earning tons as much.

Almost forgot to answer your question, there have been a lot of cases where my boss would tell me to do something that's not my idea of what things should be. I present my ideas first and normally it all works out to my liking, perhaps there's a change here and there but in the end it doesn't go farther than what i had in mind. In those cases that it doesn't , i consider it a challenge and don't think much of it. I see it more as a chance to try out new techniques and styles - which in the end, isn't what Graphic Design is all about?

 

[UglyCasanova]

Originally posted by: rootaxs
I see it more as a chance to try out new techniques and styles - which in the end, isn't what Graphic Design is all about?

See, that's me. In every piece of work that I do I always experiment and push myself. I am just scared I will be stuck drawing crappy still lifes and the what not, without ever really getting a chance to be creative and go all out. I would hate this just as much as sitting in a cubicle programming all day.

 

[rootaxs]

Originally posted by: dparker
See, that's me. In every piece of work that I do I always experiment and push myself. I am just scared I will be stuck drawing crappy still lifes and the what not, without ever really getting a chance to be creative and go all out. I would hate this just as much as sitting in a cubicle programming all day.

I know what you mean, that's where my freelance and charity work comes in