-
Hey Guest. Check out your NeoGAF Wrapped 2025 results here!
Graphic Designers....come talk to Daddyz.
- Thread starter Zep
- Start date
- Status
RaymondCarver
Member
I'm wondering the same things as well. About.com has a lot of information available. I've used it in searching for industry-related terms. GD is really just a pipe dream unless you chance into it. Keep hope alive, you know. Always think of what you might want to do in your dream situation, but think of the realistic things that you could do. The printing and graphic imaging industries are quite varied, so there are plenty of different options to explore before you find your niche.
CrystalGemini
Member
http://www.salary.com/
^--That's what the Art Institute recommended to me about a month back when I was getting into interior design. Good luck btw! \(^_^)
Edit: I think I vaguely remember them saying graphic designers usually get around $30.000-$35,000 out of college in San Francisco. But that also depends on where you are.
^--That's what the Art Institute recommended to me about a month back when I was getting into interior design. Good luck btw! \(^_^)
Edit: I think I vaguely remember them saying graphic designers usually get around $30.000-$35,000 out of college in San Francisco. But that also depends on where you are.
Red Scarlet
Member
Graphic Designers....come talk to Daddyz. We Gonna FUCK tonight.
Oh, nm. Kooky topic title, though. :lol
Oh, nm. Kooky topic title, though. :lol
Burger
Member
I do layout, typeography and wide format printing and I love it.
I did it for 3 years, and as a junior I got bored and hated it. I came back into it after 2 years away as a senior staff member and it's great. The best part about the job for me is that the work is varied. It can be dull at times, but it can be enjoyable alot of the time.
I did it for 3 years, and as a junior I got bored and hated it. I came back into it after 2 years away as a senior staff member and it's great. The best part about the job for me is that the work is varied. It can be dull at times, but it can be enjoyable alot of the time.
Outcast2004
Banned
I've been in some form of graphics for about 10 yrs now. 27 now and have been doing it professionally ever since I graduated HS. Started with a weekly newspaper doing ads and composition of the paper, then went to a design house, after thata real estate mag (big ups to my friends still slaving away at Harmon Homes) and now work for Akron Beacon Journal in a digital prepress role.
Your income all depends on where you are at work-wise. I'm in Ohio so the demand isn't exactly high for designers so I'm damn lucky to get what I do. I wont talk salary, but let's just say I'm doing pretty good. (Good being copletely relative, as cost of living here isn't high at all.)
I currently havewent from my desing background and an using that for digital prepress for a major newspaper. Basically I use my graphics knowledge to fix other peoples messes when the ads come in. You'd be amazed at how bad some of this work from NATIONAL AGENCIES can really be.
A degree is nice, but not really neccesary. More often or not your going to get a job based ona strong portfolio and experience.
Oh and Daddyz, are we gonna fuck tonight... or what?
Your income all depends on where you are at work-wise. I'm in Ohio so the demand isn't exactly high for designers so I'm damn lucky to get what I do. I wont talk salary, but let's just say I'm doing pretty good. (Good being copletely relative, as cost of living here isn't high at all.)
I currently havewent from my desing background and an using that for digital prepress for a major newspaper. Basically I use my graphics knowledge to fix other peoples messes when the ads come in. You'd be amazed at how bad some of this work from NATIONAL AGENCIES can really be.
A degree is nice, but not really neccesary. More often or not your going to get a job based ona strong portfolio and experience.
Oh and Daddyz, are we gonna fuck tonight... or what?
Just expect to be doing a lot of freelance/contract work for a while...unless you take an internship/junior level job, of course...other than that, it's pretty tough to land a job, what with lots of competiton and all, and if you do happen to get a good one, consider yourself a lucky son of a bitch.
Outcast2004
Banned
Kenobi said:
<<<Can count himself in the "lucky son of a bitch" category. If anything's happened, my skills are so broad that I've never been out of work. If I lost a job, I had a new one lined up within a day.
In all honestly yes it can be quite tough to land that first job and have it be a good one. Like I said previously most employers think the degree is a nice touch but not exactly indicative of actual ability. Having a good protfolio or a stacked resume is really what will help you out thoguh.
Of course it's a Catch-22 though, if you are just getting into the work force you don't have the experience to get a job, but employers won't give you said job to get the experience.
Oh and be prepared to sit throgh long ass interviews. I had one when the weekly paper I worked for anounced it was closing (real short notice thing) with a daily paper a couple towns over. I sat in the interview, took the tour and sat with the presidents of the company, their mothers and their dogs. Spent 3 hours in total at this place only to not get the job anyway.
Hell, the job I have now (which I'l probably retire from) I actually got a rejection letter from HR before even getting an interview! (I' going to frame that rejection letter and hang it at my desk at work.) But I called back and actually talked to the department head an found out he never saw the resume and was persistant in getting the job. Don't let rejection disway you from getting the job you want.
I don't miss doing freelance... at all. I still do stuff for myself, but my days of doing small jobs for other people are done.
Oh and Daddyz, if we gonna fuck, you're at least buying dinner first. I may be easy, but not cheap.
Kung Foo Kid
Member
Graphic Designers average around $25,000 - $30,000 canadian to start, but that is if you can get hired right away. It is most likely you will get a internship. Which you will need to build a portolio. Doesn't matter what education background, design jobs are based on what you have designed lately. So have a well versed portfolio with quality over quanitity and in time if you have any talent you will get a job. Fianlly got my dream job as a lead designer, but it wasn't fun for a short time there. You will have to have realistic expectations when you graduate.
Outcast2004
Banned
Kenobi said:
Let's just say that knee pads come in handy... as well as a pretty mouth.... Um..
My story is all about having connections and being in the right place at the right time.
When the Free Press announced it was closing the phone rang in our composition department (of which I was Asst. Manager of...at 17) from Canton Graphic Arts (design and output house) offering us jobs. I took the job whereas my manager didn't. Had an offer to work for another paper in Massillon but turned them down. It's good to have choices.
I got downsized from Canton Graphics I actually sold cars for 6 months... and wanted to kill myself. Thankfully an oening happened at Harmon/Trader Publishing, made some money and worked there for 5 years before having enough of being underpaid and doing 5 jobs at once (prepress, design, IT work, hell everything but washing windows) so I left. My prepress partner went too.. the the same company as me. AKRON BEACON PREPRESS REPRESENT, BITCHES!
I'm also very skilled all around in the printing/publsihing industry. I've done it all from drawing/designing, all the old style film stripping, platemaking ran the presses. Then moved on to digital prepress/ design and never looked back.
It also helps that I'm a fairly talented artist and that comes in handy as well. Hell, couldn't ever finish my comic book... might as well do SOMETHING in the art field.
Besically, you name it, I've done it. Except web development... I'm way behind in that area.
I wouldn't say Graphic Designers are underpaid. The problem is that Graphic Designers are a dime a dozen and it takes a lot of talent to stand out from the pack. If you have your heart set on Graphic Design that's great but if you are still undecided it can't hurt to look at other design fields/careers.
Anyway, I don't want to scare you off but you should get input from a variety of places before you decide on what's best for you, http://thecreativeforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=297
Anyway, I don't want to scare you off but you should get input from a variety of places before you decide on what's best for you, http://thecreativeforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=297
Kenobi said:
Amen.
I just finished an MA in design and can't find shit for workit's a hard industry to crack in to, and the fact that there is so much competition from the glut of recent design graduates and out-of-work veterans isn't helping. Try to pick up as much professional experience as you can while you are in college; like Kung Foo said, a degree is helpful, but employers tend to be more concerned with your portfolio and work experience.
Most full time, entry-level design jobs average around $32-35k per year. Unless you are working for a large ad agency or in-house at a more formal business, the working environment for designers tends to be extremely casual.
Outcast2004 said:
I'm looking forward to the day where I can say the same. The limited experience I have had with freelancing had probably taken five years off of my life already.
Outcast2004
Banned
Himuro said:
While this may be true, it's also a regional thing. Here in Ohio the market for it is pretty slim pickings... not exactly a hot bed for advertising. Gotta take what you can get.
McCloud is right about how much you can expect to make.
I'm not going to disclose my salary, but let's just say that by taking my current job I'm doing pretty well now and firmly entrenched in the middle class. I drive 37 miles to my work everyday... it must be worth the trip.
I try to have at least $400 left in spending money every pay. Having all this extra money iis awfully tempting to drop on big ticket purchases.
KnotLikely
Member
I'm in Nova Scotia Canada and did a one year graphic design diploma. It's hard to find a high paying full time job, so I have resorted to starting my own small business.
It's been a tough road thus far but there's definitely light at the end of the tunnel. It takes awhile to get your first few clients but word of mouth will end up being your best source of new clients from that point on.
It also helps to get money from the government as part of the self employment program
It's been a tough road thus far but there's definitely light at the end of the tunnel. It takes awhile to get your first few clients but word of mouth will end up being your best source of new clients from that point on.
It also helps to get money from the government as part of the self employment program
- Status