Need some Advice

[Moshiiii]

Greetings !
I got a pretty seriouse question here, very general too. Where do I start with Digital Design? I went to a technical school during high school for Digital Design and have taken a college level course "Introduction to Digital Design". With summer arriving and now working on a mac with the full Adobe Suit , I really want to kick start my Digital Design career. I have a 25 hour a week job which I love, my boss says I can start designing CD covers when i build up my portfolio. So, I need some work to practice/build a portfolio. Whats the best way to do this? I don't mind at all working for free, I just need a solid reason to spend 3 hours on Adobe a day. How did you guys start it? Thanks in advance!

 

[decksnap]

What you need to do is decide what your portfolio is lacking, then impose those projects upon yourself. A well-rounded portfolio is key.

 

[gman71882]

Depending on where you Live... a good option might be to "intern" at a local Design Agency. Or just see if you can work with a Freelance designer. A MENTOR is a Great way to Learn... someone willing to teach, that knows what they are talking about. It may take a few months of working for Free for them... but JUST DO IT.
Interning is ALWAYS the best way to get your foot in the DOOR and Learn what you need to know!

It takes more than Just knowing the Adobe software to call yourself a Designer. Take the time to read books, Start a Sketchbook, Do ALL the Photoshop & Illustrator tutorials you can find, and ALWAYS ALWAYS ASK FOR CRITICISIM. Get Local designers to critique your work... and be prepared they can and will be brutal. Suck it up and redo what you have too get it to work.

Otherwise if you really want to "learn" how to design. go to school for it...
i just took 3 years and gradgitated from design skool so thats me being a hard-@$$.

Feel free to ask for any other advice... im currenty in the Planning stages of starting up my own Design & Advertising Agency. If all goes well i will get it off the ground this summer.

 

[Moshiiii]

Okay, cool! I actually have a nice job, i do bindary work for a company that prints/designs/replicates CD, Posters, 7" Covers. They do big stuff for Fall Out Boy, so I get to watch how the prepress stages work. Ill hit my photoshop books and maybe contact my Digital Design teacher, he said he was taking in apprentences.

 

[gman71882]

My roomate worked at a Professional Prepress shop for about 3 years.
He has spent the last 7-8 years putting himself through school, taking 1-2 classes a semester. Although this route has taken him a very long time to get through school he has the most experience of student i know in Design.
He had the technical knowhow, and now after 2 years of Actual Design Classes he has the Conceptual ability to Be a Great designer.

His route was a much differnt one than mine.
I was a Computer engineering major and just wanted to try out Design. It still only took me 5 years to Graduate though!!!!

Working Hands on with Designers is the best way to pick up the skills you will need.

 

[Moshiiii]

This might be a stupid question but what should I draw in my scetch book?

 

[ATD]

This might be a stupid question but what should I draw in my scetch book?

Ideas, layouts, designs, drawings, logos, words ... most anything. Design is more than having an understanding of computer graphics programs.

 

[decksnap]

This might be a stupid question but what should I draw in my scetch book?

Oh my... are you sure you want to be a graphic designer???