Graphic Design Questions?

Question

I'm hoping there may be some graphic designers who are able to answer my questions...
I'm a senior in high school, so, I really need to start making decisions about college quickly.
I thought I had decided I wanted to go for Zoology, but, now, I'm having a second idea, that I've been contemplating for awhile: Graphic Design.
I've toured 2 colleges before for Vet Tech and Zoology. They asked what else I might be interested in, which I mentioned Graphic Design, so they gave me a *very quick* tour of the Graphic Design course.

One thing I noticed is that there were quite a few actual art classes, like 2D art and stuff, but it was actual drawing...
That kinda concerned me... I'm terrible at drawing, but yet I'm decent at designing graphics on the computer. So, do all Graphic Design courses really require actual hand-drawing classes, or was it just that one?
To me, it kinda seems like hand-drawing is kinda old now, with technology constantly evolving... But, that might just be me, since I haven't actually worked the field yet.
My brother is a graphic designer for a small company, but he never took any college courses on it. He was just taught by the owner. He really likes it, since it's always a different job every day.

Another question: Does anybody know any info about the graphic design industry outlook?
I was looking into Web Design, but the college counselor straight up told me "The problem with web design is that everybody has the idea 'Oh, it's 2012, technology is constantly evolving, so web design would be a successful and long-lasting career for the future.', but that problem with that is that EVERYONE is thinking that, so everyone is doing it, so the field is becoming over-saturated already....". So, I'm guessing the same could be said for graphic design?

Also, how do you really get established in the graphic design industry?

Thanks for answering my questions.
If you have any other suggestions/ideas/opinions on graphic design, please tell me.
I'm really looking for some opinions from firsthand experience from people.

Answer 1

Hand drawing is kind of old? That's like saying Math is kind of old.



Many graphic designers start out sketching, scan their sketch then work on it in photoshop or whatever they use. There are even web designers that do this.

Answer 2

First of all, a little background about me so you know where I'm coming from. I attended an art school over five years ago, and have a degree in the visual arts. When I left school, I worked for a company as their in-house graphic and web designer. I now work as a graphic and web designer for a company that I own. I have over five years of experience in both the design industry and web design industry.



First of all, as a designer, you are expected to know the fundamentals of art theory and that includes drawing on paper. No matter how advanced technology can get, or how good tablet drawing software is, nothing beats the tactile feel of drawing on paper. It probably sounds lame, hokey and a little untrue when I say it now, but the first thing I was taught at school was that before I even so much as looked at a computer, I had to learn how to sketch out my ideas on paper first.



If you're worried about your drawing abilities, you will learn to develop them in those classes because they'll be teaching you some basics like shading, shadows, negative and positive space, shape, line, and all that good stuff. Think of it like learning algebra. Before you get into formulas, you have to figure out how to add, subtract, multiply and divide first. The same goes for design, before you can make an excellent logo for a client, you need to know how to draw a circle, square, triangle, curve, etc.



I somewhat disagree with the college counselor's appraisal of the web design field. Yes, on the outside, it does look like web and graphic design is overpopulated. But take it from someone who actually works in this industry:



There are two types of web designers; the ones who know what they're doing and the ones that don't.



The ones who DON'T know what they're doing skate by doing low-paying jobs and designing terrible, buggy websites for companies that don't want to pay them what they're worth. The result is a glut of really bad design. The ones who DO know what they're doing are getting serious clients and making a decent living for themselves while constantly evolving their design process and learning new skills. The same could be said for graphic design and any number of other vocations that focus around an industry that provides a service.

Answer 3

I am a graphic designer in my last year of college so i understand you. i also am not very good at drawing but you will have to take drawing courses.



I myself have take about 5 courses in drawing and have managed to pass them (even though i hate drawing). You have to be aware that in your first year (or first drawing course) the teacher does not expect you to draw the human body with correct lighting and proportions, He expects you to know what a circle looks like but doesn't expect you to draw a perfect one. All of it is taught!. You will also have to take one or two courses in painting, depending what school you go to. As for design, In my opinion, learning how to draw helped loosen my hand to better sketch anything that was to be designed on the computer! (by the way i am still not great at drawing but i do have my principles).



Now for the graphic design industry, it is growing extremely fast!! and it is very very competitive.

If you only know how to use Adobe Creative programs, that's good!, but not good enough!

i have learned that major companies (which should be the ones you want to work for) are highly impressed with designers that know software like Maya ( 3d rendering program). Why? because everything is going in the 3d direction. Toyota commercials are actually rendered in MAYA. those green hills, the water, it is all rendered 3d imagery.



And one of my pet peeves is people who think graphic designers only do web design. my aspiration is package design, and advertising! You don't have to stick to the web.



Your comment on hand drawing, wrong. Something i learned at school was that professors are really impressed when there is a hand-drawing element to your work. I worked on some type by hand for a poster and my professor loved the fact that i didn't just pic it out of the internet, which by the way is out of the question. All graphic design professors require your own work and nobody else, so if you use a picture of something that you found on the web, guess what: copyright infrigment. it is an automatic fail.



To get yourself established as a good graphic designer, well you just need to do your best! always be better than everybody else, if you think your work is done well go back and do it again. talk to you professors. Have an amazing portfolio and you will get a good job.



Sorry if i am scaring you, but remember it takes time. i was scared when i first started because i did not know how it would be but hey if your passionate about graphic design, you will love every minute of it.