Graphic Designers

[Nerf Herder]

Any of you so inclined or qualified ?

Did you go to uni? Which one?

Which of the Sydney Unis are more highly rated then the others and why?

In a nut shell, what are they mainly teaching you now days?
The reason I ask this is that a friend of the family was relating a story where after 4 years away from her industry ... She couldn't get back in as it was more software then 'Art' in her opinion

This confused me ... Surely technology didn't change that fast to make her redundant ... But imdont understand what the nuances are in the profession ?

The reason I ask is ... I'm about to hit up the Unis for a grad ... And have never managed a GD/GA before and would like to understand what the difference is if any. What are the core competencies they are taught ?
Are there different branches that attract different types of people?

Eg more technology vs more artistic vs something in the middle.

Fingers crossed there are a few of you out there.

Thanks in advance

 

[pink poodle]

*than


Don't let them tell you they can edit content. Otherwise good luck in your quest.

 

[Haakon]

You can install a cracked version of InDesign CC on a Mac if you need to... It does work but it’s a lot of dicking around.

 

[Freediver]

Message Franco Cozzo, he's your man.

 

[Oddjob]

Why don't you hire your friend? So what if they aren't 100% on the latest software package. There are short courses for that, and unsurprisingly it takes a long time and effort to replicate experience and soft skills.

If graphic design grads are anything like the grads I see, they will be technically proficient but need a lot of hand holding which takes a lot of management time.

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[Minlak]

Why don't you hire your friend? So what if they aren't 100% on the latest software package. There are short courses for that, and unsurprisingly it takes a long time and effort to replicate experience and soft skills.

If graphic design grads are anything like the grads I see, they will be technically proficient but need a lot of hand holding which takes a lot of management time.

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I would assume he is hitting up the Uni for a Grad the same we hit up the Uni for a accountant Grad. They need to have placements to pass some of their course we help with experience they help with costing less money.

 

[Sethius]

Did graphics at university, out of the 40 of us who completed it 2 are in the industry..

And 1 is now a full time back end website builder, no visuals at all. Theres a member who works for MC Saatchi on here, forget their username.
It's very software driven these days, places like 99designs killed off alot of freelancers.

There's still creative elements but the trends definitely get influenced the new features of the programs more than used to.

I had some good deals doing corporate branding packages as a third income. We didn't do placements either, even for honours.

 

[stirk]

Someone in my family is a graphic designer and creative director. The answer to the question art versus computer will depend on the job however being very proficient at using a computer and the various design software available is THE tool of the trade. Brochures for letter box drops is all computer driven and not artistic but creating a complete brand can have a lot of artistic elements that can be done on paper and then scanned into the computer to then complete the work.

Being artistic or not will largely define the work you do.

Someone who is not artistic at all could be limited to copy, magazine, simple brouchers, basic websites etc but an artistic person can create more unique hand drawn design elements, their work on a computer would also have more flair.

 

[Tubbsy]

It really depends where you work.

If you're designing and laying out work for Coles or Bunnings brochures (as Stirk says) you might argue it's more about software competence.

But if you have a look at the AGDAs (Australian Graphic Design Awards) and the quality of work that is required to do well there, it's very much about artistic skill.


In my opinion the software for graphic design hasn't changed that much in the last twenty-five years. It changes iteratively all the time, obviously, but the basic skills and techniques are much the same as ever.

If your family friend is frustrated by the avenues available, she might seek to get some internships with design houses she likes the work of.

 

[Knuckles]

I'll preface my remarks with the disclaimer that I dropped out of uni graphic design 6 months in (30 years ago), because I couldn't reconcile the factory nature of commercial graphic design against my fantasy of a bohemian lifestyle of cafes and copic stained fingers. And my understanding of the industry now comes from an enthusiast point of view.


If your friend is more artsy focused, she should look into illustration and either freelance to graphic design and advertising firms or try for a specialist illustration role at a design firm.

It really depends on the industry, you're aiming at, print media seems to revolve around layout and typography. But if she tried to crack the gaming industry, there is huge scope for the artistic side, weather in character or production design or art direction.

Either way, these days, there is no getting around the need for a solid grasp of suites like Adobe, Corel and even 3d applications. It's just where the industry is at. Adobe is pretty good now, with the cloud subscription system, a basic photoshop and illustrator package and a mid level wacom tablet, and it's pretty easy to get yourself to a good level of performance. Work flow and productivity come with hours put in, like anything else.

I still smash out speed paintings and character designs when I get the chance, on a copy of photoshop Cs, and a $60 wacom bamboo, whenever I get some free time.

 

[shmity]

Knuckles has touched on the most important part more or less. Where does your friend want to end up? Theres plenty of jobs for UXers these days, which is purely logical and not very artsy, but needs a good understanding to do well, this relys heavily on software like Sketch for prototyping, purely because it is incorporated into work flow. Theres some very good mixed media branding and design agencies in Melbourne and I would imagine Sydney has as well(look at http://www.swearwords.com.au/ for examples of what is getting produced these days but they are far from the only studio doing such great work).

Design fundamentals still apply, if you're not good at them you're not going to succeed in print, digital or any other form of design these days regardless of how well versed you are in Creative Suite. If your friend is see's it as more software than good design taking her work away from her, then shes looking in the wrong places or she unfortunately wasn't very good to start with.

 

[Tubbsy]

Design fundamentals still apply, if you're not good at them you're not going to succeed in print, digital or any other form of design these days regardless of how well versed you are in Creative Suite. If your friend is see's it as more software than good design taking her work away from her, then shes looking in the wrong places or she unfortunately wasn't very good to start with.

This

 

[Nerf Herder]

Thanks peeps ... Good reading and insight

In terms of employing the friend ... Definitely has entered my mind ... Another facet of my management thinking is that there is a gold mine of under utilised return to workforce mums out their with solid skill sets requiring increased flexibility ... Which I can likely offer.

But with offering flexibility also comes PITA issues ... I'd rather not deal with more PITA ...

Thinking a grad would just be easier + a bit cheaper in exchange for management effort / pain.

Juggling pain management.

 

[Oddjob]

Grads are the epitome of pain, unless you luck out and get a star in which case you will lose them quickly.

Experienced people who have realistic ambitions/family commitments and who can sort themselves out are the way to go.

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[stirk]

What do you want done and what's the term of the 'contract' and the amount you think it will cost you to have the work done. I could put feelers out.

Grads might be cheap but take twice as long to get the job done hence cost as much as a professional over the life of the project.

 

[Nerf Herder]

Ad prep, liaise with supplier marketing and media contacts to get images etc etc, web admin ... EDM beautification ... some product packaging stuff ... generally make us look better then we really do.

Part-time ... I'm think works best as a side line ie, they have a nice paying fulltime or 4 day week and use us as a side line coz we are nice to work with ... prefer a rider ... but not picky ...

We had a real champion for a short period of time, which openned my eyes to the benefits of those skills ... but they went and got themselves a better / longer hours / full time gig and couldn't support us the way they thought they needed too ... fracking high achieving lazy bum .

We've learnt, less flexibility re decision making and better work guidelines / specifications on the job vs time allocated will make it easier for them to work part-time on us.

I'm happy for them to outline hourly rate, but think small tight arse business, not corporate marketing behemoth.