A long time ago, when I was just a young sprite deciding what to do with my life, I had many options, Graphic Design just being one of them. I didn't know if I wanted to study out of state, in state and deciding what my major was on top of that did seem a little overwhelming. After applying to 5 schools, I sat down and looked at some options for majors, what jumped out at me at first was Interior Design, Fashion Design, Fine Art and Graphic Design. My first year at Rutgers University, I was headed in the Fine Art direction. I took a look around at the students who were on this course and talked to some who had previously graduated as a Fine Art major. Their paths after college did not resonate with me so I looked further into the other options.
When I met other Graphic Designers, I could see the passion in their eyes for design, they loved color blocking, fonts, staying up late to perfect their portfolios, learning every aspect they could about Graphic Design, trying out new things like textile design, product design or whatever design project they could get their hands on! This was so appealing to me! They believed in drawing everyday, pouring their whole heart into their work and being humble and supporting each other. I had met my 'tribe' as they say. To this day, my network remains mainly Graphic Designers or creative types. I just love what they bring to the table. I love story telling through branding, color, textiles, fine art, digital art and combining it all into an amazing composition whether that be a website, book, doll or accessory.
How do you know if Graphic Design is right for you?
Well, hopefully reading this blog post helped a little bit. Did reading about what other graphic designers are like excite you or maybe it bored you? Start with how you feel.
Tip:
Join a group of Graphic Designers online or in real life and see if they're the type of people you like being around. Try some free online classes, see if you have what it takes to sit in front of the computer for long periods of time, learning the programs.
Here’s how to do it:
Sign up for a site like Lynda.com and Meetup.com
Search for graphic design classes and groups
Try out a few classes
Try out a Graphic Design group
Try other classes that interest you and go where your heart takes you!