I had embarked on the path of graphic design at a young age. I entered a contest in elementary school for T-shirt contest for our schools playground and actually won. I have been hooked ever since. My path to graphic design was then founded with a course taken at the High School level, which led me to believe this was the career path for me. It was something that would use many of my skills and would still be challenging and fun, ever changing. With that, I took the first step right outside of high school and attended McKenzie College. A step that gave me some experience using the software in the industry and some basic knowledge, but seeing as they went bankrupt halfway through the course and were bought out by CompuCollege in the process, it was a interesting experience to say the least. But, I digress.
I decided then, I needed a school that was recognized with the GDC (Graphic Design Association of Canada).
You and The GDC…
I did get a job right after taking the original course, however the company went under. I was then in the job market again, and seeing as this market was already flooded (and still is), I did not have the experience or the “recognized” school for design to set me apart for job interviews. I decided then, I needed a school that was recognized with the GDC (Graphic Design Association of Canada). Checking that list I went through each of the programs for length and what you would get out of it when you were finished. Location was also big for me as I wasn’t looking to live, work or study in Toronto if it could be avoided. I liked the Maritimes and wanted to keep it that way. So Holland College had the right length (2 years) and the right standard with the GDC. It seemed like it would be a good fit (small town feel) and would hopefully move me towards the right path. I also had intentions on taking it to go into the web design course afterwards, but decided otherwise when I completed the course.
If at First [Year] you don’t succeed (bang your head against a wall)… there’s always second year!
I will admit that there were many times I wished I had not chosen this school, this course or many other factors about this course. Being one (if not the only one) who had any experience or earlier training for that matter, may have given me a differing view on the course set up, but knowing that graphic design was computer driven in the industry I expected to be using them, not having it taught as if to fear them in the first year. I think it was only in the last month we actually used one in the first year, except for typing essays, for if there had been a typewriter available the computer would not have been an option.
With all courses that are under the GDC’s wing they appear to have a “Back to Basics” component where drawing/painting is key to showing you the ropes and getting you use to the concepts. Not using the computer as a crutch but respecting it as a tool, as the computer is only as good as the person who is using it.
I was horrible at painting with “gouache” (P.S cheap poster paints or acrylics will do the trick) I will be the first to admit, but still can say the concept of why didn’t totally elude me. While taking this, or any graphic design course, you had better be ready to work your ass off (especially first year) because everything takes longer to do when done by hand and this is when there are more projects. This could be said to be an elimination method, to see if you truly are there to be a designer, because if you are not truly driven and you don’t want to be there, you will have enough self-preservation to abandon the sinking ship.
If you are looking for a course that will show any appreciation for any of the work you have done, you have come to the wrong place.
First Year Welcome to Hell
With this course you have one assignment (which could include multiple “prints”) due each school day. That being said, you probably won’t get a lot of sleep the first year seeing as you may find yourself working through the day/evening/night to complete some of the projects assigned. But, then there is always the reward for a job well done. I have to laugh at this statement, if you are looking for a course that will show any appreciation for any of the work you have done, you have come to the wrong place.
In the first year you will deal almost solely with one of the two teachers and if you can get a “good” comment, you’ll likely never get anything beyond “it doesn’t suck”. You will however get the opportunity to be made to feel small with little gain. He unfortunately has not found a way to “critique” and I use the term lightly, without be condescending and useless. I am all about constructive criticism, I can take that and can work and heck even LEARN from it, but when one is only torn down (with little hope of EVER being build back up) and never finding out how one can improve one’s work, then you are NOT learning. Unfortunately I was, as I said to myself many a time “there for the paper” I needed the diploma to be part of the GDC. This was the reason for the course, because like other trained professions, a licensed professional within a governing body, ensures that they are up to date on their training and following the codes of conduct that anyone in that field should.
With that being said, the moral of the critique is for you to distance yourself from your work. When a client says they don’t like it or that they want you to change something, it is not a reflection on you. If they didn’t like your work they would find someone else to design for them, not have you change it or present them with another one of your ideas. They simply didn’t like the first preliminary sample you presented them. This is an important lesson to learn, but there are other ways to get this across to students other than the childish maner of student bashing. The teacher is there to empower the students not his ego, but I digress.
I was also intent on learning more about the field, perhaps about becoming a freelancer, how one might go about this, hurdles one might face, glean some advice form two “pros”. However, this never came to fruition.
I think I learned more about whether or not I like to teach than I did graphic design.
Teachers You Say…
So we have one teacher, again I use this term lightly, that is trying to teach us the fundamentals. The fundamentals apparently being that “those who can’t do teach?” Perhaps, if one is looking for a beginning, a starting point in their education this could be of use, and my classmates (some of) felt that this was worthwhile, but they were not the ones who ended up teaching the class how to use the software. Once we finally got into the software at the end of the first year and all throughout the second year I was the one who was teaching the students on a one-on-one how to use the software properly, how to do certain things. I think I learned more about whether or not I like to teach than I did graphic design. In a glimpse of their intake criteria I was able to glean that they will normally take on one student with more background in the field for just this purpose, heaven forbid they’d learn something so they could instill that knowledge on their students. I knew the programs before going in, and remembered the tutorials from McKenzie College, had I not taken this course prior I might have been as lost as the rest of my class. It’s a sink or swim method in this manner. So if you are not a self learner…
Team Work
Then there was the group projects. This was the equivalent to “OTJ” (on the job training) and yet was not really based on the real world. Then again I’m not sure either teacher was living in the real world. So, if you are looking for real experience prior to the actual job market, this will not likely be provided. The group projects take up most of second year, second term and are mostly what you are working on. Group projects however do have some very useful aspects. With this you were one of (depending on class size I suppose) Art Director, Project Manager, Lead Graphic Designer, Junior Graphic Designer or Prepress Technician.
The biggest problem is that no one explains how this is supposed to work. We had the first initial group project at the end of first year with less instruction then second year. Less is more; sometimes doing just the bare minimum is how one should look at the project (especially first year). Planning is very important in projects and this cannot be more said than in the group projects. When the “jobs” are taken and used properly (without blurring the lines) then the project will present itself better. In the real world you have these titles, these are your jobs and you are paid to do them. Group input is important, I’m not saying you do not brainstorm, what I am saying is that when the Art Director says, “Here’s the project,” then this is what you are doing (and you will get your turn to do the same). Treat it like the real world. Our group projects went much more smoothly when all people followed their roles.
That being said when you have a weak prepress technician you all suffer (as each “job” is worth 20% of the project mark). This is usually the hardest job for most people, as it requires more technical aspects than design aspects. You need both in this field to succeed. But, this is where a good project manager (or art director) will step in to help. Sometimes this also means doing your job and only your job, and by that I mean not doing other peoples’ work. You cannot make the team work by the detriment of your own self. This is not a good working environment in a job atmosphere or in an academic one.
Where Are You Now?
Would I say that I am utilizing the skills I learned at school, perhaps. I still question what I in fact learned, but must have acquired some knowledge. Every experience (good or bad) is still that, experience. Remember that with every new experience you are designed to expand your knowledge and grow as an individual.
You cannot stay stagnant and expect to succeed, one thing this course sorely lacks.
Finding a job on completion of the course may have been less difficult if I hadn’t hated the job, my work and myself at the end of this course. I was beaten down so many times that I no longer had the will to try. It took me a long time before I could believe in myself enough to be any use in an interview. You need to be strong of will to bounce back or to even make it through this ordeal, but you will not come out un-scathed. Hope that you do come out for the better. I was unemployed for about 6 months and almost a year before I was able to find a job in my field. I had not been taught web design, which I think is a grab at more money that they can’t teach the basics. That and the current teachers would need to teach themselves prior to teaching the students. I had received some training from McKenzie and had learned a lot on my own. In this job you will be required to be self-taught and a life longer learner. You cannot stay stagnant and expect to succeed, one thing this course sorely lacks.
What Did You Learn?
It does help you to create a volume of work that can go into a portfolio, but don’t expect the “portfolio class” to be very useful in getting it there. You will need to treat every project like it is something you will be showing to a prospective client or interviewer if you don’t want to have to rework every project for the portfolio at the end of the year. Variety is key and you might find it more difficult to work that out for yourself. Find your design style in the process, but remember you will find certain things crutches… colours, fonts, layouts, etc. Figure this out for your portfolio; find strength in what you are good at and show diversity in what you know you are capable of doing.
If you are the kind of person who requires a support system of friends, family and peers you might want to keep them on speed dial. You will likely need to vent and you will likely need inspiration. Stella Adler once said, “Life beats you down and crushes the soul, and art reminds you that you have one.” What you are creating is not “art” per se as art doesn’t require communicating something, but graphic design does. It works so long as it fulfills its function. Function is more important then beauty, but you need to have both for it to be good. Something that is stunning in the abstract, but will not hold up to the task at hand is useless and will fail you. Define the point of the project if not only as a guide for yourself.
Remember that “any media” doesn’t always mean what you think it does. That you should try to step out of your comfort zone, but never beyond the teachers. Think outside the box, but keep it in sight. You will never be an equal, but you are not sheep to the slaughter. These are the lesson that I have learned, and this can be applied to real life.
Something I would have done differently, and if you have no self-preservation be my guest, is arguing more during the critique. Unlike in English class where if you have something to back up your argument you are, tentatively right, this is not the case. You cannot win, even when “opaque” means what by definition it means, there is always the teacher’s definition. However, one must always pick their battles. There is always a favourite and someone who is the scapegoat for every bad project, try to be neither of these people, as you will not learn.
“If you have time to do it twice, you had time to do it right the first time”. This factor may not always apply, as most of the projects I pulled out of my ass were the most highly appreciated. Always think, can this be “streamlined” – less is more in 9/10 cases.
This program may be for the individual who has an aptitude for both the visual arts as well as the communication arts. If you loathe painting you will NOT make it through the first year. You will need to build a thick skin very early on as the “critique” is not to be taken to heart, they are not criticizing you, but your work. And they will; and they will not be nice about it. You are there to learn, try to absorb all you can.
But, most importantly about the program, “it doesn’t suck.”
You can visit my portfolio at muisedesign.ca
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aaron
I took the same course as the author of this essay, and we were together in the same year and were even in the same group for projects and yet I cannot disagree more.
Our teachers were incredible and the experience was, to me, the educational highlight of my very varied life. I entered as a mature student with grown children and had already studied at University level in several different disciplines, and having two siblings who are University professors, I know a bit about what makes a good teacher. I came into the program knowing absolutely nothing and when I walked out of the studio a month before graduation and into a professional Graphic Design job that had listed 2 years of GD experience as the qualifications, I was never so impressed at how those short months perfectly prepared me to walk into the real world of design without blinking an eye.
I have been grateful every day to my teachers and to my fellow students… those of us who benefited from the course and were open to what we were being taught have gone on to wonderful exciting design careers and I am in my 3rd year of working full-time now as a designer and still loving it. Our first year teacher? Every single time I start a project I think of how he challenged us to think beyond the obvious and I push myself a little harder because of his voice in my head. I never forget the pure joy for design that he passed on to those of us who were listening. I learned some things about software from the author of this article… she did come in with superior knowledge technically, but her closed-mindedness towards the teachers and programs kept her from growing as a designer… that’s her misfortune, I bear her no ill-will. But those reading this may want to hear that most of us in the class left with nothing but good things to say about what we learned. Go Class of 07!