So I want to go to school for design but its not as easy as I would like it to be. I was wondering how many of you feel like going to an art school really does help or if its a waste of money? I have always been self taught cause where I live there is nothing for classes or school. But I sometimes wonder if I would have more of a creative flow if I had gone to school for that. 2009-11-08T17:13:48-05:00 23 2009-11-07T10:39:07-05:00 true 0 96281 false false 285 26981 1 2009-11-21T23:55:00-05:00 433 It will help you, but you will only get out of it what you put in, and choose your school wisely. 96281 Post 2009-11-07T10:47:04-05:00 3153381 44251 2009-11-07T10:47:04-05:00 I would say no even though I have a BA in fine art. <a href="http://www.lynda.com">lynda.com</a> is all you need really. That and lots of time just doing it. I would never tell someone not to go to school, higher learning is pretty kickass, and the jobs you will be able to get without a degree are lame. I would take something other then art for the degree and just learn the art part with practice and a few art 101 how to draw fruit and color theory electives to get the basics. I can draw better now then before college, but thats not really the colleges doing, it's more that in the 4 years I was going to school I was drawing all the time. I could have been doing that for free at home. 96281 Post 2009-11-07T10:49:34-05:00 3153391 506 2009-11-07T10:52:03-05:00 I wouldn't say it would be a complete waste. You will learn some things that will help you improve your work. At times, teachers forget that grading/teaching design is subjective, so that gets a little difficult to deal with. Your work becomes their work. Overall, OvenRude basically stated the underlying rule of art school and that is: you only get out of it what you put in. If you're willing to push yourself and utilize your resources to the fullest, you'll come out on top. 96281 Post 2009-11-07T10:53:25-05:00 3153401 598 2009-11-07T10:53:25-05:00 i am debating on going back to school... I have only had 3 years of community college fine arts, which they had a great program... I say if you want to learn to design, learn how to really get a grasp and a pretty good understanding of drawing and basic design elements... I think the rest of the graphic design can be taught by yourself or learning on the internet... but if its easier to have someone tell you how to do and have projects to get you going then that is good.. the only reason I am debating on going back is to get into a good school with a full ride... if that doesnt happen then fuck it... but main reason is networking you can get from going to a good school.. also job placement... and use of some facilities that i dont already have.. like different print facilities ceramic studios etc... anyway thats all i have 96281 Post 2009-11-07T10:57:28-05:00 3153431 2870 2009-11-07T10:57:28-05:00 Yeah... I've been trying to teach myself with books and whatnot. But I always kind of wanted to go to school. That lynda.com website is something I'll have to check into, I think I'd like that. 96281 Post 2009-11-07T10:58:56-05:00 3153461 26981 2009-11-07T10:58:56-05:00 I have the feeling that I will probably have to move if I want to get anywhere with art. I live in kansas and there isn't anything around here. 96281 Post 2009-11-07T11:02:11-05:00 3153511 26981 2009-11-07T11:02:11-05:00 <blockquote><cite>OvenRude said:</cite> It will help you, but you will only get out of it what you put in, and choose your school wisely.</blockquote> That. Tbh, college/uni is an incredible experience, but i think the benefits are not always explained properly. Im on my final year, and although the tutors, the workshops, and the briefs have been fantastic, its not what i am going to miss the most. I have 70 or so classmates to bounce ideas off, and receive the harshest critiques of my work. Working along side them, and being able to tackle design work in such a large group is something i do not expect to have the luxury of doing in the industry, and is something that i feel is the most valuable experience i have taken from uni. 96281 Post 2009-11-07T11:05:36-05:00 3153521 2337 2009-11-07T11:05:36-05:00 I also went to community college, There is no reason to pay ridiculous big school prices for simple stuff, do that for cheap at community college and transfer to a better school for the more intense stuff. P.S. The I like cats painting is the coolest thing ever, you got potentials. 96281 Post 2009-11-07T11:09:15-05:00 3153561 506 2009-11-07T11:19:43-05:00 if i could spend my whole life in art school then i would have 96281 Post 2009-11-07T11:20:06-05:00 3153671 4435 2009-11-07T11:20:06-05:00 The best part of going to a good art school is the community of people you work with. They are who you will really learn from and be inspired by. I had some teachers who were some of the biggest names at what they do, but ultimately it can be very difficult to teach people something like design. There is no absolute correct answer and what works for one person could be the wrong way for another. 96281 Post 2009-11-07T11:25:40-05:00 3153721 44251 2009-11-07T11:25:40-05:00 <blockquote><cite>quakerninja said:</cite> I also went to community college, There is no reason to pay ridiculous big school prices for simple stuff, do that for cheap at community college and transfer to a better school for the more intense stuff. P.S. The I like cats painting is the coolest thing ever, you got potentials.</blockquote> Thank you, I'm just trying to get back into the swing of things. I had been planning to go to school for art but things just changed and for a while I just kind of stopped. Im working on starting up again, what I really want to do is design things for bands and what not. But Im computerless and internet less at the moment and so I am kind of stuck at the moment. Thank you 96281 Post 2009-11-07T11:31:03-05:00 3153871 26981 2009-11-07T11:31:03-05:00 I dunno where that extra thank you came from. 96281 Post 2009-11-07T11:34:11-05:00 3153911 26981 2009-11-07T11:34:11-05:00 Also try to take a few business classes if you can, especially if you can get small business startup and contract writing. 96281 Post 2009-11-07T11:39:49-05:00 3153991 44251 2009-11-07T11:39:49-05:00 “Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent." C. Cooldrige. I had this pinned to the wall in the stockroom I used to work in. I would say that if you can afford it- University is a good idea- it gives you time, direction, access and help to do what you want to do.... But if you treat Uni' in any other way than a fantastic opportunity that you must suck all time and information and help out of- I would say get a part time job to pay your way and use the rest of your time to fill it with the passion and commitment to study art. 96281 Post 2009-11-07T11:41:48-05:00 3154001 2802 2009-11-07T11:43:13-05:00 I've heard that the contacts/networking is one of the best things about going to school for design. 96281 Post 2009-11-07T11:42:35-05:00 3154011 2961 2009-11-07T11:42:35-05:00 I would like to. Its just I live on my own right now and Im struggling to pay bills as it is.. Im hoping to move eventually so I can at least get some classes in and just get some experience of it. 96281 Post 2009-11-07T11:43:59-05:00 3154041 26981 2009-11-07T11:43:59-05:00 100% go to school if you want to do this as a profession. you will learn everything that you didn't know you didn't know. definitely take your time and visit schools, talk to students, teachers, and make sure you choose the right place. keep in mind that the name of the school or price of tuition do not directly relate to the quality of the education. 96281 Post 2009-11-07T13:29:04-05:00 3155081 1106 2009-11-07T13:29:04-05:00 I go to the University of Houston, they have a great program 96281 Post 2009-11-07T13:52:02-05:00 3155301 785 2009-11-07T13:52:02-05:00 You can always learn something useful in school. but with that being said if you have enough drive, its possible to succeed without it. I dropped out of university after a week and decided to go at it by myself using all of my time just doing what i wanted to do instead of paying someone to tell me how to do it. Since I quite college I have been picked up by 2 magazines, I manage a band on Ferret Records, and I used to do freelance publicity work for record labels like fearless and victory. If you have the drive and talent you can save yourself a bunch of money but if your not one of those people that just go for it in the heat of the moment then def stick with college cause the bottom line is they will teach you things you wont find out on your own. 96281 Post 2009-11-07T14:11:09-05:00 3155481 12687 2009-11-07T14:11:09-05:00 im going to the art institute of cincinnati in the next 2 years, it only has a 2 year program there, but i think it would really help me, cause i do want to work for alt press, and record labels eventually, i wouldnt say go to a big big top of the line school, go to a small, cheap school, and try to do the 2 year program if they have one! 96281 Post 2009-11-08T14:31:25-05:00 3165661 10262 2009-11-08T14:31:25-05:00 <blockquote><cite>OvenRude said:</cite> It will help you, but you will only get out of it what you put in, and choose your school wisely.</blockquote> it is beneficial but not necessary. 96281 Post 2009-11-08T14:40:57-05:00 3165731 66441 2009-11-08T14:40:57-05:00 I should ad that a big deciding factor in the choice should be where you intend to work. If you want to work at a professional design studio, many of them will prefer school experience, as it shows that you were willing to put the time and money into improving yourself and focusing on expanding your skills. Having a really strong portfolio is more important, but it doesn't hurt. 96281 Post 2009-11-08T14:55:25-05:00 3165931 44251 2009-11-08T14:55:25-05:00 <blockquote><cite>OvenRude said:</cite> It will help you, but you will only get out of it what you put in, and choose your school wisely.</blockquote> Yup! Absolutely go to school for the networking. Being around other experienced artists will force you to learn things. Choose your school wisely, I won't name the one I went to, but I learned the most about design from film classes moreso than actual art classes. Composition and typography classes are awesome, as well as marketing classes teach you a ton of stuff about the industry. 96281 Post 2009-11-08T17:13:48-05:00 3167071 285 2009-11-08T17:14:56-05:00