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The Road Less Traveled-A Graphic Design Career
by Kate Robb
Career School Directory Columnist
April 13, 2007
Did You Know Graphic designers are expected to grab the most new design jobs in the next 7-10 years? In particular, professionals with Web site design or animation experience will have the best opportunities. Nearly 30% of all designers are self-employed.
Spanish and Socrates Launch One Designer's Web Career
The world of graphic design offers a serious challenge: be creative and tech savvy. Most designers would admit a preference and aptitude for one over the other, but being fluent in both is a must in this fast-paced, competitive field.
Erin Vito's road to a design career started out with degrees in Spanish and philosophy, before an interest in design snuck up on her. Now, one master's degree and three CASE awards later, she is the owner of GrowDesign.net, which offers graphic design, web site design, branding, and collateral services. She shared with us her round-about route to her design career and the advantage it has given her:
How did you decide to study Industrial Arts?
What are you going to do with degrees in Spanish and philosophy? Teaching didn't interest me, so I had to come up with alternatives. While studying at Boston University I interned at the Handel & Haydn Society, where I helped lay out concert programs and marketing materials. After graduating, I got a job at the San Francisco Ballet and worked on the launch of their first Web site in 1995. I left the Ballet to go to graduate school for design.
What was the most useful thing you learned in graduate school?
How to approach a design problem. How to ask the right questions. Ironically, my background in philosophy helped me get back to basics and think about whether the questions I'm asking are the right ones to solve the problem. Design is about communication; I learned how to articulate my thoughts to a client in a non-threatening way.
What is your favorite kind of design work?
Print design is my favorite. I am in love with paper and ink. I have started to create more logos. Web design isn't as thrilling for me, but it does have its advantages, like immediate gratification and the ability to change something with relative ease if I decide it's not working. Having a great client makes all design work fun.
Describe the process of starting your own business.
Going into business for myself was a natural progression. I started getting requests to take on additional design projects while working full time as a designer at San Francisco State University, so I had already begun to build a client base. Then, when I had my first child, it seemed like a good idea to have a job where I could choose who I wanted to work with and when I wanted to work. So I set up shop in my home.
What is most rewarding about your career? Most challenging?
Most rewarding: the people. Most challenging: the people.
Is there anything else you want to add?
If you love what you do, you will have success as you define it.
Sources:
Learn more about Web Graphic Design programs.
About the Author
Kate Robb is a freelance writer and a university professor.
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