Comments on: What graphic design schools are lacking

By: Stu

Stu — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 15:23:55 +0000

I’m currently a student in Graphics Design and the thing that frustrates me the most about the course I’m on is that originality isn’t pushed for. When we’re told to create a poster from a certain era and study designers for it, more often than not everyone will completely rip off another designers work and get praise where as I’m trying to take characteristics of the designers we’ve been told to emulate and make the design my own. I feel the originality is one of the most important factors, otherwise you just end up with a lazy, half-assed attempt

By: Charles Schultz

Charles Schultz — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 23:27:57 +0000

I have recently graduated from Westwood College of Design and after reading all the posts about what is needed, I feel that my choice in colleges could not have been better. Many of the things that many colleges do not teach Westwood does. They teach courses in business and always stress the importance of deadlines. I cannot be happier with my decision to attend Westwood and feel very comfortable with my skills. I did forward this thread to the Dean of Design at Westwood so that he may be able to glean a few ideas to help students prepare better for the real world of design.

By: joe rozsa

joe rozsa — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 13:25:24 +0000

In my opinion, design schools are lacking instructors that know what the hell they are doing and talking about. Way too many instances of “Those that can’t do, teach.” There is an instance of a “professor” at a local university’s art school that’s teaching design, design techniques, business practices etc. that can’t make a brochure mock up to save his life. Yeah, and he’s teaching after 3 failed businesses. He’s pretending that he’s one of those guys that goes out and makes money public speaking and inspiring people to do great things. This “professor” only inspires people to go to the restroom. So glad I got my degree before he came along… worthless like many others.

By: Chander Shekhar

Chander Shekhar — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 11:44:13 +0000

I graduated from the finest design schools with a five and half year diploma. Apart from the exposure to (and even fortunate to meet some) god fathers of design like Charles Eames, Viktor Papanek, Bruno Murari, B. Fuller, Otto Frie, I had to unlearn everything my collegues learnt. This was 30 years back. I stayed miles away from other designers and never went back to any alumni meet not kept in touch with them. I think that saved me. I did pretty well for myself by running a full fledged design, house, advertising agency and one of the biggest printing unit. I worked for all my competitors either as a ghost designer or a vendor. I was forced to free lance because the guy who interviewed me would be without a job if he hired me. I was able to retire at age 39 and take to consultation and teaching. I am now undoing all I did with advertising by giving my talent to NGO’s.
The secret of my success:
1. I never did anything extreme like pierce my body, grow hair, wear a pony tail, odd clothing or accessories.
2. I took notes when the client gave a brief.
3. I learnt the the client was giving me an opportunity to learn.
4. I learn the client was paying and must get what he wants – I was not offering my ideas if he did not want them. If he accepted my idea, I thanked God that someone was paying for my learning.
Observation:
1. Designers suffer from the complex that they did not make it to engineering, math or science hence they try to balance it by extreme behavior that scares people who want to pay you.
2. This is the only profession mostly run by business persons with MBA’s and not creative professionals. All designations of the creative world are self created ~ never earned. Designer to chief designer – executive designer, creative designer – senior chief creative…
I would teach my students by first making them observe LIFE in all its shades as it is before they set out to change it. Most designers have a swollen head, think their ideas are the greatest and the client is a fool. If you can change that without being a slave, you can be a good designer.

By: Tom

Tom — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 10:19:15 +0000

I have a degree in Graphic Design, whilst I owe a lot to my tutors for their help and encouragement, I learned most of my web design skills in the job I got when I left. Also agree there should be more focus on working with clients and even basic business skills.

By: Francois Brill

Francois Brill — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 08:36:28 +0000

I think they need PROPER curriculums, and they need to pay professional / freelance lecturers what their time is REALLY worth!

By: Preston D Lee

Preston D Lee — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 06:14:40 +0000

David,
As a project manager by trade and a designer by hobby I have often felt like designers need more training on the business side of things – and it appears that most designers feel the same way after graduating from school.

Perhaps your readers who feel that way, would be interested in checking out my blog (the link is in my name above). It focuses on Business Tips, Client advice, project management skills, etc. for designers.

Thanks for sharing all of this information. It was very insightful.

By: David Airey

David Airey — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 21:29:03 +0000

That struck me, too, Blair (the call for basic business guidance). I’m sure your contribution to my book has gone down very well amongst the readers, where you discuss dealing with clients. I made a point of mentioning spec work, too, and advising against it.

By: Blair Enns

Blair Enns — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 17:49:31 +0000

What a great list, David, comments included. I’m struck but the call for the basic business guidance of pricing, dealing with clients, etc.

I sometimes wonder how much we get could get ahead of the global free pitching problem if all graduating designers had even 20 hours of basic business training.

20 hours business training +
1 or 2 generations (time) +
better business education/support from design associations =
free pitching problem solved

By: Yaco Roca

Yaco Roca — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 16:07:39 +0000

Hi, fabulous idea this post, and very interesting assortment of ideas collected here. I would point out that art and design do not need to be so radically different. While art is theoretically a place to do whatever you want necessarily having a client in mind, both areas are quite complimentary and I believe good design is often art, and good art has almost always to be well designed. I studied both I. Design and Art, and practice graphic design, and as much as these clashed in the beginning, I realized the line separating them was quite thin, art and design both require a process, insight, analysis, and communication. Of course they both can have different ends, but I consider they also share a lot.