Expert: LizaL - 9/30/2004

Question
Hi I'm Lauren and I am and a high school student doing a project on the careet of a graphic designer. One of the requirements for this project is that I interview someone in this career field.

What made you choose this carrer?
How long have you been employed in your current job?
What type of education would you recommend for someone pursuing this career?
Are there any special skills or trainin needed for this job?
Are there any personal interests or qualities that if someone had them, they might enjoy this job more?
What are the opportunies for advancement in this ocupation, and how might someone prepare for advancement?
What do you see as the benefits or "perks" of your job?
What is you least favorite part of you job?
Do you have to wear any type of identification badge or card?

Please answer all questions you can. It will be greatly apreciated. Thanks

Answer
Hi Lauren,

I'll try to give you some insight here, and I'll just answer your questions in the order you asked them.

1. I really didn't choose this career; it chose me. I was an advertising copywriter when I got out of school, having majored in English but not exactly wanting to teach English. So I went to work for an ad agency in the midwest. I worked as a writer for a couple of years, but realized I didn't enjoy it, so when this agency had an opening in their art department, I applied and got it.

2. I've been a graphic designer for 20 years, and a Web designer for 5 of those years. Also during those 20 years, I taught college commercial art and design for 10 years. I taught college on an adjunct basis for 5 years, and full-time for 5.

3. To be a graphic designer, you need an inherent sense of art and design, and that cannot be taught. You either have it, or you don't. I would recommend at least a 2-year degree in order to begin to pursue a career in graphic design. This way, after two years, you and your instructors should know if you're suitable for the field, and if it's something you should pursue further from an educational standpoint.

4. Skills and training will come through your education. An internship with a newspaper or publishing company would also be a good thing to consider, while you're in school.

5. As I mentioned, talent can't be taught. If you have that inherent talent for quality and order in terms of design, you'll be more apt to succeed in the field. But you can't force yourself to like this work, or to succeed. You have to enjoy and have a true appreciation for design.

6. Advancement is possible, not only through print design, but the Web has become a much more specialized facet of the design field, offering lots of job possibilities.

7. I don't know about benefits or perks; I work for myself, and that's perk enough!

8. My freelance business also includes an audio interview show that I do, and I dont' enjoy editing sound files. The reason I don't like to do this is that it prevents me from sitting and listening to music while I work! But I love everything I do, actually.

9. No badges or ID -- as I mentioned, I work for myself. Pajamas and robe work just as well as jeans and a T-shirt.

Hope this helps!

Lisa
www.little-works.com