AboutPeter Gabany Expertise Strategic planning:
Objective based advertising, Ad creative, Writing, Photography - buying and making, Illustration - buying, Print, Outdoor, Event, Media, Media Planning, Broadcast, How to select an agency, What the client must provide, Pitching a client / being pitched
Experience Over 25 years in the business - 22 years operating an agency. Creative direction and agency management.
Question QUESTION: Hello Mr. Gabany
I have a few questions regarding advertising schools and a career in advertising.
I'm currently enrolled in a private art school majoring in advertising. The school that i go to is accredited, but due to long distance i have thought about transferring to a non credited school. How important is to have an accredited degree and what exactly are the advantages, if any. I heard that the only thing that really matters in the advertising world and getting a job is having a good portfolio, and that a degree is not even required as long as you have the skills and work to show your skills (portfolio). Is this true?
I would like to keep my options open and have the option to become a teacher, would i need to have an accredited degree? Would you say it would be a better choice to graduate from an accredited university or a university that has a good reputation and good portfolio preparation program, but not accredited?
Thank you
ANSWER: I have no idea where you are writing from so difficult to recommend a school of any caliber.
In short: you have your entire life to work and while in the extremely RARE cases you can actually get a job in advertising staying in school and earning a degree or two will allow you to better reach your other goals - keeping your options open.
School for the most part is an academic understanding of what is in the real world. It is a great grounding and while there is little replacement for street smarts it only takes 3 or 4 years to learn in school - it takes a lifetime of highs and lows to get the street smarts required in this business.
So the long and short - stay in school as you can afford to - stretch it if you can. As it may be true that you can get hired off the street - it is far more acceptable to be hired for what you know AND know how to apply it.
Let me know where you are and I can make some recommendations. Rhodes Island School, Texas A&M and Northwestern are great starts but only the tip of opportunities in US - we haven't even mentioned Canada and Europe.
Pete
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QUESTION: I forgot to mention i live in California. I currently attend the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. It is a private art school and it is accredited. The only thing that i am concerned with is that i have read many reviews on the school and how it is all about business and making money, but that i am sure is true for every private school. The cost of tuition is high and i was wondering if it would be a better option to take design courses at my local junior college for one semester (indesign, photoshop etc) and then transfer to an art school that offers 2yr portfolio preparation program (Miami Ad school is one that offers such a program, but recommends students to have some sort of experience or knowledge in the field, which i don't have). Would you say it would be best to stay at the school i am now and learn step by step, or could i take the shortcut by taking design classes at a community college and then transfer to a 2yr school to prepare my portfolio? What is your opinion on AAU and Miami Ad? A degree from Miami Ad is not accredited but the school does have a good reputation on preparing its students and their portfolio.
Thank you very much for your answer. I appreciate your help.
Answer I really can't comment on the AAU and Miami Schools. But if it comes down to dollars and cents - get a job and try it out. Ask to serve an internship (paid of course). Get a taste of what is needed for the next few months.
Also, while your interest may be focused on advertising, open your eyes to Public Relations firms and Design agencies. Oh, and look at on-line web development companies.
SF is mecca for some so DO seek out the great companies and tour their establishments. Look to AIGA and The AAA. Ask for an appointment and get some insight with the likes of http://www.wolfedoyle.com/, Jenifer Morla, http://morladesign.com/about/, or Heidi, http://sequence.com/ - there are hundreds more. Call them up and ask for a meeting with an art director or a creative director. You may be able to get a meeting with one of the principals but???
Please let me know if this is helpful. Let me know if you are meeting with anyone and DO let me know what you found out.
