Expert: Bob - 8/19/2006

Question
Hi! A little backgournd about me before I ask my question. I am currently working a tile company. Sell and sometimes design a specific room for different clients. And I only did a year(freshmen) in college studying architecture. So I kinda have a the basics. But here's the thing, I'm now passionate about designing and would love to know more and be certified or at least be more knowledgable about this things. So how do I start? I borrowed a program(AUTOCAD) from a friend, and here I am trying so hard to understand this, but Im just so lost in it! Should I go to some classes about this? Or is there some classes that I dont have to go to school, you know, like tutorials  where I can learn more in my own terms? Or would it be ok if I just invest a very good book about AUTOCAD? If I should, which one?
THanks in advance for your help.
Aldrich

Answer
Hi -- thanks for providing the background, and good for you for wanting more.
You really dont give much description to your ambition, so I cant tell you much about schooling.
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 You give me a big problem with --I borrowed a program(AUTOCAD) from a friend --  I can't be seen helping someone who does not have a legitimate license, and does not get that admitting that in public is foolish.
If your friend has legit AutoCAD -- release # is crucial - and let you take the CD to install for 30 days in lieu of a free trial from Autodesk, you should say that. Learn AutoCAD 2007, if you are going to learn.
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AutoCAD is not necessarily the program to use for tile layouts.  There are simpler ones, I hear.  
If you want to be an Interior Designer, you need to go to school, PERIOD.  If you want to work as a semi-amateur designer, exposing clients to your lack of knowlege, you do not.  You are young, so you can choose.
You show maybe a shortage of initiative in not having looked online for AutoCAD tutorials and info, which are plentiful.  Being an instuctor, I naturally think "learning on your own terms" is very dangerous, but it is possible, for very savvy people who do not want to work with others much.  Learning MORE, after classes, through tutorials, etc is good.
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NOW --HERE IS THE UNCLE ADVICE -- You already dropped out of school: I was not there to see why.  If you want to sort of patch a life and career together and see what you get, ignore the schooling.  If you yearn to be a professional and design well, feel that you can really do somthing in life  --- get back to the right school and apply yourself like crazy.

BOB