Expert: Patti Glenn - 9/29/2009

Question
Hi, my name is Claireand I am currently a senior in high school. Like most, i'm a bit confused on what to major in college. I think it's pretty fair to say I have an artistic mind, my parents run a direct mailing buisness and they're always asking me what would look better or capture your eye better. I get the concept of art, what different colors can represent, and stuff like that. However, when it comes to actually drawing stuff on paper...I'm really not any good. The idea of graphic design interests me so much, I go Microsoft Publisher and Powerpoint and make stuff when I'm bored. But my main concern that if i were to major in graphic design, I would have to do alot of sketching before making it onto the computer. So my question is if there is alot of required sketching in a major/career in graphic design?

Answer
To be a sucessful designer you will need to learn to draw.  The good news is that you can learn to draw even if you've never dreawn befoe. You may not be suitable for illusratve work but it's important part of thinking througt design to be able to put on paper the ideas in your head (you don't have to be Michaelangelo). Most successful designers are very paaionate about it as the profession is demanding, highly competitive and does not always pay well.
You could try majoring in communications if you do not want to learn to draw. Just playing around with software isn't necessarily an indication that you will be successful in design. But college is a good place to try on new things so take a drawing class, a creative writting class, a photography class and a design class before you decide on your major. You'll have a better understanding of some of the basics of creative arts with these classes.