The Graphic Design Industry

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I'm heading into this area next year having aimed passionately at it for the past 3 years. Finally finished school and attending college getting a bachelor degree in graphic design.

Throughout these past few years, having talked to a number of graphic designers, all of them says there is a number of different areas in the industry you can specialise in, such as web design and print/packaging.

The thing is, they says there's "a number" of areas and only ever mention those two. What other ares can I go into after completing my degree?
 
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That's the decision that has been haunting me for a long time now. Web or Print. The other ones would be 3D animation, Video Editing and such. But I'm more focussed on Web and Print, though I know that eventually, to be really good at it, I will have to choose either one...
 
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Advertising?

That's what I'm gonna do after I get my Bachelor in graphic design.

What uni r u going to?
 
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Leukeh
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I'm going to Wesley Institute, a private college in Drummoyne, Sydney.

I want to do stuff that will get seen... I did work experience with a graphic design studio a while ago and they were redesigning the Gloria Jeans billboards and the Band-Aid packaging... stuff like that would be cool, but I like web design too. Maybe I could do both...
 
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The thing is, they says there's "a number" of areas and only ever mention those two. What other ares can I go into after completing my degree?
That is because many people lump a number of distinct yet very different fields under the moniker "Graphic Design".

Graphic Design, traditionally, is simply print work. Magazine, newspaper, billboards, packaging, etc.

Web Design is similar, but still a requires a different skill set in addition to Graphic Design. Web Development is even more involved.
Multimedia Design is for things like video, DVD authoring, interactive Flash design, and motion graphics. Again, based on the core principles of Graphic Design yet a much more involved skill set.
3D Design, again same but different. 3D Animation is worlds apart.

All of those latter mentioned fields use the basic principles of Graphic Design, yet would require further study. What works in a design intended for Web would not work or translate to printed material. Same goes for broadcast designs.... etc.
To lump them all under the umbrella of "Graphic Design" is somewhat of a misnomer.

If you want to do something other than printed work like Web Design or Video, then you would need to study in a curriculum specifically suited towards that goal.
 
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good luck. its extremely competitive out in the big wide world of GD.
its so cut-throat to. il keep my fingers crossed for you :)

i have seen some really bizarre jobs under the umbrella of GD. ok im not kidding- i saw once, a job looking for a graphics designer who can do SALES and use web packages and is numerical enough to use SAP ( account package!!

im like WOA!!! they want a 'girl friday' meets a designer. AND for really bad money.

so watch out- some companies ONLY SOME in my experience will advertise for an 'all singing all dancing' "graphic designer"
its more specialised than just being able to do EVERYTHING for rubbish pay.

so just make sure you dont get used. ! its ok mucking in ...as we all do! but SALES?! bah....call me picky but SALES never came under my GD umberella! or accountant either!!
 
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The field of Design is a very broad one. I'm a graduate Industrial Designer (minored in Interiors and Graphic Design) and its a field that is very intriguing because it encompasses so many areas. Industrial Designers are the people who create toys, design cars, furniture, appliances, work on corporate identity programs, annual reports, and have a hand in far too many consumer products to list here. Of course, I'm semi-retired now, but its a wonderful field for the aspiring artist/designer to look into, and it can be very lucrative. Companies are always re-designing products and creating new ones. A good Industrial Designer should be able to sketch/draw on the fly with a pencil/marker and should also be able to get into CAD and 3D modeling and animation. They should also have the ability to understand basic engineering concepts and be able to work with their hands. And of course... you'll have to have a good sense of 2D & 3D design.

Anyway, for you young folks wondering which way to go... that was my (biased ;D ) pitch for just one field of design that you should look into. But more importantly... if you love art & design in general... stick with it, find your niche. Work at something that doesn't leave your head at 5:00 PM.
 

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