When I started college, I had faith that I would be in classes filled with enthusiastic people who were ready and willing to grow. This faith has been long shattered, but it’s grown from indifference to frustration.
I strongly believe that any person who wants to make a living out of fine arts and design better be ready to put forth the dedication and effort required to innovate. If you have no desire to innovate, this is not the field for you. There are plenty of people out there doing the same old thing and it’s getting old.
That said, I’ve met both professionals and (mostly) students who believe that when class or work is over, it’s time to take off the designer hat. Design is not a hat, it’s a full body tattoo. It does not come off.
I’d like to narrow this thought down a bit more, to speak specifically of web designers. Experimenting and playing outside of ‘paid’ time is absolutely crucial. It’s very hard to promise a great idea when you haven’t even dipped your toes into it and have no certainty that you can pull it off. Designing for yourself is fulfilling because you get to call the shots, be as edgy or abstract as you want, and see what works and what doesn’t without an angry client behind your back.
Your studies and projects will only strengthen your commercial work and give you the confidence to bring a bigger, cooler plate to the table.
Ease up there nik! That sounded far too much like one of my jaded professors I like to call The Typosaurus. :)
Every industry needs ditch-diggers and design is no exception. Being truly motivated and intrigued by design is what separates a Graphic Designer from a Desktop Publisher.
Also, large public universities tend to attract people just looking for the easiest way through the nine to five. Don’t get frustrated; every drone that pumps through the institution is job security for the truly motivated and concerned.
