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Sadly, graphic designers are going to continue to be undercut and priced out as this continues. All I hope is that employers/clients who shut us out don't expect the same level of work from someone who, forced to be a jack of all trades, took a quick Photoshop and InDesign course. (A whole 'nother problem in itself; "designers" being taught how to use software instead of being taught how to think and solve design problems...)
I understand what you are saying. Seems like a crap shoot for all of us.
Makes me think did older generations have to continually learn new skills to keep and get jobs? Or are we the first generation that will be taking classes and courses til retirement to stay employed?
When I finished grad school in 2006 I thought I was done. Little did I know.
I understand what you are saying. Seems like a crap shoot for all of us.
Makes me think did older generations have to continually learn new skills to keep and get jobs? Or are we the first generation that will be taking classes and courses til retirement to stay employed?
When I finished grad school in 2006 I thought I was done. Little did I know.
Well I think anyone should continue learning to keep up with the advancements in their field. I certainly do my best to stay up-to-date with my skills.
But what I was talking about is employers ditching those who make a living as graphic designers and were educated—whether through working or college—as graphic designers, and instead relying on employees trained in other fields, such as programming, sales, or marketing, to do that work.
It's great if someone wants to learn skills in a different area, and they should! But that should be their own prerogative. My problem is with employers combining jobs.
But what I was talking about is employers ditching those who make a living as graphic designers and were educated—whether through working or college—as graphic designers, and instead relying on employees trained in other fields, such as programming, sales, or marketing, to do that work.
It's great if someone wants to learn skills in a different area, and they should! But that should be their own prerogative. My problem is with employers combining jobs.
This. I actually come from the other way. I majored journalism and can write, edit and do basic design using InDesign, Photoshop, etc. I've always worked on print publications. I can totally do that side of it. But I'm not a marketer and I don't have a desire to be in marketing. I do think it's easier to pick up design skills - there are always community college classes in that. And you can make do. But no one offers a two-day course in marketing, you know?
This. I actually come from the other way. I majored journalism and can write, edit and do basic design using InDesign, Photoshop, etc. I've always worked on print publications. I can totally do that side of it. But I'm not a marketer and I don't have a desire to be in marketing. I do think it's easier to pick up design skills - there are always community college classes in that. And you can make do. But no one offers a two-day course in marketing, you know?
You think so? I think marketing is pretty easy. You can basically get a few good books on it from the library and pick it up. Its all strategy, nothing technical like design. I'd think design is much harder. Its all about narrowing the right target and getting the right messages to them so they can act.
I have been picking up on InDesign and its going well so far. But I don't expect to ever become a full fledged designer.
You think so? I think marketing is pretty easy. You can basically get a few good books on it from the library and pick it up. Its all strategy, nothing technical like design. I'd think design is much harder. Its all about narrowing the right target and getting the right messages to them so they can act.
I have been picking up on InDesign and its going well so far. But I don't expect to ever become a full fledged designer.
I guess that's true. But to me sales and marketing seem closely related and I've never been much of a sales person. And in my head, I still have a divide between journalism and sales - I know, I know. That's still 1990s thinking. LOL There are still a lot of jobs out there asking for people with pure journalism skills, which is good for me. But I definitely, definitely see a growing number that combine them.
You think so? I think marketing is pretty easy. You can basically get a few good books on it from the library and pick it up. Its all strategy, nothing technical like design. I'd think design is much harder. Its all about narrowing the right target and getting the right messages to them so they can act.
I have been picking up on InDesign and its going well so far. But I don't expect to ever become a full fledged designer.
Any kind of software skill is easier to teach than thinking, reasoning, and creative skills of the fields they support. So whether the software you are learning is graphic, word processing, database, GIS, or data entry--those computer skills are easier to learn than learning the broader subjects of 'design' or 'management' or 'analysis' which require the knowledge and reasoning skills and understanding to use the data those software programs support.
As an underlying principle, I agree that it's unfortunate when academic programs focus more on software skills than on the fundamental elements and principles of design (balance, focus, harmony, scale, rhythm, etc). But in general most companies aren't expecting marketing personnel to be designers. They just want their marketing department to be able to open up a proposal template (that was already developed by a designer) and know how to hit 'ctrl+D' to add an image, and maybe how to color correct a photo in the company's image bank.
I'm in marketing and focus moreso on Web Marketing. While I was applying for jobs and interviewing, the job description/requirements asked for experience in EVERY Adobe Program, HTML, CSS, Video Editing, SEO, Social Media, Writing Press Releases etc etc etc. Then when I get to the interview the employer doesn't know ANYTHING about these skills or the work it takes to learn each one them and just copied the job description. Places that are really knowledgable in these skills know that 1 person can't do design, programming, writing.
For Miss Crabcakes it seems like you're strength and desire is in writing. There's no such position as "marketer" now that marketing encompasses MANY aspects such as writing, design, online marketing. Search for job titles such as PR Specialist, Media Relations, Communications Specialist. Look at the skills needed for those positions and work on building a portfolio or writing samples, press releases, professional writing samples, presentations.
If you're a writer don't bother on trying to master Photoshop or graphic design. There are TONS of graphic designers out there competing for peanuts. You can hire a graphic designer in India for $2/hr that can run circles around these 50 year old supposed Professional designers. I know teenagers with no formal training that are better than professionals simply because they enjoy Photoshop. If you want to learn photoshop you better go balls out.
I'm in marketing and focus moreso on Web Marketing. While I was applying for jobs and interviewing, the job description/requirements asked for experience in EVERY Adobe Program, HTML, CSS, Video Editing, SEO, Social Media, Writing Press Releases etc etc etc. Then when I get to the interview the employer doesn't know ANYTHING about these skills or the work it takes to learn each one them and just copied the job description. Places that are really knowledgable in these skills know that 1 person can't do design, programming, writing.
For Miss Crabcakes it seems like you're strength and desire is in writing. There's no such position as "marketer" now that marketing encompasses MANY aspects such as writing, design, online marketing. Search for job titles such as PR Specialist, Media Relations, Communications Specialist. Look at the skills needed for those positions and work on building a portfolio or writing samples, press releases, professional writing samples, presentations.
If you're a writer don't bother on trying to master Photoshop or graphic design. There are TONS of graphic designers out there competing for peanuts. You can hire a graphic designer in India for $2/hr that can run circles around these 50 year old supposed Professional designers. I know teenagers with no formal training that are better than professionals simply because they enjoy Photoshop. If you want to learn photoshop you better go balls out.
Thanks for your post and a lot of it makes sense.
But as for focusing on writing-focused marketing jobs, there lies the issue. I see fewer and fewer of those and many more that want design experience. So I'm learning. I figure its probably better to dive in and gain the skills than to just hold on to what I know and possibly limit myself.
But there is no way I'll become a master at all Adobe products. I just want to learn to create basic marketing materials for print and web. That should at least get my foot in somewhere.
But as for focusing on writing-focused marketing jobs, there lies the issue. I see fewer and fewer of those and many more that want design experience. So I'm learning. I figure its probably better to dive in and gain the skills than to just hold on to what I know and possibly limit myself.
But there is no way I'll become a master at all Adobe products. I just want to learn to create basic marketing materials for print and web. That should at least get my foot in somewhere.
No offense Crabcakes but having the drive and being enthusiastic about not limiting yourself can only take you so far. Many people think that it will get their foot in the door but soon after it becomes apparent that they can't do the job simply because they weren't cut out for it in the first place. Which only results in disappointment with both the employer and the employee in that someone was hired for a job they shouldn't have been hired to do.
The point that I am making is that an ordinary individual shouldn't have to learn a dozen specialized skills in order to get an ordinary job. It's a sad fact that with the abysmal economic climate that we currently live in, that potential employers are taking advantage of people by essentially forcing them learn skills that they are simply not cut out for. I know that it's old fashioned for me to think that some people should stick to what they do best but consolidating skills is only going to result in mediocrity and perpetuate the race to the bottom we are all a part of.
Bumping this up again since its been nearly 2 year and I'm once again torn about it.
Originally I was torn as to whether I should try and learn some graphic design but as I didn't know where my career was going to go, I held off. Well, 2 years later its clear to me that my career is currently going nowhere and I need to make some decisions.
I've been working at an engineering firm for 1.5 years and was learning proposal writing, which I liked at first and was hoping to focus on and move upward. But lately my interest is waning as I'm doing fewer and fewer proposals and on much lower levels than my peers (who have years of exp).
I'm interested in going back into a regular marketing position but again, out of the few postings I see, they want years of graphics or web design exp. I'm interested in learning both or either but I'm still torn on the following:
1) I can't seeing learning and being good at both. Which would be more useful?
2) I've seen ads that want skills in InDesign, Photoshop, Dreamweaver, Illustrator, Qwark etc. These programs are expensive. I can't buy all of them. Also since I don't need them in my current job, where will I get experience and training? An 8-week class ain't gonna cut it. If I never use these skills, how do I retain what I learn?
3) Is it worth it? I'm currently trying to have a baby and the last thing I want to do was take classes right now. But I also need a better job so I can better support a child. I'd hate to try for this and still can't get a better job. But I guess everything is a gamble.
Thoughts?
If you really do not want to do that kind of level of design then perhaps you need to look at different types of marketing.
Product management, marketing communications, marketing analytics, etc. There are lots of marketing positions that will not be so heavily geared into design.
I can say that with the exception of marketing communications I am in the product management and analytics arena and I have never come across jobs that require any kind of design elements to them.
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