Introduction
This is probably the most commonly asked question among the junior designers trying to take the big step into the design industry; or any creative field for that matter, whether it be graphic design, digital design, interior design or photography. It is generally thought – especially by those trying to get into the industry – that you’ll never ever get your break if you haven’t got a piece of paper worth three years of your life and a hell of a lot of money. In all honestly, I can answer the question of this chapter in a single two letter word; no!
You definitely do not need a degree. I haven’t got a degree. I know others who haven’t got a degree, all of whom are doing well for themselves and are taking the same career path as others who do have a degree, and earning the same amount of money or, you guessed it, more. Why do they earn more? Because they didn’t spend three years of their life spending money whilst at University rather than earning it – those that didn’t go have had a further three years in the industry, and experience means so much more than education.
Think of it like this…
University
You go to Uni, you get taught things (remember, all of these things can be self-taught from the incredibly huge archive of information on the web and in books, as well as tips and tricks being picked up whilst on the job) whilst paying a lot of money to be taught the aforementioned ‘things’. You probably pay for somewhere to live whilst you only have a weekend or evening job (if you’re unaware of how much this costs, you won’t be earning anywhere near enough to live, and therefore live off your student loan), and, in my personal opinion, waste a fair few years of what could be the start of your career.
Don’t be fooled though, it does have it’s advantages… as well as it’s disadvantages!
Advantages of going to University
- You get taught the correct way by professionals.
- You get to build up a strong portfolio of work.
- You get to meet other people heading into the same industry.
- You get to make contacts in the field, which could lead to job opportunities.
- You have the opportunity to pick a superb design course.
Disadvantages of going to University
- It costs a lot of money.
- You’ll come out in debt.
- It could hold you back (i.e. learning things you already know).
- You could spend the 2-4 years in work gaining real life experience instead.
No University
Instead of going to Uni to get a degree in design, you instead look for a job (or become self-employed). If you feel you’re not strong enough to do either of these two things yet, you learn. Who says you need a teacher to learn? I certainly didn’t – which you can read all about in the ‘About the Author‘ section. I worked my way up right from the very bottom, taught myself what I needed to know, and am now earning what a designer with 10+ years experience would normally earn (I only have 2 years experience) whilst all my designer friends from college are still at Uni – forking out closer to the amount I’m earning from loans rather than pocketing it!
Advantages of not going to University
- You get to learn at your own pace from online resources and books.
- You get to prove to yourself and others that you’re motivated.
- You get to work on your own initiated projects, rather than set tasks.
- You get to earn money, rather than spending it.
- You get to gain real life experience.
- It doesn’t cost you an arm and leg.
Disadvantages of not going to University
- It can be very difficult to find work.
- There’s no one at hand to ask for help.
- You need to be motivated enough to prove to an employee you’re the right person for the job.
So, what now?
I think 95% of people reading this will agree with me that the second option (not going to Uni) sounds better, not only because you get to get stuck in with real clients, but also because you can start earning, living your life, and you won’t have a student loan hanging over you and holding you back for the next several years – or sometimes even longer! The ‘Uni life’ years are supposedly the best years of your life, but let’s face it, you can go out and party harder if you’re earning money if that is one of the main things about Uni that appeals to you, which if my friends are anything to go by, definitely is. Don’t let something so small change what will probably be one of the biggest decisions of your life: Uni or work? I’m sure you’re asking yourself this question over and over again…
At the end of the day, this is completely down to you. I personally didn’t go, and with a lot of hard work (although probably no more than what you’d have to put in at Uni to get the grades you ‘need’) I’ve become successful – you can, too. I did however go to college and study for A-Levels. Not a single person has ever seen them, and the chances are it’s going to stay that way!
Do be warned, though. If you want to go into full time work instead of going to University, it’s a lot of hard work if you haven’t had previous clients! Your best bet is to make up personal projects (even if you pretend they’re for another company) to build up your portfolio. Employers don’t mind this – you’re using your imagination and creative skills, if it’s good work, it’ll impress them, whether a real-life ‘product’ or not! We’ll talk more about this later on in the book…
What you need to do from this point on is weigh out good and bad points for yourself. The above advantages and disadvantages are my views, the ones I wrote out when I was deciding whether or not I should go to Uni; the main thing you need to know is that you do not need a degree to get into the field, regardless of whether it can make it easier or not.
What do others think?
Below are a few stories from designers of all kinds who are currently working in the industry, some of whom have been to University, some who went and dropped out, and some who didn’t go at all, some have found their education very helpful, others haven’t at all!
Our experiences…
Nik Gill
Graphic Designer
When I finished university 11 years ago, the design industry was a very different beast to now. There were far more large agencies and less mid sized ones. There were also far less freelancers than there is now. It was very difficult for someone who had not been to college and university to teach themselves about design as there were no free online tutorials or resources available. My degree enabled me to get a job straight from university without even applying as my employers were looking exclusively in college and university courses for their next juniors.
Over the years my degree has opened many doors for me as I went to one of the best design courses in the north of England and getting in was difficult. Getting on to this course and passing it was seen as a seal of approval at the time. Few designers had online portfolios and with no real way of showing designs prior to interview, a beautifully designed letterhead and a university qualification was the key to getting an interview.
These days I’m not sure my degree would be as useful, there are far more free online resources to learn new skills and the letterhead and the qualification are now only one of the ways to get an interview. These days your portfolio site does the talking.
Alan Horne
Web Designer
I believe that in today’s market, a degree is nothing more than a way of getting a chance at an interview, however it is all dependant on the type of job you go for, if it’s with a large company who maybe only have a handful of people dealing with the web end of their business, then it’s possible that first and foremost they look for qualifications. If it’s a digital agency your looking to start with, they are very much geared towards your skills and your past work; having a stand-out portfolio means a lot more than a degree!
In a previous experience my degree had definitely landed me an interview (it was a pre-requisite in some cases), but when at interview they discussed my previous work and it was down to my portfolio that I was actually hired.
For me University was more about me discovering what I wanted to do with my career instead of what I was learning. They tried to cover so many topics I only ended up with the basics in everything, rather than being an expert in one particular area. I learned more in six months in my first job than I did my whole time at University.
If you know you want to be a designer then hone your talents, learn the software and get yourself a top notch portfolio. If I knew what I know now 5-6 years ago I would have never attended University and, if anything, I would have done a HND at most. In summary, a few years ago a degree was a must, but in todays market your talent is far more important.
Dan Sherratt
Web Designer
I’m coming to the end of my degree now in something which has proven to be irrelevant for a career in design. The subject matters taught were often outdated and it was very much more conceptual. HTML 4, VB and ColdFusion are key examples of the outdated technologies I was taught.
To succeed as a web designer I believe you don’t need a degree. The saying goes “a picture is worth a thousand words” this is particularly necessary for the industry as with a better portfolio it is more likely you’ll get the job.
However, a degree can prevail in some areas. I took a placement year which allowed me to get a wealth of knowledge but with little pressure. This then allowed me to move onto bigger & better things which eventually landed me a job with a fantastic creative agency.
Livia Lucie
Graphic Designer
I never really had much interest in going to Uni, the main reason being the fact that I was sick and tired of sitting there listening to someone else talk in order to learn for another 3-4 years. I always found that if I had a general interest in something and was left to my own devices I’d learn things quicker and in my way, not to mention saving a huge amount of money.
Once I was done with college I decided to take the plunge and start up my own business instead. I had done bits here and there whilst in college but nothing major, however I did know that if I marketed myself properly I could get the clients and bring the money in. So that’s what I went away and did, on September 4th 2009 I officially registered and started off Three 29 Design. Of course at first the income was low but it did build up gradually to a nice amount. With freelance the income will go up and down and you’ll never be too sure of the amount coming in but as long as you keep an average whilst aiming higher you should be fine.
I won’t lie, I do often wonder what would have been different if I did go to Uni for a design course but then I see some people with BA HONs who do extremely basic and unimaginative looking work, you’d definitely expect more after 4 years of solid education! Then on the other hand you have people with mind blowing work. In the end the people with mind blowing work would probably be creating that sort of stuff whether they went to Uni or not. Is a piece of paper worth £9k+ when your portfolio should speak for your quality, versatility and style? Also once they have their degree they need to find a job, and many design jobs require 2 years industry experience… where do you get that from when you’re fresh out of University?
Pascal Raabe
Multidisciplinary Designer
I’m both degree educated and self-taught. I studied a Foundation Diploma and subsequently two years of a Graphic Design degree which I left because I felt that it was holding me back more than pushing me forward. I spent the last semester before dropping out in Switzerland studying Visual Communication. It was a very good experience but it also helped me to understand that a return to the course in Bristol – where students were teaching the lecturers more than the other way round – would have been a waste of time and money.
So I decided to take a year out and devise my own course, learning all the things that I always wanted to learn but was never given the chance at University because they kept us busy expressing ourselves with clichéd posters, pamphlets, manifestos and ‘zines’. Teaching myself required a lot of energy, discipline and determination. I picked projects from competitions which lead to more freelance work; I pursued internships in the UK and abroad, part-time work in the creative sector that I am interested in, and I set my own personal projects that helped me to address new skills that I wanted to acquire. I learnt through tutorial sites, books, podcasts, a lot of experimentation and through connecting with people on Twitter and in real life. I learnt from teachers who I admire for their knowledge and skill, not for their academic title or position. During this self-directed year I didn’t make a fortune but I earned enough to survive.
We are entering a life-long learning process as soon as we take our first steps in this world. There is no right or wrong way, you do not need a degree to be a great designer. The most successful designers are those who – as Andy Rutledge aptly put it – “steal” their education. It’s the entrepreneurial spirit, self-determination, discipline and passion that gets you a good degree – the same traits will make you a successful self-taught designer. In other words: if you do well at University, chances are you would’ve done well without.
As a result of these educational experiences I’m now involved in creating a platform to encourage open education. You can be a part of it too; Open Design School.
Caleb Kimbrough
Digital Designer
On the topic of whether or not you need a college degree to be a successful designer, I usually lean more towards the “If you’re talented, you’re talented and you don’t need a degree to prove it” side. Ultimately though, I think it depends on your own, personal learning style. Some people absorb more knowledge when being taught in a classroom full of peers, others learn more while on their own void of any distractions.
Personally, I attended college as a general design major for a year and a half before I started stumbling upon all the various design blogs that started popping up 4-5 years ago. I quickly found out that I could learn much faster by teaching myself from these newfound resources, not to mention they were teaching up-to-date ideas and topics unlike the university. I ended up ditching college, started learning and designing and never looked back.
There’s a massive wealth of knowledge on the internet that grows every single day, and it’s all at your disposal for the price of your internet bill. Which, I can guarantee you, is much cheaper than college tuition.
Krishna Solanki
Web Designer
From a young age I have always been the “arty farty” type but never took it seriously until having graduated with a degree in Business Information Systems. At the time, I only saw my creative side to be a “spare time” hobby.
Business Information Systems is clearly not a design degree; however some aspects of the course were design related and those design related aspects of the course were the key elements that made me realise I really wanted a career in the design industry.
At this point I decided I wanted to teach myself everything I needed to know to pursue this career, and thus the motivation and competitive side in me came out in full force. Sometimes I look back and think I could have achieved what I have achieved now a lot soon than I actually have. Although I don’t have a degree in design specifically, I don’t regret not having done one. In fact, I am proud that I have achieved what I have with just self motivation and hard work and absolutely no education in this specific field!
Chris Spooner
Graphic/Web Designer
My degree course was slightly different to the route the majority of design students take. Instead of choosing a University I actually chose a two-year HND course at a nearby college. This particular course was in Multimedia Design, which not only covered the basics of Graphic Design, but also included website design, video, audio and a spot of animation. After I’d completed this course I had the opportunity to stay on for a ‘top-up’ year to convert my HND into a full Bachelor of Arts with Honours.
At the time I didn’t really know what area of design I wanted to focus on, so the main advantage of the Multimedia course was that wide variety of topics. A typical University course would have just focused on one particular specialism, which may or may not have been something I enjoyed.
I’ve always said that the majority of the skills I now use on a daily basis were learnt through self-teaching after my education, but I think the insight into all the different aspects of design really helped me to narrow my focus on exactly what I wanted to do.
I definitely think you can be successful without going to University, especially if you’re motivated to self-teach and learn everything about the design industry through your own enthusiasm, but if you have the opportunity to go it’s certainly worth considering. There’s opportunities and little snippets of information available through educational courses that can really set you on the fast track to landing the perfect job.
Nice article Callum and I’m inclined to agree that most people, myself included, would answer ‘no’ as well. If I were looking to employ someone the absolute most important thing is for them to have a good portfolio, not only showing finished work, but also giving an indication of their strategies and thought processes. Then, almost as important for me, is personality – you have to feel that you can ‘get on with’ that person and that they have the right character for the job. Are they passionate, self-motivated, nice even (there’s nothing wrong with being nice – it goes a long way in my book)?…
That said, I did do a degree in graphic design and I don’t regret it one bit. Like Nik I graduated about 11 years ago (god I feel old saying that) and for me the course was about being able to learn and experiment in a safe environment. At the time ‘web design’ was only just starting to find its feet and wasn’t really considered a career path. In fact I didn’t even really know what web design was (my first experience of ‘interactive design’ was using Macromedia Director in one of my final year projects) and it certainly wasn’t taught on my course – everything I know is completely self-taught off my own back, so in that way we’re very similar.
I suspect that those who have the drive and motivation to succeed as a completely self-taught designer are the very same people who would equally excel at university if they happened to choose that route – at the end of the day it comes down to a question of character and motivation.
Good comment Matt, got to agree with you, the industry has changed so quickly, even in the 3 years I have been working in it.
I also used Macromedia Director in my 2nd year of Uni, I thought it was great and far easier to use than Flash, but that being said, we were using it on the course, when it was no longer a product that was made.
That’s another downside to these courses, the industry is changing so much, that while they are teaching stuff, it can already be out of date.
Although I didn’t go to Uni, at College we had to use really slow PC’s, and the most up to date piece of design software on it was Fireworks… The Macromedia version! This was a couple of years (at least) after Adobe bought them out. It’s terrible really!
I have to agree, we only upgraded to CS3 in my last year of Uni and we were still being taught to use Macromedia Director which by then was an extinct peice of software.
That’s awful lol, especially if you’re paying for it!
Outstanding! This really is one of the most beneficial blogs I’ve ever read on this subject.
If you keep writing I’ll keep reading. Thanks for the post.
I attended college & received a BFA in Grahic Design. However, I don’t think you need an actual degree in order to be a designer (or get a job as a designer). I do think it is important to have an understanding of the fundamentals of design, typography and color. There are many ways of gaining this knowledge outside of attending university, but it is always a good thing to be educated on a subject in which you plan to make a career. The more knowledge you have, the more successful you will be – no matter what you do!
Despite the fact that I have an actual BFA from an art school, most of what I have learned (and apply in my current work) was obtained outside the classroom. Most of what we ever learn is based on real life and “on the job” experience.
Having said that, it’s never a bad thing to be knowledgeable about current trends, methods & resources in a specific field. However an education is received (specifically in the creative arts field), it is going to be valuable. The key is to get the education. Know your stuff. The more you know, the more it shows & the more likely you will be to succeed.
Just my .02
I think one of the biggest advantages of the design industry is that as long as you have some kind of software, PS, Fireworks,Pixelmator you can at least practice and create some kind of portfolio.
I think the best way to learn something is to just dive in and do it, degree or no degree.
Nice post, albeit slightly biased! I in first year Uni doing Graphic Design. I have thought about this a lot, but decided it is the best way to meet like-minded people, and talk to tutors who are still professionally designing, so know what they are talking about. Having said that, all university is academic, so you will learn more than just how to design a logo, and give more depth to your work, and so be able to charge more – this comes with essays and lectures, which aren’t for everyone.
You have to expect to learn most of your technical skill in your own time, though… Uni is about the conversations you have with tutors/peers, and criticism on how you can improve.
If I didn’t go to Uni, I would end up a Mac/Photoshop monkey, stuck designers logos and leaflets…
Just reading this article and the view points from the current working designers has been helpful than the balance advise that i have been getting from friends and family members, as i’ve been going through a long term of trying to decide whether i should go to university or not
this articles has been very helpful coming from people that have experience university and the industry as graphic designers and understands the advantages and the disadvantages. THANK YOU
It’s a pleasure, Obie! Really glad you have found the article useful. I keep meaning to get around to writing more of the book, but I’m just so busy at the moment it’s hard to find the time!
Many thanks!