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Graphically Designed Careers - Adobe Flash Courses Could Help...

Do you recognise smart design when you see it - for example on a poster, a book cover, or a magazine - then turn your hobby into a career via a graphic design course. Lots of graphic designers have an artistic bent, and maybe studied art at school. But that's not to say you can't become one if drawing's not your strong point - you'll probably find you spend more time designing on the computer now than by hand.

Graphic design workers can be employed by large corporations or small specialist design houses. Many go freelance and work for themselves. If a university course is not appropriate, look at the many commercial training options available - essentially you probably learn a more commercial orientation at a design college. Equally you may decide that you'd like a bit of commercial training prior to attending uni, and you can get that by enrolling on a short portfolio course.

What Should I Look For In A Training College?

It's important to find the most suitable design college and course for your needs, as there are many to choose from. Check each college out thoroughly, as the quality of course material and teaching does not all conform to the same standard. You could start by digging into several of the companies featuring on this site (you wouldn't buy a house after visiting only two properties, so why risk your lifetime's career by skimping on the preliminary work?). By typing in the bookmarking shortcut 'ctrl d' you'll be able to find this page again easily to carry on researching. You'll be able to compare key factors on each site when you've familiarised yourself with enough.

A college's website will tell you a lot about the standard of work they're teaching. When design is their product, all their marketing must reflect that.

Secondly, are you looking for full-time in-centre training, a part-time course that blends distance learning with college attendance or an entirely home-based on-screen course? What kind of support is offered, and over what period of time? Does the fee quoted cover all aspects of the training? Which colleges give evidence of satisfied customers? Look for happy student comments.

Powerful Portfolios

Your design portfolio will be the biggest statement of the measure of your work. The quality of your designs will be the most significant thing you can present to the first company to employ you. All design colleges worth noting will help you to create your own showcase of designs and images, so a good look through their student presentations will show you a representative selection.

Is It Better To Have A Mac Or A PC?

To be a graphic design student today you must have proficient computer skills, as much of your training will require the use of software. You'll predominantly be taught how to design using Adobe CS4 applications such as Illustrator, but there will still be an aspect of print-based design to your training. Design colleges often favour using MACS as opposed to PC's. It's possible to obtain software versions for either though so you should be able to use whichever machine you feel most comfortable with.

To be a success as a commercial graphic designer, you will have to get good at working with clients and selling your ideas to them.

Even the image on the front of a box of washing powder is the result of graphic design. Through the use of font, imagery and shape in a pleasing format, graphic design work can 'speak' to an audience and provoke an emotional response in them for something that otherwise they might not have noticed.

Strikingly Different By Design

Designers have many tools in their arsenal - including colour, texture, composition, contrast, shape, repetition, white space, alignment and balance. Successful individuals will master these elements and present unique and stunning designs that can completely revolutionise the future of a company. Great graphics contribute to attracting, informing and retaining a large client-base - and that's something every business in the land is desperate for!

The right college will take you from where you are now to where you want to go. Always remember to keep your commercial head on - the course is a means to an end, not the end in itself!