crowdSPRING

asher27 · 28-Oct-09, 11:19pm

i think the usefulness of school depends on the quality of the teachers who work there. im in my third year of school, in my third school! the first one i went to claimed to have graphic design but that was a lie - i knew more than the teacher. however they did have a great painting program, so at least i got something out of that. the second school was a community college because the first school screwed up sending my transcripts to the third school. the second school had a decent painting program (well, at least one really good teacher who i had who exhibits all the time here in NYC) but a very lacking graphic design program. again i knew more than the teacher. now im at my third school - i havent been here long enough to comment on the quality, however some teachers are extremely talented and good at teaching. ive learned a lot from my type class, and i hope to learn more in future classes.

however, i think if i were to start all over i would of gone to a great school first because for 3 years i didnt learn shit in graphic design. everything i learned was self taught, and to this day at least 90% of my skills are self taught or borrowed from my fine arts education. i often want to drop out of school because expensive and too late to go anywhere better, not to mention i find the non art/design classes to be absolutely pointless. if i wanted to read the classics i could read them on my own time, rather than be set to a schedule that doesnt go with the speed of my reading. i honestly dont need to know specific scientific equations and technical theories to know that global warming is bad, duh, if the world gets too hot it will flood and most of fellow manhattanites will be screwed! but i will not cause im definitely 100ft + above sea level.

i think someone who is dedicated and already has talent (which cannot be taught) can teach themselves skills and techniques via the internet. everything you need is on here if you look - art galleries, design galleries, design tutorials for specific skills, business theory and practice, and free writings on design theory by those who already know what they are doing. to supplement, going to a library to read about design and its history is also possible.

eesdesigner · 29-Oct-09, 1:24am

One thing that is important in the education or self taught, is critic, constructive critic.

I remember a teacher that is extrmely critic, also remember how I hate them because not matter how much work I have put in a work, he always find sonmething to point.
Now a lot of time latter I know that he was rigth.

After review some of my early or student work I realize, what the hell I was thinking.....

A good critic help you to step next level.... if you can handle that.

asher27 · 29-Oct-09, 8:18am

Quote:

Originally Posted by eesdesigner

One thing that is important in the education or self taught, is critic, constructive critic.

I remember a teacher that is extrmely critic, also remember how I hate them because not matter how much work I have put in a work, he always find sonmething to point.
Now a lot of time latter I know that he was rigth.

After review some of my early or student work I realize, what the hell I was thinking.....

A good critic help you to step next level.... if you can handle that.

referring the 'if you can handle that' bit:

it drives me absolutely bonkers when i see shit posted up for critique and only good things are said about it. that completely disregards the purpose of what a critique is - to point out the good, to point out the bad, and how to make the bad better. today i had a critique in my type class, the project involved making a flyer using only the copy provided and basic geometric shapes to order it. some people did really great stuff... others did microsoft wordart-like work full with distorted text; reflections; repeating, meaningless text; and decorative geometric shapes rather than functional ones. it was like all the things that could add up to a bad design in a whole bunch of iterations from quite a few people. and not a single clearly critical comment was made on any of these works. they were terrible, and one of the students does this type of awful work all the time. how are they to learn if they dont know its wrong? it takes a painfully honest critique to grow as an artist/designer. had i not gone through quite a few of those myself in the past i wouldnt be where i am today with my work.

its like schools these days are too polite. i want people to rip me apart if my work deserves it.

carlovillamin · 29-Oct-09, 10:41am

Well, technically, Design School is important. That's why it still exists and is part of the industry. It would have not survived if there's no need for it. However, if an individual believes that he can knows or can learn a lot more that what his school teach or that It is much better for him to explore outside the school then school is not important in that case. Anyway, learning is an endless process regardless of school. As long as we're curious, we are enrolled.

vibes35 · 29-Oct-09, 5:08pm

I agree with much of what has been said and disagree with some also.

Personally and what I have recommended to many aspiring artists is to go to school. Of course practical knowledge and real world experience offer a schooling in its own right- with that said schooling can help add that edge by understanding layout principles, balance, usage of elements and many other general rules.

Once those tried and tested rules are understood it is easy to see when to keep within the framework or break from the mold.

I see many talented software users who simply make errors because the foundation is not there.
truth be told even a non design individual can look at a composition or image and discern that something is off or not right without pin pointing exactly what it is - they just know it does not look right! To the trained eye it becomes obvious!

Can this be learned without formal schooling? Absolutely! If you have the time and means to attend school for this I say do it! You will not be the worse off!

febrisaka · 3-Nov-09, 9:08am

hi all i'm febrisaka A.K.A febdogg

i think design school is important....because you must know what any element in design theory...but of course you must learn by yourself for your craft....

sorry if my engslih not so good

best regads
www.febdogg.blogspot.com

DC Design · 3-Nov-09, 10:20am

You only have to look at the portfolios of people who say design school isn't that important to confirm how important it is!!

angrypuppy · 5-Nov-09, 10:56pm

I Donsn't think its got that much to do wit any thang . It Aint like you gotta spell. Just makes some piktures!

Seriously.I wish i had the time to go. Maybe once the kid is done with his busy activities , that also keep me busy, I can then take a few hours a couple nights a week. I know i could learn a lot! Anyone can.

28-Oct-09, 11:19pm	#11
asher27 cS Senior Member Join Date: Jul-08 Posts: 311	i think the usefulness of school depends on the quality of the teachers who work there. im in my third year of school, in my third school! the first one i went to claimed to have graphic design but that was a lie - i knew more than the teacher. however they did have a great painting program, so at least i got something out of that. the second school was a community college because the first school screwed up sending my transcripts to the third school. the second school had a decent painting program (well, at least one really good teacher who i had who exhibits all the time here in NYC) but a very lacking graphic design program. again i knew more than the teacher. now im at my third school - i havent been here long enough to comment on the quality, however some teachers are extremely talented and good at teaching. ive learned a lot from my type class, and i hope to learn more in future classes. however, i think if i were to start all over i would of gone to a great school first because for 3 years i didnt learn shit in graphic design. everything i learned was self taught, and to this day at least 90% of my skills are self taught or borrowed from my fine arts education. i often want to drop out of school because expensive and too late to go anywhere better, not to mention i find the non art/design classes to be absolutely pointless. if i wanted to read the classics i could read them on my own time, rather than be set to a schedule that doesnt go with the speed of my reading. i honestly dont need to know specific scientific equations and technical theories to know that global warming is bad, duh, if the world gets too hot it will flood and most of fellow manhattanites will be screwed! but i will not cause im definitely 100ft + above sea level. i think someone who is dedicated and already has talent (which cannot be taught) can teach themselves skills and techniques via the internet. everything you need is on here if you look - art galleries, design galleries, design tutorials for specific skills, business theory and practice, and free writings on design theory by those who already know what they are doing. to supplement, going to a library to read about design and its history is also possible.

29-Oct-09, 1:24am	#12
eesdesigner cS Member Join Date: Jun-09 Posts: 96	One thing that is important in the education or self taught, is critic, constructive critic. I remember a teacher that is extrmely critic, also remember how I hate them because not matter how much work I have put in a work, he always find sonmething to point. Now a lot of time latter I know that he was rigth. After review some of my early or student work I realize, what the hell I was thinking..... A good critic help you to step next level.... if you can handle that.

29-Oct-09, 10:41am	#14
carlovillamin cS Member Join Date: Mar-09 Posts: 4	Well, technically, Design School is important. That's why it still exists and is part of the industry. It would have not survived if there's no need for it. However, if an individual believes that he can knows or can learn a lot more that what his school teach or that It is much better for him to explore outside the school then school is not important in that case. Anyway, learning is an endless process regardless of school. As long as we're curious, we are enrolled.

29-Oct-09, 5:08pm	#15
vibes35 cS Member Join Date: Dec-08 Posts: 126	I agree with much of what has been said and disagree with some also. Personally and what I have recommended to many aspiring artists is to go to school. Of course practical knowledge and real world experience offer a schooling in its own right- with that said schooling can help add that edge by understanding layout principles, balance, usage of elements and many other general rules. Once those tried and tested rules are understood it is easy to see when to keep within the framework or break from the mold. I see many talented software users who simply make errors because the foundation is not there. truth be told even a non design individual can look at a composition or image and discern that something is off or not right without pin pointing exactly what it is - they just know it does not look right! To the trained eye it becomes obvious! Can this be learned without formal schooling? Absolutely! If you have the time and means to attend school for this I say do it! You will not be the worse off!

3-Nov-09, 9:08am	#16
febrisaka cS Member Join Date: Oct-09 Posts: 1	hi all i'm febrisaka A.K.A febdogg i think design school is important....because you must know what any element in design theory...but of course you must learn by yourself for your craft.... sorry if my engslih not so good best regads www.febdogg.blogspot.com

3-Nov-09, 10:20am	#17
DC Design cS Member Join Date: Oct-09 Posts: 1	You only have to look at the portfolios of people who say design school isn't that important to confirm how important it is!!

5-Nov-09, 10:56pm	#18
angrypuppy cS Member Join Date: Mar-08 Posts: 33	I Donsn't think its got that much to do wit any thang . It Aint like you gotta spell. Just makes some piktures! Seriously.I wish i had the time to go. Maybe once the kid is done with his busy activities , that also keep me busy, I can then take a few hours a couple nights a week. I know i could learn a lot! Anyone can.