Struggling to get a non art job and considering graphic design

[NessIllustration]

@Griffin-McPherson You know, I keep seeing ads, videos and blog articles about "How to get work in graphic design" and "How to get consistent graphic design clients" and "How to charge more for your graphic design"...

My impression is that it's just as hard as illustration, just different.

So should you spend months/years learning an entirely new skillset to try and succeed in a job that you don't really want to succeed in, but is just a stopgap? That seems very circuitous and not very efficient to me.

You could try to get a non-physical job like call center agent, or virtual assistant.

And if you want to learn a new skill, I would suggest taking online classes in marketing. This would help you so much for your main goal in illustration! Both freelance and art shops can really benefit form marketing knowledge.

[von_Nimmermehr]

@NessIllustration Thats a good suggestion.

I just applied for an extensive marketing course to re-build my business from scratch.

If someone out there understands German, there is a Podcast called "kunst verkaufen Podcast" i really want to recommend. Episode 183 is an important one!

[Solomon Designs]

@Griffin-McPherson still a little confused here.

Are you saying graphic design is very separate from illustration?

Yes it’s very different. Graphic design can use illustration but is largely more about typography, photography, layout. Think brochures, website design, social media marketing that sort of thing. Illustration can be used but really isn’t the focus for most clients.

The main thing I’m wondering is would I really need 4 years of studying to become a graphic designer? And also, what is the job market like for graphic designers? Is it hard to find jobs, how competitive is it, are they good jobs?

The schooling for design is similar to illustration in that you can teach yourself. however how do you know what to teach yourself? Schooling is worth it if you need direction and also for meeting people in the industry and having the degree. The job market is mainly freelance such as getting your own clients ie web design, branding, logo design etc. Creative agency same stuff but for an agency with bigger clients and projects usually as well as better work flow. in house designers which would be for a company such as Walmart where you do design based on company guidelines. Everyone I graduated with has a job in graphic design. I got one from someone I know right when I graduated so I can’t speak to if it’s hard to get a job. I have a job in the digital marketing industry and it’s been worth it. I make a decent wage and work remote and just got promoted. I think it’s been worth it all though in my heart I’d rather illustrate.

[carolinebautista]

@von_Nimmermehr I keep meaning to finish the last ten minutes or so and that's why I delayed responding, but what I listened to I liked very much.
I thought I would let people know that at first he talks about something similar to what I found very useful in the book Atomic Habits, where you have habits that are part of your identity, rather than just something you do. So the book gives the example of those trying to quit smoking, an incredibly difficult thing to accomplish for many, that can say "no, thanks, I am not a smoker" when offered a cigarette instead of saying "I'm trying to quit." It was such a good book that if it relates even a little bit, I am happy to recommend it. Since the episode was something like "Is change possible?" this is one of the best books in English that addresses that.
More towards the end, when he talks about filling in all those things, like how you would ideally be, and how this ideal person would deal with problems, that was great too.

[von_Nimmermehr]

@carolinebautista i don't know the "atomic habits" (but i will take a look at it though ) but he is talking about the Book "Psycho Cybernetics".

It's not just about establishing habits but really change your self-image from inside. To become that person you want to be.
I think its actually really worth it to give it a read.

[ArtMelC]

@Griffin-McPherson I took on a UI/UX assignment from a small business client for their app and website to tide me over the first couple of months. It depends on the expectation, I personally think the standard level of small business flyers, email newsletters, programme booklets, social media posts, those are doable once you look at enough samples and pick out patterns of good design because they only need to look good on whatever format they are designed on.

However, I find the level of fiddling with technicalities required in the field to get good results (typography, kerning, spacing, padding, containers, where should this and that button be, especially when it comes to Digital design where you have to make sure things look ok on different browsers and devices) to be extremely soul-sucking that usually I don't have enough creative energy to work on illustration afterwards. I ended up having to limit the days where I can touch the UX project so I don't end up just doing that all the time.

That is just my personality. I have an artist friend who loves geeking out on graphic design minutiae so everyone is different.

[Griffin McPherson]

@ArtMelC did you have graphic design and UI/UX experience before taking on those jobs? I think I could actually really enjoy that kind of work because I like the kind of problem solving that comes with it but I figured I don’t really have the skills and familiarity with software necessary to handle those jobs.

[Mimi Simon]

A friend of a friend that went to my art school and studied fine art painting (he was pretty good but i guess didn't have the crazy drive you need to make a living at fine art) he went back to school part time just took a bunch of graphic design classes (no degree or anything) now he's doing well. he even designed the website for our art school (but then ended up firing them as a client because the were such a pain XD) anyway it can be done if thats what you decide you want. personally i hate messing with type and making everything all micro perfect and smooth.

[Jean Watson]

Hi Griffin. I was in non art jobs for years and finding them a bit soul destroying. About a decade ago I went and did a full-time intensive industry focused graphic design course at a private design college here in Australia (campus contact hours were 8am-5pm, 5 days a week). Shillington College - they have offices around the world. Brilliant course. When I did it there were only campus courses but I think there are now online courses - out of my group of students most are now successful full-time designers, some heading up great studios. There is absolutely no need to study for 4 years! So I took 3 months off work. Could also have done it over 1 year. Best decision I've ever made. I've been working as a freelance graphic designer ever since.

I'm now in a position where I'm returning to an earlier love - illustration - with a much more solid career behind me so I'm not in a state of panic about illustration needing to work immediately. I think graphic design and illustration can work hand in hand. Each one helps strengthen the other. Depending on the sort of design and illustration you do. Best of luck with it if you go down that path.

[ArtMelC]

@Griffin-McPherson I didn't have formal design qualifications but I did work in the industry for a while as a studio manager in a web design agency, so was familiar with the processes and industry terms as I often helped with Quality Control though I wasn't hands on with the software. I enjoyed the initial design process more when you are breaking down the user's requirements into task flows and logic than the actual red button vs green button, outline or no outline, rounded corner vs not. Hahaha.

If you want to try your hand on UI/UX design, you can learn Figma. Its free tier is good enough for most and is quickly becoming an industry standard. There are also tons of comprehensive tutorials on skillshare and youtube.