[porkchops]

JustOliver, on 13 February 2012 - 01:21 AM, said:

Does anybody reading this have a relevant professional qualification? Do you think going to Uni helps just because it proves you are at a similar level academically to everyone else who managed to complete university?? Has every job you've gone for in the industry only been interested in your portfolio or are they just as keen to see what certificates you've got (maybe got a 10m swimming one knocking about somewhere) Or what I'd really like to know is does anybody here have no qualifications at all and is still managing to make a living from web design...

I live in the US, so if you live in the UK I'm sure the situation is different.

I have a Bachelor's Degree in History and a Certificate in Graphic Design. I worked as a web developer for a year before switching to my current job of Interaction Designer at a SaaS company (read: not an agency).

I would never have been able to land either of these jobs without my Bachelor's degree. In the Boston area talent is of course important, but there is such a large pool of applicants that it makes setting yourself apart incredibly important. Also, like many college degrees, History is about thinking critically and learning how to solve problems. Since both design and development are about problem-solving, this was a huge boon. That's the real benefit I took away from college, but having a proven way to demonstrate a base level of knowledge is what employers look for.

I also would never have been able to land my design job without a pretty awesome portfolio. I learned the design principles in my certificate program (9 months of part time awesomeness), and before I understood those, my work was awful.

Could I have landed my job without any education? Probably, but I'd have to have demonstrated outstanding ability in design. Learning the basics of design (the principles, not the software) is incredibly challenging and is the result of a lot of practice, critique and doing some projects nearly a dozen times until I got it 'right'.

I know a lot of people will recommend not going to university, and that may be wise if you can really wow potential employers (and there are very few people who are just that good), but it certainly gives you a leg up when looking for a job and gives you the ability to command a larger salary. It's probably not for everyone, but I wouldn't dismiss it so readily.

[melpa]

...hmm, I've literally just started learning web design and after reading a lot of comments, it doesn't sound good career wise but too be honest I don't care. I'd rather earn 15k a year doing something I love rather than 30k a year doing something I hate and not wanting to get up in the morning like A LOT of people. I was wondering about qualifications about the industry and whether they were important or not. 80% of web designer/developers seem to say no i find but yet most jobs seemed to ask for them? anyways, by the time i become marketable enough to apply for a job in this field i will be 23-25 which seems old to start a career so it will be even harder for me to get a job! but oh well, at least if i enjoy it thats all that matters..

[SmuJ]

I’m struggling to see the point of your moan. You’re upset because some people don’t do as a good as a job as you do and charge less money for their services. Isn’t that life? People have used examples of builders etc.. But isn’t this true in most lines of work?

People want the best deal they can get for their money- naturally. Some people are happy to pay a bit more for a top notch service, others want the cheapest they can get- and usually expect miracles.

Don’t get me wrong I can totally understand your annoyance with inexperienced people who sell people websites, which effectively reduces your pond of fish. But if people are willing to pay these people less money for less of a service- is it really the “young designevelopers” fault? Or is it the board that don’t do enough to support certified web designers? Or is it the customer’s fault that’s willing to pay someone’s son not a lot of money?

Another thing I’d like to ask is where did you start? Did you never play around with a template? Mess around with some code, follow some online tutorials? Everyone has to start somewhere. If they love doing it then each to their own, but when a lot of people on here say “no qualifications are recognised” learn on your own, and that there’s no support for designers from the web standards lords then the young person is rather pushed into a corner. Pretty much like cutting their arms off then telling them to swim.

This post has been edited by SmuJ: 19 March 2012 - 10:51 PM

[DrRumack]

Great discussion. I'm 28 and a late comer on the scene. I got into Interactive Multimedia because I enjoyed dabbling in a cracked version of Photoshop and although 4 years later I have a Bachelor, I am absolutely overwhelmed every time I read a job advertisement for Graphic / Web Design.

I feel as if I've only touched the tip of the iceberg and I am light-years behind everyone else in this industry. I feel that I do have a good concept of visual design, however my overall programming skills are quite poor and my employment prospects within this industry are thus the same.

Someone mentioned earlier in the thread about people needing to understand and acknowledge their limitations. I think that that's very important and some very sound advice. However anytime I think along those lines it almost depresses me because would-be employers don't seem to want to hear that.... they want the ultimate designer to join their exciting new business venture (sic).

Anyway, I guess if I'm passionate enough about what I do or what I want to do I will eventually succeed.

[brightonmike]

SmuJ, on 19 March 2012 - 10:50 PM, said:

I’m struggling to see the point of your moan.

I think you miss the point entirely, if I'm honest.

[porkchops]

SmuJ, on 19 March 2012 - 10:50 PM, said:

I’m struggling to see the point of your moan. You’re upset because some people don’t do as a good as a job as you do and charge less money for their services. Isn’t that life? People have used examples of builders etc.. But isn’t this true in most lines of work?...

For a lot of us it has absolutely nothing to do with the financial aspect of things. I produce work that's very high quality and clients who I'm going to work with aren't going to be tempted to go with bargain basement quotes.

The problem is when less experienced people take on projects they can't handle. They could be charging $100,000 for all intents and purposes, but when the designer doesn't deliver something that the client needs and/or pays for, the reputation of design as an industry gets sullied.

A fair number of people already think we are charlatans or con artists (since, you know, we spend 20 minutes in Photoshop and charge thousands of dollars), and when a customer has a bad experience with someone who under delivers or worse, runs off with all their money, it only exacerbates this reputation.

Yeah, I suppose this happens in a lot of industries, but at least with your builder example people have some respect for builders because their work is obvious and their costs are obviously justified. With design it's so nebulous that it seems more mysterious, and things people can't understand or explain people feel is trickery.

This post has been edited by porkchops: 20 March 2012 - 12:25 PM

[brightonmike]

It's exactly the same as the problems the building trade has suffered - and it has. Dodgy builders, commonly known as cowboys, have ripped people off and produced poor work. This led to people having a general distrust towards all builders. Which is why you now have services like Checkatrade and NICEIC, because people need some way of establishing that they can trust a builder or an engineer.

And, I believe, this industry will suffer the same problems and need a similar solution.

[oakleaves]

Re: Are too many people trying to get a career in web design/development?

The problem is there isn't really any barrier to entry.

I also make vehicle graphics, in fact started that operation before the web design side of things. For that I needed to buy an expensive vinyl cutter, specialist software, large work desk (nearly 3metres long) along with an area / office room big enough to house it, ancilliary tools, vinyl, application tape.. etc etc.

What do you need to be a web designer?.. a computer and a (often knocked off) copy of Adobe suite and you are away.

Last week I was doing some wallpaper stripping at a relatives new house and a builder was there to fit a new bath. He told me how he also does web design on the side. Seems every man and his dog is at it. I just smiled and nodded.