The Tribune

THE ART OF GRAPHIX

By Deidre Bastian

Do you have the ability to self-teach? Are you a better learner in or out of a class? It is a long-standing debate, but despite most designers I know never going to school, their work is incredible, matching others who did. So what? Perhaps it is an innate thing.

I recently received an e-mail from someone who was interested in becoming a graphic designer. They wanted to know if they should go to school, or if it was possible to learn on their own. My answer in short was: “Yes BUT......” Let’s take a look at some of the positives and negatives of being self-taught or schooled, and ways you can teach yourself.

The Pros and Cons of being Self-Taught

Pro: An advantage is that you can decide your pace of learning, along with focusing on which skills you want to acquire, as you are in charge of your time and training.

Con: I agree that you need some natural sense of design, but a downside to teaching yourself is that you are never confident in your natural sense of design, and will not necessarily know if what you are doing is accurate.

Also, if a ‘professional artist’ says your design is no good, your sense of confidence will immediately collapse. Subsequently, if another designer likes your design, your confidence improves

With self-education, you will likely become a product of those you choose to learn from and tend to use their strengths, weaknesses, preferences and interpretations. Ultimately, be cautious when choosing to teach yourself. as your personality may not be one to weather well, as we all learn differently.

There are three types of learners: ‘Visual Learners’, who learn best from visual learning aids such as diagrams. ‘Auditory Learners’, who learn through listening and struggle to ingest information in written form; and ‘Tactile/Kinesthetic Learners’, a hands on approach, who actually does the task. So I guess it is a good idea to think about what sort of learner you are before you start, but never give up, as you can only get better if you keep practicing.

Ways you can Teach Yourself

Print and eBooks: There are a multitude of free and inexpensive eBooks on design that can be downloaded, so you can learn at your pace. Here are two I recently discovered: ‘Outstanding Free EBooks on Design’ and ‘12 Useful and Free Downloadable Web Design Books’. Practice makes perfect, so make mistakes while practicing.

Tutorials – I cannot begin to list the plethora of tutorials that are available online, but try as many as you possibly can digest. Bookmark, then visit regularly. But always examine the date the articles and tutorials were published, as some are outdated from five to seven years ago.

w3schools.com – If there is a single resource to recommend, this would be the one. As the ‘largest web developer site on the net’, it is probably the most reputable. Everything you possibly need - from tutorials to glossaries to examples to certification - is available.

Google – Google is your friend, so use it to find everything you want to learn about design. There is good and bad information, so be sure to check resources carefully for reputation and legitimacy before committing yourself to their tutelage.

Pros and Cons of Classroom Teaching

Pros: One strong pro for receiving a degree is it offers more ‘respect’, since some companies want to see that piece of paper. Additionally, I think design principles are better learned in a classroom setting, and expose you to endless critiques that are difficult to gain on your own.

 Schooling does indeed help, but it does not replace talent and work. I smile when I observe very bad designs by people who list tons of certifications. Yet these only state that they have studied the curriculum and passed the exams. Certificates are good, but if you lack discipline and talent, attending even 10 schools may not solve your problem.

Nevertheless, my views are on the fence, as a college education is an invaluable investment, but most of the stuff I’ve learned was on my own compared to what was taught in school. All the same, I knew I had the natural abilities to continue learning on my own, which afforded me a deeper understanding about the techie stuff.

Would I go back for more education? Perhaps, but presently I am maxed out. I read every day and still make every effort to keep abreast of the latest technology. Furthermore, I have great friends and resources. Graphic and Web design means ‘life-long learning’, so not staying on top of your game is detrimental to this field.

I am still learning, as this is a field you can never stop learning in, but attending seminars and webinars are great substitutes for classes. You will hear from more real-world accomplished people than you ever would at most colleges.

Learn, work, learn, work, learn etc. Masons did not build walls by reading about bricks. At some point you have to build wall upon wall upon wall. Schools may give you projects, but there is nothing like the unseen problems and solutions of real world work.

Unquestionably, after years of designing, I still run into situations that I have never encountered, yet I continue the journey. I have been doing this for an insanely long time, and the best advice I can offer novices is not to panic; there’s a lot to learn, and once you get past the basic (which is a steep climb), the rest is super easy.

Finally, when you start working as a designer, do not forget to give back. Volunteer, beat down doors, intern, listen and learn. Whenever you meet another designer, listen and learn. It is amazing what free advice and teachings other artists can offer. I think no one can know it all. Until we meet again, fill your life with memories rather than regrets. Enjoy life and stay on top of your game!

NB: Columnist welcomes feedback at deedee21bastian@gmail.com

Ms Bastian is a trained graphic designer. She has trained at institutions such as: Miami Lakes Technical Centre, Success Training College, College of the Bahamas, Nova Southeastern University, Learning Tree International, Langevine International and Synergy Bahamas