If you’ve ever doodled or drawn a few things in your spare time, you might have an eye for the visual. Perhaps you’ve even taken a few courses in art and understand color theory. You like flicking through magazines and critiquing their designs. You can’t help but appreciate a really good-looking website, and wonder what host they’re using. You admire really good typography. You might even know the difference between leading and kerning. If any of these describe you and you’re looking to change careers, you might do well with getting a degree in graphic design.
However, if you don’t have time to go to a physical campus and dedicate your precious time to learning how to design, have no fear. Graphic design courses are also offered online, and you can even get a degree for your effort, which can change your entire career. Here are five reasons why you should get your graphic design degree online.
It’s more than just a design course. There’s nothing wrong with programs that offer only graphic design, but some graphic design courses teach you special skills outside your discipline. With your online program, you also are instructed on business, personal finance, and how to market yourself. You learn how to work with businesses, what companies are looking for, and how to creatively think within business environments. The classes will also cover the sciences, math, and humanities, so as to make you a well-rounded individual. As you branch out into different areas of study, such as the sciences, you make new connections that help you become more creative. You’ll take what you learned and build on that and create new and better practices, all through your comprehensive education.
You won’t have to do just a specific type of graphic design. At the end of your online program, you’ll have developed abroad range of skills that provide you with job opportunities in multiple areas. Some of them include illustration, web design, multimedia development, production artist, logo designer, and content developer. You’ll be more than eligible to work in the world of digital publishing and will have a variety of careers to choose from. The job opportunities will open up for you, and it can be very satisfying and gratifying.
Your schedule can be flexible. You can choose between evening or day classes. If you’re working a day job, it’s good to have a career supporting you as you work in the evenings to improve your skills. Or, if you’re working at night, you can dedicate your time during the day to your classes and homework. The flexibility is nice, especially if you find yourself often strapped for spare time.
The classes are small, leading to a more personal interaction with the teacher. This is great for feedback. Often at large universities students have to compete with one another to become the best. It becomes a dog-eat-dog environment and it’s hard to creatively grow. Through a more personal approach to education, you can get feedback on your work in a timely manner. You can approach your teacher whenever you have questions, and you’ll be able to learn from someone who likely has had years of experience, up close and personal.
You’ll stay current. The classes make sure to utilize the latest design programs and technology that’s available, which will be a huge bonus when you’re out looking for a job. By staying current in your classes you’ll learn how to be open to change and know how to rebrand when necessary. Your style will become more dynamic and flexible, and your creative juices will continuously flow because you’ll constantly be challenging yourself. Throughout your courses, you’ll be learning how to create more digitally interactive applications and utilizing the best kinds of design software.
Whatever you choose, an online degree in graphic design is an excellent option. You’ll learn how to view things with a more artistic eye, you’ll challenge yourself creatively, and you’ll improve your career opportunities in the process. Give it a shot.
Image Credits chrisli8020, CC0 1.0
