My friends doing graphic design said experience is more important

>>305136
Experience is more important than education once you know best practices, tools, and what constitutes good design (and have a portfolio that can showcase ALL of that). Do you know those all of those things? Do you have that portfolio locked down with more than three examples? If not, learn it. Get a degree if that's what it takes

Your goal should always be: Leave your employer, potential client, etc. with no questions about your ability to execute on their vision (if you're lucky, your vision)

A piece of paper (degree) can sometimes help prove you know your shit if the portfolio if your portfolio is lacking

I regret getting my degree.
My course mostly taught me how to use tools like Adobe CC and barely taught me how to apply them in real life, i had teachers that where out of date and didn't know much about current trends and aesthetics, but this might be diffrent from school to school.
Also, the course takes too long, you can learn everything in a year, the rest is just a money grab from these schools.

If i was getting into Design now, i would get my technical training on Adobe CC from Lynda.
For design theory it's more complicated because most courses online are mostly technical people teaching, you just need to keep up with the current trends and make similar stuff to what other people are doing.
After this you just need to get an internship with a good portfolio to get a job later.


>>305139
>A piece of paper (degree) can sometimes help prove you know your shit if the portfolio if your portfolio is lacking

But i also agree with this, most old school people / designers (bosses) still think that this is something that needs to be taught in a school even if you have a very good portfolio and you know your stuff, so getting a degree is probably still the best idea for now.

>>305139
No portfolio, so I'll get the degree.

>>305142
I think the teachers at my school are pretty young.

Looks like I'll go get that degree then.

>>305136
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>>305136
>probably a state uni.
Hoe don't do it.

You GOTTA, and I mean, GOTTA, learn graphic design at an art school.
Here is what they won't tell you: design classes aren't all that important in the end, anyone can learn to set type, write a design brief, mix colors.

What you really have to look for in a design education is inspiring classmates with connections to the art and the the intellectual scene, and a visually-rich environment that fosters creativity. You're not getting that at a general uni which spends all its budget on STEM labs.

>>305142
this person right here is an exact example of the kind of degree/ college experience you don't want.

>B-but the Yale Design MFA !
Okay, a few non-art school have exceptional art communities. That's the exception though, not the norm.

I would also add that experience like >>305142
prove that design education is in the middle of a small crisis. One my teachers laughed off those schools that "teach you how to use a piece of software, when they should be teaching you how to think about the world around you". At the same time, even though my design school's curriculum was very thinking-oriented a lot of students still felt like the teachers were out of touch (i was one of them, actually). Every design school has its issues I think, even some people at RISD say they hate it there.

Still, you must avoid at all costs those "We'll teach you how to use Photoshop" programs. Even from a pure money perspective it's a terrible idea, because software expertise earn peanuts compared to product design or creative direction. And if you wanna learn these disciplines, design school is where you gotta be.

I go to a university that specialises in print design, it is absolutely worth it

They don't give a fuck what software you use, and encourage you to mix media as much as possible and make your ideas good. It's not about just a flashy Photoshop job here

I am actually learning design principles here. If your course isn't forcing you to improve your communication skills, then quit

If you have a portfolio of great work, even if it's just a few very well developed pieces, the lack of a degree won't matter.

If you don't have good work to show, the degree won't help.

If you're asking whether investing 2-4 years of your only and precious life into something is a "meme" or not you're probably not mature or saavy enough to make it on your own. Go to college, fuck girls, find what you like.