design after high school
Interested in pursuing a design education after high school? below are some sources and tips to help you explore (If you have any info or personal recommendations from designers you know, e-mail me tassonema@beaverton.k12.or.us and I’ll add it here!
read this!
AIGA_NASAD_student_brochure.pdf
Overview about the different types of degrees you could obtain and a great list of questions to ask when exploring admission to a graphic design programs.
what you can do now
- call or go online to be added to different schools mailing lists to get current info sent directly to you
- look into pre-college summer sessions - a great way to get a test run of a particular school while still in high school!
- visit the schools in person (ask for a tour and request someone from the art/design dept.)
- keep adding to your skills by doing independent projects on your free time ( there are a ton of awesome tutorials and resources online...go old school and browse through books at Powells for inspiration)
- keep a sketch book to jot down ideas and concepts - future professors and employers are going to be interested in your creative process...show them!
- enter contests
- join as a student or just follow AIGA online (a professional design organization) to see what’s going on nationally and locally http://www.aiga.org/career-advice/
- look at design blogs, social media, behance and online magazines to stay current on trends and new techniques
internships - now or later?
Network! which means go out and meet people, ask questions about the industry, ask to job shadow, show them your work and ask for suggestions, how did they get to where they are now, start making personal connections and lasting impressions
Research companies you are interested in - call and ask if they have time for a short “informational interview” Have a list of questions prepared, know a little bit about the company.
Keep your eye out for jobs with any type of art or design connection (art stores, newspapers, print shops, galleries, mac store/computer store, etc)
Start building your resume, portfolio, “design”social media presence. Also think about creating promotional materials for yourself...card, website, stickers, your contact info, strengths, etc)
Think about starting a freelance business for family, friends and charities. You can add to your portfolio, maybe make a little money and get some client practice while simultaneously going to school.
Some of the big firms (like Widen and Kennedy) have tours available - schedule, go and see first hand designers in action
Go to the college and career center, ask for help!
if you like graphic design you also might like these areas of study
UX design
Web design
Architecture
Product design
Interior design
Fashion design
Textile design
Multimedia artist
Photographer
Advertising
Urban Planning
some oregon schools with design departments
Oregon State University http://oregonstate.edu/dept/arts/
University of Oregon http://art-uo.uoregon.edu/
Portland State University http://www.pdx.edu/art/
Pacific Northwest College of Art http://www.pnca.edu/
Oregon College of Art and Craft http://www.ocac.edu/
Art Institute of Portland
art schools with notable design programs
Parsons - The New School for Design - NYC
Art Center - Pasadena CA
Pratt Institute - NYC
Rhode Island School of Design
Cooper Union - NYC
Cal Arts - LA
San Francisco Art Institute
additional word of mouth recommendations
University of Washington
Arizona State University
University of Nebraska
Ohio State University
University of Michigan