Life After Art and Design College

As the world becomes more digital, a degree from art and design school becomes more useful. As late as the 80s, art and design colleges only focused on tangible products: clothing, photos, buildings, paintings. Now that the digital age is here, virtual design is an ever important degree, as it's built around powerful software used in many industries.

The fastest growing course of study in an art and design college is a graphic design program. Graphic designers are employed in companies large and small, and hold a variety of specific roles. You'll find some graphic designers working as web designers, creating internet sites which contain polished color palettes, flash, animation, logos, and downloadable materials. Other graphic designers work for magazines, creating the magazine's cover, the layout of each article, and any graphics or images needed throughout the magazine. Similarly, a graphic designer might work for a company who sends out mass mailings, such as retail catalogs or high-end newsletters. Each of these products requires thoughtful design to best capture the consumer's interest, which keeps graphic designers in business. Finally, graphic designers also work in film and television, creating specialized credit sequences, film title logos, and assorted background support. A graphic design degree from an art and design school can be leveraged in many ways.

Another practical and often overlooked degree is an art management degree. Examples include a degree to become a museum curator, or a special collections director. Both degrees will require specialization and may take longer to obtain, but once you have a specialty, you become more marketable and the jobs that you're qualified for will have higher salaries. Your advances knowledge will be required daily, and you can expect suitable compensation for such knowledge. Along the same vein, a teaching degree from an art and design college will open many doors. You could become a high school art teacher, or a college art professor, or even open a private studio to teach from. Again, a teaching degree will require more time and effort much like a management degree, but the rewards are higher.

One last very marketable option from art and design schools is an interior design degree. Interior design offers two interesting career paths. You could choose to open your own business or work as a freelancer, and work with clients in their houses to create spaces they need, be it for productivity or style. In this position, you'll help your client choose furniture, accessories, paint colors, and how each piece and aspect will work in the given space. But don't overlook the need for interior designers in the corporate world, too, where they are needed to make work spaces more comfortable and pleasing, and stores more attractive to customers. You'll likely determine which avenue you enjoy more while attending an art school. Another aspect to keep in mind is that once you have your degree from a design college, no one can take it away from you and you can explore multiple careers in the art and design field throughout your life.