Graphic design certificate programs in Calgary? - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Winnie · 03-23-2011, 05:22 PM

I'm considering going back to school for graphic design (hopefully both print and web), and wanted to pick CP's collective brain to see if anyone has any experience with relevant school programs in Calgary. Any recommendations or warnings?

I couldn't do full-time, so would probably be looking at a continuing/distance ed certificate program. The Master Design Certificate at SAIT caught my eye - anyone know anything about that program?

Cheers.

photon · 03-23-2011, 05:24 PM

Sure you can't do full time? I have a friend who I thought was pretty talented, and he's been in ACAD and now he's on a whole new level. Two new levels probably.

Actually I just came here to make a joke about designing your own certificate.

Winnie · 03-23-2011, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by photon

Sure you can't do full time? I have a friend who I thought was pretty talented, and he's been in ACAD and now he's on a whole new level. Two new levels probably.

Actually I just came here to make a joke about designing your own certificate.

Full time isn't an option. Although I could get a divorce and disown my kids to make it happen, but I'm not at that point yet.

I would design my own certificate, but without the skills I'd gain from getting the certificate, it's just not possible. Therein lies my challenge.

photon · 03-23-2011, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Winnie

Full time isn't an option. Although I could get a divorce and disown my kids to make it happen, but I'm not at that point yet.

Yeah that's the wall I run up against when I want to go back to school and get into something sciency too.

There's a few design type folks here, hopefully they'll chime in.

mac_gurl · 03-24-2011, 09:23 AM

I took the Digital Graphics Communications course at SAIT, but it was a full time program. They also have design certificates through night classes, which would still be great, and get you started. I thought the courses that I took through SAIT were great. Any questions, feel free to let me know.

Winnie · 03-24-2011, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mac_gurl

I took the Digital Graphics Communications course at SAIT, but it was a full time program. They also have design certificates through night classes, which would still be great, and get you started. I thought the courses that I took through SAIT were great. Any questions, feel free to let me know.

thanks mac. i appreciate that the certificate would be more built around getting started, and that's kind of what i'm looking for. i guess i'm looking for reassurance about the quality of the course content and instructors, and it sounds like you had a good experience.

fredr123 · 03-24-2011, 09:59 AM

A friend of mine is doing the ACAD program right now. He's taking two courses at a time while working full time at another job. So far, he seems to really be enjoying it and getting a lot out of it.

Table 5 · 03-24-2011, 10:05 AM

What are you planning to do with this certificate? Is it more of a supplemental income type of thing, or a full-time job aspiration?

If it's the former, the certificate program looks decent.....if it's the latter, I'm not sure I can recommend anything other than a full-time program, whether it fits your lifestyle or not.

I'll be honest with you, there are probably 2 tiers of graphic designers out there. The first, often graduates of quicky-programs, who end up working for signage companies, or doing flyers for 35k a year. The second, who typically have 4 year degrees (or are just extremely naturally talented) end up taking the top 25% jobs where the (relative) money and (relative) glamour is. I've been in positions where I had to hire associate designers, and resumes without a 4-year degree almost automatically went in the trash pile.

I can sympathize with your situation, but the issue is that if you want to get into a position with some money and a future, you're not going to learn this stuff in 6 months of night school. It takes a lot of time and practice to get decent at it. Taking a quick glance at the SAIT Master Design Certificate, it seems like almost everything, if not everything, there is a software course. While all that stuff is important, knowing the software is about 25% of what quality graphic design is about. Most of the skills you need to know have nothing to do with a computer, and are often gained through long hours of group critiques... something tough do part-time and almost impossible to do via correspondence.

So if this is something you want to do to supplement your income in a part-time fashion, sure, do the Certificate program. But if you are serious about it and want to be a graphic designer for the next 20-30 years, you should make the sacrifice and do school right. It's not easy, but there are mature students in every program out there. If you can't, just understand that a certificate program will limit you down the line. Graphic Design is not that lucrative of a field, and at the lower end is downright laughable....every edge you can get is valuable.

At the very least, if you're starting from scratch, you should try to take classes that focus on design concepts and theory first, and not software. Everyone and their dog knows Photoshop, very few people know to use it a higher level.

Oh, and I would stay the hell away from any of these fly by night college design programs. Those are just a waste of time. If it's not affiliated with ACAD or Mount Royal, do not enter. I'm not really sure about Mount Royal either, but I do know the head of the Design program, and he was a very solid and talented guy, so I trust he would prefer not to lead crap.

COGENT · 03-24-2011, 10:41 AM

Table 5 pretty much hit the nail on the head. It's an incredibly competitive industry and I believe the proper education goes a long way in getting a person to the professional level.

The type of program you're looking at may get you a production position (laying out other peoples ideas on a computer) but I think you may struggle to get a "design" job without the experience. Although there have been uneducated designers that turn out to be great.

topfiverecords · 03-24-2011, 11:02 AM

Suggested reading:
http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?t=103744

Winnie · 03-24-2011, 02:27 PM

Thanks Table5 and others - great feedback. This is more about supplementing the skills I have rather than trying to be a full-time graphic designer. My background is marketing and writing, and I think that having some basic abilities in graphic design would be beneficial. I'm thinking along the lines of updating existing documents/websites, and maybe doing basic design work. To Cogent's point, I guess what I'm really looking for is some skills on the production side versus strong design skills (although that would be nice).

I'm not fooling myself about the natural ability and formal education that's required to be good with design - but if I could get some of the fundamentals and get somewhat proficient on the software side, I'd be happy. From the sounds of what folks are saying, the SAIT certificate program should suffice when it comes to learning at least about the production side.

Table 5 · 03-24-2011, 02:53 PM

Ok, in that case I think the SAIT route should be good for what you're looking to do. Taking some courses to learn additional skills and/or software is never a bad idea, and since you're planning for this to be a complement to your career, not a replacement, I'm sure it would help.

No matter what you do though, if you're planning to work in graphic design on any level, I would still recommend taking a basic typography course if you haven't already done so. It's probably one of the most important elements to know no matter design work you tackle in the future, so it's worth the time/cost.

Russic · 03-24-2011, 03:03 PM

As somebody who's ventured into the world of design completely wrong, I can with absolute certainty say that Table 5 knows what he's talking about.

hkstylez · 03-24-2011, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mac_gurl

I took the Digital Graphics Communications course at SAIT, but it was a full time program. They also have design certificates through night classes, which would still be great, and get you started. I thought the courses that I took through SAIT were great. Any questions, feel free to let me know.

+1, I also took DGC, but at the time I took it. Graphic Designers were not in high demand at the time, I am sure it's changed now.