Are there too many Design Graduates? When design students graduate from University, what do they do next?
It is clear from the many lecturers that have come in to speak to us at Stockport college, that it is difficult to get into the graphic design industry once graduated. On http://www.targetjobs.co.uk/ it says "Approximately 70 per cent of graduates in the field do not pursue careers in art and design, according to UCAS figures – partly through choice, but also because the supply of graduates exceeds the number of jobs available." Even though this is the statistic, I think if your heart lies in the industry then through motivation and determination will get a graduate into this industry. I think this only by meetings with top designers who have been there themselves, and who have succeeded.
I am currently 5 weeks away from the end of my degree course, so if not already, it is getting to the time where organizing placements should be my first priority. It was when listening to a lecture given from Dave Sedgwick from 999 at the start of November '09 that it was starting to become clear that it was very important to research as many design agencies as you can whilst still in University, and keep a diary of your progress with each one...and that this diary was to be shown to no-one! I thought this was a good idea as the end of University comes quick, and starting early will make the time between graduation and getting a job a shorter amount of time. It also says on http://www.targetjobs.co.uk/ that "Although the work may not be exactly what you want to do, this can prove your dedication to the field, give you a valuable understanding of how the industry works and be a great way to make contacts who may be able to help your career in the future." And so it is important to take on any task if it involves getting experience in the industry, any opportunity to get 'the foot in the door'.
It makes me think how many of the designers that came into speak to us decided to research and look around before graduating too. I remember when meeting Anthony Smith from Manchester based studio Music for a Portfolio visit at the start of my final year, he said that it took him almost two years to get a job in the industry. Alan Cocks from Graphic Design agency Dust based in Sheffield said that between graduating and getting a graphic design job he was a night auditor for two years. I guess what springs to my mind at this point is how do these top designers presently working in design agencies stay focused on what they really wanted to do as so much time went by? Alan Cocks said that even though he did sometime completely different for a long period of time, he still read design books every night that he audited at the hotel. Anthony Smith as well as fellow Music designer Craig Oldham believed in self anitiated projects during the break between graduation and getting a job. I think the problem with self anitiated projects during University time is that I felt like if I started one, that I couldn't put all my heart and soul into it as I had various other projects on at the same time. However, once graduated I think I will actually quite enjoy the gap from this time to getting a job, as it means I can finally do things like this with all the free time on my hands.
It could be that the time between graduating and getting a job is used to figure out exactly what you want to do. Graduating in a particualar medium is one thing but using it to the best of its advantage is another. Take for instance Lauren Moriarty, graduate of Loughborough University. She said when she left, she did not like to be 'pigeon holed' into one medium. Graduating as a Textile Designer, she said her interested also lay in, amongst other things, Product Design and 3D Design. And so this opened up her options to many for areas of the creative world, eventually deciding to go freelance instead because this worked out best for her.
I am currently 5 weeks away from the end of my degree course, so if not already, it is getting to the time where organizing placements should be my first priority. It was when listening to a lecture given from Dave Sedgwick from 999 at the start of November '09 that it was starting to become clear that it was very important to research as many design agencies as you can whilst still in University, and keep a diary of your progress with each one...and that this diary was to be shown to no-one! I thought this was a good idea as the end of University comes quick, and starting early will make the time between graduation and getting a job a shorter amount of time. It also says on http://www.targetjobs.co.uk/ that "Although the work may not be exactly what you want to do, this can prove your dedication to the field, give you a valuable understanding of how the industry works and be a great way to make contacts who may be able to help your career in the future." And so it is important to take on any task if it involves getting experience in the industry, any opportunity to get 'the foot in the door'.
It makes me think how many of the designers that came into speak to us decided to research and look around before graduating too. I remember when meeting Anthony Smith from Manchester based studio Music for a Portfolio visit at the start of my final year, he said that it took him almost two years to get a job in the industry. Alan Cocks from Graphic Design agency Dust based in Sheffield said that between graduating and getting a graphic design job he was a night auditor for two years. I guess what springs to my mind at this point is how do these top designers presently working in design agencies stay focused on what they really wanted to do as so much time went by? Alan Cocks said that even though he did sometime completely different for a long period of time, he still read design books every night that he audited at the hotel. Anthony Smith as well as fellow Music designer Craig Oldham believed in self anitiated projects during the break between graduation and getting a job. I think the problem with self anitiated projects during University time is that I felt like if I started one, that I couldn't put all my heart and soul into it as I had various other projects on at the same time. However, once graduated I think I will actually quite enjoy the gap from this time to getting a job, as it means I can finally do things like this with all the free time on my hands.
It could be that the time between graduating and getting a job is used to figure out exactly what you want to do. Graduating in a particualar medium is one thing but using it to the best of its advantage is another. Take for instance Lauren Moriarty, graduate of Loughborough University. She said when she left, she did not like to be 'pigeon holed' into one medium. Graduating as a Textile Designer, she said her interested also lay in, amongst other things, Product Design and 3D Design. And so this opened up her options to many for areas of the creative world, eventually deciding to go freelance instead because this worked out best for her.
I believe in the statistic, that nearly three quarters of students that graduate in design don't go further into the industry, however, it is all about to do with attitude and the way you think about it. I think everyone is going to get rejected at some point, but its whether you do look at it as rejection or as a learning experience. If seen as an experience, then the graduate will be encouraged to learn more, and then try and try again until eventually they have succeeded. There isn't enough jobs for all graduates, but there is for those who really want it.
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