How I became a Graphic Designer without a Degree 

I'm so sorry you feel like you've been scammed with your University Degree. It can be so hard to make the decision wether to go to university or not at such a young age. They really should do more 'on-job' experiences within agencies, because working with a team and on the job was what helped me learn the most! I mean RU-vid videos are great, but if you've paid for a whole degree you'd expect a lot more from your teachers!!! I'd try and reach out to local agencies and see if they can offer internships or if you can get any experience with them whilst doing your degree (will help a lot).

I'm in uni for graphic design too and apart from the fact that the money is A LOT i also rarely feel like I learn anything in class. I've only felt like i've learned something by seeing my classmates’ works and the thinking behind it. that's it. inspiration from fellow designers and project discussion has been the only thing keeping me in uni for this major. all things professors say in class (accompanied by visual material etc) never really inspired me or taught me how to do graphic design and lots of courses (all) have been super boring for an in class learning major! i've learned all the needed adobe apps entirely on my own by watching tutorials and doing amateur projects, uni has NEVER helped in this and I really regret the money I've given. then learning illustrator and indesign in class was so unbelievably boring and always found it a waste of time to the point I started skipping classes and focused on just submitting my projects to pass the courses. after years being in uni following changing majors I've totally got burnt out and can't do the student life anymore. I'm bored out of my mind, physically tired cuz of the daily commute to class, mentally drained cuz of the weird, demanding, judgemental professors in the creative field, broke cuz of all the money I've wasted to get design education through conventional schooling, and feeling stuck in life generally cuz I, like Abi, have finally realized university is not for me but I'm half way through my major. unfortunately i've come across very problematic professors that inspire toxic competition among students in class and would discourage students that didn't get a liking to from being designers. it's honestly insane how I'm still there now that I think about it! all my anxiety and reasons ive stayed in uni for graphic design is based on this paper certificate! cuz people do make us feel like we're going nowhere in life without a paper these days! uni does be killing my will to be a designer tho. maybe we should just listen to ourselves for once and make all transitions in life that will make us happy and keep us motivated. a degree is not everything. it seems all we needed was actual experience in the field and shadowing other designers to learn from on the job! that's what teaches me the most personally and I wish taking the decision to quit uni was easy.

Since you used to get RU-vid vedios sent by your university could share their links or channels?

This is very true, the same thing that is happening to our country, you need to have a Degree to get the job. There are a lot of people who doesn't have a degree but they work better than those who had. As the saying goes... " You can have all the degree in the world but still you would end up idiot"

It's not a problem anymore because with internet, you can just work (wfh) with international clients paying you better than the local clients.

Indonesia has the same system lol

@@yap7265 Truee!!

Which country do you live in?

My pleasure!! I’m so glad it’s helped you 💛 what are you changing your career from? X

Hi Vanessa! How is your journey going?

Hope everything turned out well Vanessa!

It really is!! No matter what route you take to get into the industry if there’s no passion or determination it’s not going to work! X

@@abiconnick hello pleas help me i want learn graphic design

You're very welcome! So glad my videos have been able to help! I wish you the best, you got this! 😊

Thank you so much!! Glad you liked this one 🤭

Love to hear it, because that's exactly what this video was aimed to do! Wish you all the best with your design journey, you got this! Passion beats qualifications every time! 😊

Welcome to the channel! Glad the video's have been of help. You have to be true to yourself, you can make a living from almost anything nowadays, who thought being a gamer was a good career choice 10 years ago? Follow what feels right to you, and everything will fall into place! Really appreciate your kind words and support, I wish you the best on your journey! 😊

Me to I love her 💞💞

Yay I’m glad!! Such an interesting topic to talk about as there’s so many different routes you can take to get into the industry! X

Check it out

You're so welcome!😊💛

It’s so good to hear this from someone currently at university!! So many different routes you can take to get into the industry and I love that they can get us to similar destinations 💛

My absolute pleasure, i'm glad this video has helped! You can definitely do a lot when you put your mind to it! x

I’m kinda in the same boat. I have associates degree in Theater. Now I’m back in school getting my certificate in Graphic Design. I’m also going to reapply at the same school for Digital media arts. The school that originally does the program merge with another school. Anyway I’m looking to do my own freelance business.

I have a degree in Business Administration so I am in a similar boat. I was thinking about what steps I need to take to become a professional graphic designer since I've been doing it as a hobby for years. Your post is helpful! Thank you!

Hi there 👋 This is so amazing to hear, you are so right! I really appreciate your kind words and support! I hope my videos can be of help with your journey into graphic design! 😊

i’ve been wanting to get into animation as well and i’m not in university. what is the best way to learn in your opinion? i’d love to get your point of view!

Thank you, appreciate it 😊

Ohh I love that!!! So good to hear from someone else that’s taken the same route as me!! Well done for going full time with it, takes a lot of hard work and determination to run a business!! Thanks for sharing 💛

@@abiconnick definitely! if you want to connect i'm @pixelworthyco ✨

This was such a great video for me to watch! I'm 28 and changing career.... Did 3 years full time study for my old career and can afford the money or time to do a degree now. So finding the skills in other ways I feel like is actually making me work really hard for it! And I just hope someone will take me on in good faith in my ability as they did with you, with just a diploma and portfolio to my name and tonnes of hard work. So I can learn from soemome in a company which, like you said, I'm sure is the best way 😀❤️😍 thanks for your inspiration egging me on today 😊

Completely agree! I would never tell anyone what they should or shouldn't do, but you can learn so much from the internet and often the advice and skills are more applicable and practical. Really appreciate your positive message, I love having people like you as part of our community😊💛

@@abiconnick Aw, thanks so much!

Hello, I am also in your position right now. How is it going for you?

Hello@@garimabisoi2890, The knowledge that I self-studied in this designing area really helps me in other aspects. For example I know how to design a really well powerpoint slides. Keep going man!

@@hobbyman1971 thank you for your response! Did you then decide to continue with your then profession?

@@garimabisoi2890 At the moment I have just finished my Master degree in Professional Accounting. I guess I will continue to work as an accountant And I will continue to explore the knowledge in designing area, which will help me so much in designing dashboards and presentations.

Situations like this must be so frustrating, I'm honestly so glad I didn't go to University/college for design, and just learnt over time. Because even if you get the degree, if you want to be a top designer, the learning doesn't stop there. Anyway, I wish you all the best! 😊

College is a scam

Glad it was helpful 😊

Hey 👋 thanks so much, glad my videos are helping!

I'm gonna be studying engineering (CSE) this year but I wanna be a graphic designer, any advice for me?

Cool but that CS is saturated.

@@introvertdude99 So is GD

Hey 👋 Love to hear this, you got this, life is too short to be doing something you don't enjoy! A graphic design apprenticeship is exactly how I started in the industry, so yes it's a great place to start, I would say you need to know a rough understanding of Illustrator but that can be done by taking a course on Udemy or Skill share, but they should teach you the majority on the job, plus you learn new things over time! I wish you the best in your journey, you got this! 😊

Do it!!! Everything you need to know you can learn online, and you have to do what makes you happy! Try job website, try colleges, if not just focus on being self taught in your spare time and over time build up your skills and knowledge until your ready to go freelance or apply for a graphic design position! DO passion projects, it's one of the best ways to get better! You got this 😊

ahh thank you so much! 😊

Put whatever education you have. Whether that’s a GED, HS Diploma, Associates degree, Bachelors. Whatever your highest level of education is, put that. Whether it had to do with graphic design or not.

I don’t know which country you are from but a lot businesses are moving away from the degrees and into certificates. A lot in schools especially in the United States (where I live) have all partnered with up with apps like coursera.

Thank you ☺️Glad the videos are helpful! I’d be lying if I said I’ve had personal experience with this, but I would aim to become so good they can’t ignore you! Keep doing passion projects to increase your skills and building out your portfolio, and I would also say start building an online presence, a lot of companies like that now, especially agencies because it shows your a multifaceted person, and not just a one dimensional designer! If still no luck maybe look to get your foot in the door through an apprenticeship, I know it might suck if your behind that level, but as soon as they give you a chance you can prove how good you are 🧡 p.s one trick you can try to grab their attention is to redesign a piece of their work, so for example if they have recently put out a design project on their socials that’s they created, redesign is and send it to them in an email explaining your thought process and why you changed the design to how it is, this shows your skill and expertise while making it personal to them! A great way to grab attention ☺️

@@abiconnick thank you!

Hi Eva! Have you considered freelancing at all? There are lots of benefits to that - especially being self-taught.

ooo exciting! Wish you all the best 😊

How did you find it

Don't let it get you down, remember if you can succeed with all these circumstances in your way making life more difficult, then you can do anything! Life's too short to be doing something you don't enjoy, I wish you all the best and keep going! 😊💛

Adobe illustrator

I think that's natural, whenever something doesn't go to plan we always tend to doubt ourselves (i don't think having a degree would help with this)

@@abiconnick Oh I doubt it would, especially for me! There hasn't been a project that hasn't had bumps along the road so while that's definitely natural, it's also frustrating. You know, having to meet absurdly tight deadlines sometimes, or surrealist demands from clients claiming they know better (oh I've got stories for days)... all these things, they make you reach out for the most obvious flaws when you're trying to find out "why" this wasn't smooth sailing like it was in your head

pretty easy to get a cracked version

Thanks! That’s so good!! I’ve done a pricing video on this Channel with some good advice on there, but honestly just go with what you feel comfortable charging and the more you design and work with clients the more confident you’ll get meaning you’ll raise your prices! Just gradually put them up and see how that goes 💛

Speed will come with experience, Don't worry about it for now :)

Great to hear your enjoying design! All about doing what you love most!

Yes, absolutely😊

The great this is there's no set path! You can get an apprenticeship, go back to school or be self taught and learn from the internet! All depends on you and your situation! I plan to make a video on this topic soon! Wish you the best :)

@@abiconnick Thank You Will be waiting for your video 🤗

I've already got a video out about this: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE--NctfWv5NT0.html x

@@abiconnick amazing! Thank you!

Yeah but that's far from a degree, plus the main way I've improved as a designer is by doing my own passion projects, that's been the main factor in improving my skills.

Are you UK Based? if so they actually don't do graphic design apprenticeships anymore- they are now called 'junior content producer' or 'digital media apprentice' something along the lines of that and you learn about digital media as a whole instead of just design. But your workspace can be with a design agency. If you still can't find one I'd recommend going down the self taught route. I've come across so many amazing designers who taught themselves through practice, passion projects and tutorials from RU-vid. 😊

Haha thank you! Although this definitely wasn’t my best looking day 🤣

Thank you very much! If you're referring to learning the tools, like Illustrator, there are some great courses on Udemy and for the more theory side of design, skillshare offer some good ones!

If you want to be anything you have to put in work, that can be via traditional education e.g uni, college etc. Or it can be through RU-vid tutorials, online courses, books etc. I don't think there's one way to become a designer. Yes I was creative as a kid and enjoyed art etc, but that doesn't help you learn Adobe illustrator, or help run a business. I'm friends with a lot of successful designers who are completely self taught, my partner (who edits my RU-vid videos) is completely self taught in video production and editing, I don't think traditional education is needed if you want it bad enough, all of the information is online you just have to be willing to put in the work. Now I don't think there's anything wrong with traditional education but the price of it is extortionate.

She has prior schooling, she doesn't have a degree - as the title states. What is more worrying is the fact that she did A levels and apparently did an apprenticeship at 16.

For creative fields honestly it is not needed.

Then they are lazy recruiters who can't be bothered to look at your portfolio.

My number one tip for getting clients would be to focus on building an online presence, now clients come to me wanting me to do their branding because they have seen my work online 😊

@@abiconnick Ahh I understand🥰👍 Thanks for the reply🤗