A lot of people believe that you don’t really need a college education to have a career in graphic arts.

Disclaimer: I’m NOT one of those people.

I know from experience that earning a college degree will make you a better artist, a better worker, and a better citizen of the world. In short, it’ll make you better in almost every way you can think of.

Why? Because earning a college degree in graphic design teaches you about much more than art and the 3 R’s – it exposes you to the latest trends and technology, new ways of thinking and doing, and opens you to possibilities you probably didn’t even know existed. It gives you time to experiment without worrying about the end result, which you cannot do once you are working for clients because then the end product is the goal. Studying in college expands your mind, and an expansive mind is one of an artist’s greatest assets.

In my work as a professional 3D modeler and animator, I often meet young artists who ask for feedback on their work. By just looking at their samples and without knowing anything about them, I can usually tell which ones have undertaken formal studies and which ones have not.

If they haven’t studied, I can see that there is a lack of method, of structure… and a lack of freedom of expression because they’re too worried about technique to be uninhibited creators. Imagine someone who hasn’t studied architecture trying to build a house. You could spot the flaws a mile away! The same is true with most art – you can usually tell if an artist knows his stuff or if he’s just trying to imitate those who do.

In my opinion, this underlying knowledge you gain while studying art is even more important than learning to use software or other tools of the trade. Having that solid infrastructure in place is what frees you up to be different… unique… a true original.’

Another reason you should pursue a degree in graphic art is because it immediately makes you part of an incredibly powerful network. Like birds of a feather, art students stick together! The video game world in particular is filled with examples of art school classmates who went on to make millions after launching wildly successful companies together. The connections you form in school will expand exponentially as you and your classmates go out into the world, and believe me when I say that this network will be one of the most important lifelong benefits to come out of your college education.

So now that I’ve explained why a degree in graphic design is essential to your career success, what’s the next step? For starters, click HERE to see a list of some of the country’s top rated graphic design schools, and HERE for a list of online schools. Then, check out THIS ARTICLE about the courses you can take, as well as the requirements for becoming a professional graphic designer.

Carlos Suarez is a freelance 3d modeler and animator. His client list include forensic animation companies, online retailers, inventors, entertainers, and game companies. Carlos graduated from the San Alejandro Academy in Havana, Cuba with a degree in fine art. He lives and works on an island in the Florida Keys, along with his wife and son. This is the second in a series of four entries on graphic design.

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